Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1862-01-30
THE BURNSIDE EXPEDITION IN
s. pAI,MICO SOUND

The secret Of Gen. Burnside destina-
ton has been well kept. Even the rebels,
who are usually better informed than our
SELVES, Eeem 10 have been wholly at fault
with regard to'it and now admit lis pres
-ence in the sound and waters Of North
Carolina with unaffected surprise. They
certainly speak OF being prepared AT every
Interior point for its reception, From
such speech, however, liberal discount
must be INDUCED for bragsadocia, and OF
the remainder little account need be made,
in view of the time and facilities enjoyed
for defence. There Is this about the va
rious ports and harbors within the waters
Of Albemarle and Pamlico; they cannot
avail themselves ofthe Notifications erect
ed by the National Government for the
exclusion OF foreign enemies, to shut out
National expedition. The several Ma
tional forts for the defence OF the upper
North Carolina coast were fortunately
placed upo2 the outer sand barrier which,
by the capture Of Hatteras forts and the
destruction of Fort Morgan, at Ocracoke,
has fallen into our hands. Left to their
own resources, the rebels may have erect
ed temporary works here and there at the
mouths of the several estuaries discharg-
ing into the sound; but we have no rea.
son to believe any of them to be formida-
BILE in character or more difficult to silence
than those which protected Port Royal.
The work of Gen. Burnside's ample force
is, therefore, free from serious obstacles.
1t has only to effect landing at points
as yet unknown to the rebels, and proceed
without material possibly with
the aid of the loyal population of the State
to the execution of its important plans.
OF the nature of those plans we may
form an idea from an inspection of the
map. tits, we cannot doubt, the deStruc-
ton in the first instance of the railroads
Between Richmond and the South. These
NAV be reached either from Pamlico or
Albemarle; but we gather from dispatch
es forwarded from GoldSborough, that the
inland movement will be made from Pam
leo, as the force appeared to be muster
ing there, and threatening an attack upon
Eewbern,
The importance OF making that place q
starting point was pointed out in these col
umns some time ago. Situated upon the
River Neuse, Newbern is connected by the
Atlantic and North Carolina Railroad with
Goldsborough and Raleigh, the distance tC
the former point being about fifty-six and
10 the latter q hundred miles. But the
Nauaa 1tsalF - y,ouob mos. YNront;oob 10
Communication with both points. Ship:
may ascend it for some distance above
Newbern while there is no doubt the
smaller gunboats, drawing after them the
canal boats, which figure among the some.
what unusual elements of the Burnside
fiotilIa, car make their way TO landing
on the river within six miles Of Raleigl
itself Ii may, therefore, be the plan &c
attempt the ascent OF tho river. At Colds,
borough the direct Southern route by way
of WilmiHgtoucould be cut off At Ra
leigh the inland or Charlotte line could b,
destroyed, and the National flag set NJ
where the loyal population of Western
North Carolina would unquestioaably focl
eagerly TO its shelter and defence. |
such be the programme of the expedition
it is difficulty at this distance, TO under
stand why it should not perfectly succeed
why indeed, it should not have alread,
succeeded. .....
OF the other labors marked out for Gen
Burnside it is premature to speak. IL
will, no doubt, make Roanoke Island
depot and centre of operations, from which
be may strike at will in the direction o
Norfolk and Vel ON. II is very sur,
that his presence in those waters is vic
tory in itself. 1t weakens the enemy AM
destroys his morale Ly threatening him a
his weakest point.-N T. Times,