New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-01-14
THE GREAT BURNSIDE EXPEDITION,
The Departure from Hampton Roads
The rTNAG RENDEZVOUS
THa FIELD OF OPERATIONS.
SKETCHES or THE PROMINENT OFFICERS.
From Our Special Correspondent.

About twenty Ave OF the gunboats and transports
of the Burnside Expedition sailed from the Roads las
night. About II o'clock the signal to get under
weigh was given, Unexpectedly, conclude, for moi
few off :ers and others were shore, not expect
ing to sail perhaps days. BY three o'clock
in the morning they were ali off, with the exception
of two three eunboats and some half-dozen trans
ports Of the larger class.
This morning another batch Of transports of tie
larger class, including tie louisiana, Peabody, and
Ncw-York, came in, crowded with troops, and re-
ported that there was feet Of from twenty to Thirty
sail in the chesapeake.
The promising state Of the weather prompted the
sudden departure last night and it is probable that
the fleet will reach it's destination in safety. AZ
showing what men will do when brought 20 the
of boats refused to go. Their places were imne-
dstely supplied by others who were not the slaves
of cowardice. One captain was muiinous that
Cen. Foster deemed it bis duty 10 place the fellow in
irons. Others barely escaped the same treatment
because there were other matters to attend to.
The final sailing will take place this evening,
should the weather hold good Of which there s
much doubt this . O'Clock. p IN. The Spaulding will
leave at sundown with flag officer Goldsborough and
Capt. Case of the Minnesota, beside some others
either let behind or lot Immediately connected with
the expedition. So, with fair weather, the entire
expedition will soon have reached the final Iendez-
yous nearest tie field OF operations.
Now, where is that ? / presume shall violate no
confidence if state on common rumor and belefthat
the expedition will rendezvous at latteras inlet, and
that Pamlico and Albemarle Sounds will be the im-
mediate field Of operations OF these operation, in
detail it is not proper to speak any further than that
il is understood that the force, when fairly a0oat on
the waters of Painico Sound, will address itself to
Roanoke Island which is strongly fortified. This Is
the key to Albenarle Sound, through CGnituck, AID
il is supposed that the position is defended by from
1000 10 900 men. This taken, Of the faults fol-
lowing tho taking of Jatteras four or five months
ago, when one thousand men might have done
the same thing, will have been retrieved. pre-
sume the clearing out Of the rebels from all the
Sounds will follow, which might have been done
with q thousand men and two or three gunbC ats
at the time referred to. ii must not DO supposed
that this is the whole work laid out for the exped
ton. 1t will DO but clearing away the underbrush
and it will be time enough to record the rest when it
takes place.
IL ia understood that the 9th New-York Regiment,
Col Hawkins, now at IIatteras, will accompany the
expedition, and possibly the 18th Pcnnsy lvana,
also there.
FIae-Ofcer Goldsboroueh for several days past
has been. and is now, quite i'll with the govt Yes-
terdsy the symptoms quite serious, but today
ne is so much better as 10 be able 10 leave in tie
Spauldng. This steamer. after touching at Hat
teras will led to Port Royal, and return nmc-
dia,ely. She takes between 200 and 300 troops
mon from the hospitals here, and other remnants Of
regiments at the latter place, beside large quantity
Of express ard other freight, aud mails.
Some delay of tue expedition at Hatteras, is moro
than probable, in consequence Of several of the
steamers drawing too much water The depth of
water on tho bulshead is less than eight feet,
whereas some Of the steamers draw nine and ten.
understand that, nconcevable as it may appear, the
getters up Of the expedition have been under the I'M
preston that the depth of water on the bulkhead was
nine feet, Everybody but those who ought TO have
known, knew better. This blunder was discovered
at once, as the steamers began to arrive, by all who
had any knowledge OF The destination. Sill, though
tie expedition may be somewhat shorn lie efficiency
will not be materially iessened, IA the boas that Will
b. unable to enter the Sound If that should turn out
10 be tho case with any of them, will be transports
principally.
Probably o more heterogeneous congTt CATION OF
water craft was never collected on any waters at any
one time trust that in our future naval hsts not
MANY of them will be suffered to figure, though with
out doubt, as whole, they are well suited Tor the
work for which they arc TO 10 employed. All the
odd specimens from the keunebec to tie CheSl-
peske appear to have been procured, the one from
tue Grs,-named locality being scrn-wheei craft
drawing Ol feet Since she made the whole distance
from the Kennebec TO the Capes, regular sea voyage
ing in remarkably quick tine, and arrived all right
ale is not to be spoken Of lightly, even II she does
look 30 much like IA wheelbarrow.
Tae ferry boats Whitehall aud HobOken now
beayily-armed gunboats went ont on Friday and re-
turned the next day. thoroughly disabled. The Ex-
redition will not have their services. The other
boats of the sane description that sailed las, night
have no. been heard front They probably will 90
through.
twill 10 tho middle Of the week before the expe-
dition vii. begin its work. This will be the very
best and there is possibility Of extraordinary della!
that VIII protract the toru' Va "a l'""""
The French war steamer Catinet, that has been
living in the Roads for days, proposes to 80 to
No,iolk. This is tie first Instance OF the KIND since
Tie blockade was declared, and probably there Ii
nothing but sense OF proprety on tue part Of the
commanding officer to prevent her going and eAe
will, without much doubt 60.
Luz derstand thut she guuboat TGscarora Wa some
time since dispatched 20 look after the rebel sealn1
NASHVILLE, reltling at South. M on
SKETCHES OF THE PROMINENT oFfhERs.
The Burnside Expedition, when first rrjeeied
.,l,o L. o, e. lac r,,.pitudc thnu A hg