Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1862-02-07

raj counties OF this State TO cancel their in
debtcdness to the Swamp Land Fund.
a7a The Burnside Expedition.
From Tie special correspondent of the Chi
cago Tribune, we extract the following items
relative to this expedition: ss..'aen"
,HATrERAs INLET, N. c., Jan. 10, 1862.
1t is one week to-day since we left Old
( Point in such hurried manner, and with so
many symptoms of an early movement. Yet
! here we are. Our first conclusion upon cast
ing anchor upon these sand bars was, that we
could not stay here longer time than to enable
the fleet to concentrate previous to the attack.
But as day after day has passed, bringing
mistortunes, and good, bad and Indifferent
news, we have had abundant occasion to re-
verse our conclusion. .4sE p --crEE-- l--aG
The delay at this time is doubly unfortu.
nate. 1t will disappoint the expectations of
/ speedy and decisive action which may have
been stimulated by its prompt departure from
! Old Point; it gives the rebels much valuable
time to fortify and reinforce and prepare for
our coming. / am certain it was not intend
ed they should have a single day for this
purpose, but the elements, the insufferable
incompctency of minor officers, and the sand
bars and swash- channels of Hatteras Inlet
have otherwise decreed; have thwarted the
efforts and intentions of most energetic
commander, and have compelled this division
to practice the old st-down and wait till the
rebels. fortify themselves policy, which has
been the one accurscd bunder of our war
management thus far
The very unfortunate hitch in this Expe-
dition is described in the following statement:
lIatteras Inlet and the channels between the
entrance and the inner bar, over which YES
sells pass in going into Pamlico Sound, is one
of the most miserable, tickle and treacherous
Of harbors that ever bore the name 1t is full
of shoals and bars, and what may be good
anchorage one day will next day leave the
vessel six to twelve inches in the sand The
ebb and flow of the tide affect the depth of
the water about two feet, and the current is
very strong, row-boats being hardly able to
stem it, AMI vessels frequently dragging their
anchors and fouling each other. Into this
wash hole our fleet were only glad to get, to
escape the fury of the gale which swept over
the coast on Monday and Tuesday last
Hardly one sailor. pilot or captain had ever
been in before. They took soundings and
cast anchor in such places as they thought
secure the ebb Of the tide left them squat
ting in the sand, and the swift current soon
formed such bars around them that the flood
of the tide did not float them. The result is
that at this time every steamer, gunboat and
sail vessel drawing over seven feet is hard
aground, and will have to disembark their
troops and cargoes before they can be even
pulled off. This work is now proceeding, but
very slowly. There is great lack Of light
draught, powerful tugs, with efficient men to
manage them.
LArER-Jan. 23d, 1S62-The condition
of affairs with regard to the Expedition has
been very encouraging until to-day The
great delay caused by the almost impossible
ity of getting the vessels into the Sound, over
the bulk head, filled every heart with sorrow,
and depressed soldier and commander alike.
The losses and casualties had assumed such
fearful proportions that we feared we should
be defeated by the elements, if not by the
rebels. All the consolation we have, is that
the delay, after we got here, was unavoidable,
and that the commander of this division is
doing his UTMOST to extricate it fro;n it's d.
lemma | would like to say that he is being
co-opcratcd with vigorously by the navy COM
manders, but that would be departure from
over the bulk head is proceeding, but at a
pace consistent with the prosecution of the
war thus far. .. a.. ...
However, the work that has been done to-
day has revived our hopes. Thtre was more
than the usual depth OF water at high tide this
morning, and now all the guuboats of every
character, three -.of the largest transport
steamers, the Cossack, the Guide, and the
Eastern Queen, together with several trans
port schooners, are safely over and anchored
in three fathoms of water The entire basin
Of Pamico Sound, eighty miles long and
twenty miles wide, affords at least twenty zone
feet oil water f3542 E
When Gen. Burnside has once commenced.
his blows will fall surprisingly quick and
heavy. His mind is made up as to his entire
policy. He will stick at nothing that prom
Uses the punishment Of traitors, and the res
toration Of the tru allegiance of this State
and its people. The property of rebels. no
matter OF what character, will be made TO
help pSy the expenses of the war, and when
his own supplies give out, he will see to it
thai. his division does not sit down in shame
less inactivity and await succor, but will try
the Napoleonic practice of subsisting his men
upon the foe.
Gen. Burnside's ayowed policy is to work
as fast as he can in these Sounds; to touch
up Norfolk in the rear by cutting off the ship
canal, a source Of many of its supplies; pre-.
vious to that, to occupy Roanoke Island, now
fortified by the rebels, which commands the
passage between Albemarle and Paml,co
Sounds to seize hold Of several important
towns IN the interior and perhaps sooner or
later to take Raleigh itself; at any rate, to
fully test the loyalty Of the people of North
Carolina, and give them ample opportunity
to return to their allegiance. To this end the
the great preparation for this expedition, this
expenditure of money, this periling of life,
have been incurred.