The New York herald., 1862-02-10
SKETCH OF ROANOKE ISLAND AND THE
REBEL FORTIFICATIONS. y

The above communication is from rebel source, from
no less parsonage than Major General Samuel Huger the
commandant at Norf ok. The last private advices
have from the expedition up the 9th instant On
that day the gunboat feet and troop transports left Hat
teras for Roanoke Island. Our correspondent writes
Commodore Goldsborough feared that the delay
already experienced would give the enemy great ad
vantage provided they had been sharp enough to I'm
provo the opportunities thus Afforded them He consid
cred that the expedition had been favored with good
luck far in escaping the chances of storms upon that
point at this season, and getting many vessels inside
the Sound safely II seemed to be tho opinion Of the
commander that in future such expeditions should be
more under the control Of the navy officers. He feared
difficulty for the large vessels after they should
cave AlbemarIe Sound and was anxious that the gum
boats Of light draft should be hurried up.
General Burnsides force, which is very numerous,
TO have boen landed the lower end and side
Of the sand under the guns Of the vessels Com
odors Goldsboroughs fleet engage the batteries
On Coaan SOUND at short range while portion of the
land force to have pushed to any point where the
enemy should show himself in force. srs. rsr
When the expedition sailed from Hat,eras all
ndent of success All were in good health and good
spirits, and good order and discipline prevailed. All
they wanted a chance to met the enemy The yes
ecs supplied with provisions for sixty days. and
large supply Of coal.
we ratner op1ne, II dow has been struck az all on
Roanoke Island the result will be favor rof the Union
arms their numerical strength and equipment Of
superior character to those Of the rebels enc .t
The object Of taking Roanoke Island by the Union
forces is to take the initiative towards sezing other
points on the railroad running directly South from Rich
mond and thus enectuay to cut off the supplies from
The Southern States If the Union troops fortunate
enough to secure its capture will put stop to the in
land coast navigation Of North Carolina which Of
transportation has been SO useful from its safety against
hostile cruisers.
The important object Of the seizure will however
be the threatening Of Norfolk and il it is though, adv
sable to follow up the advantage the snkng Of the rebel
Albemare Sounds, and thus commanding the great Abe
marie and Chesapeake Canal and the Dismal Swamp Canal
would command the adjunct canal known as the Jericho
Canal, connecting, through Lake Drummond with
porant railroad junction at called Suffolk,
Nansemond river, where tho main railroad route from
Norfolk branches into what called Norfolk and
Petersburg Railroad and the seaboard and Roanoke Rail
road, thus completely cutting or all connection by
ing country and the other parts Of the rebel re-
gious The strategic Importance Of such q move
ment, II successfully made, will form one Of the
most important features Of the war. The island
n position which Is valuable to us. commanding, as
u does the Curruck SOUND which opens into Albemare.
Carritack is about fifty miles long, ten miles wide. and
havgable for vessels drawing feet Of Owing
70 the natural breakwater which protects large portion
Of the coasts Of North Carolina and Virginia. the
% placid lake, and easily navigated.
Il has been fortified by the rebels who have esab-
shed ntrenched camp in the CENTRE and erected Ave
Horte TO defend Il at important points.