Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-02-14
GENERAL BURNSIDE's FIELD OF OP.
ERATIONS.

GENERAL BURNSIDE'S FIELD OF OP-
ERATIONS.
We present brief sketch of the field of
operations to which the efforts Of the Burnside
Expedition are now directed.
ROANOKE ISLAND.
This is about ffty miles up Pamlico Sound,
twelve miles long and three miles wide Roa-
noke Island is a position which is valuable to
us commanding as it does the Currituck
Sound, which opens into the Albemarle. Cur
rituck is about fifty miles long, ten miles wide,
and is navigable for vessels drawing ten feet
Of water. Owing to the natural breakwater
which protects large portion Of the coasts of
North Carolina and Virginia, the water is as
placid as a lake, and easily navigated.
Albemarle Sound extends in a westerly di-
rection about sixty miles; il is from four to if
teen miles in width, and though in many parts
quite shoal, is sufficiently deep to admit Of the
passage of vessels Of ten feet Of water.
The Pasquotsnk river, which has its rise in
the Dismal Swamp, flows into this sound. A
canal, called the Dismsl Swamp Canal, con-
meets this river with DTummond Lake in Dis
NAL Swamp. This lake is about thirty miles
in length, and from ten to twelve miles in
breadth. When full the surface Of the lake is
twenty-one feet above tide water.
The Jericho Canal connects the lake with
Suffolk, which is situated on the Nansemond
river and on the Portsmouth and Roanoke
Railroad. II is eighty miles southeast of
Richmond, and twenty miles from Hampton
Roads
NsnssmOnd river enters Hampton Roads,
and is avigable for vessels Of ten feet of water
from Suffolk.
WELDON, N. c.,
Is one hundred and fifty mres from the mouth
Of Roanoke river, which, in consequence of the
obstruction Of fall, is the limit to steamboat
navigation.
Weldon is point of considerable strategic
importance. Four railroads meet there viz
The Wilmington and Weldon, the Seaboard
aud Roanoke, the CASTOR and Raleigh, and the
Petersburg road. The first Of the roads is one
hundred and sixty-two miles in length, and
runs sOuthessterly TO Wilmington, intersecting
GOldsbOrough, on the Nease river. The second
is eighty miles long, and runs to Portsmouth,
Virginia. The third is ninety-seven miles
long, and runs nortneasterly to the capital of
North Carolina. The fourth is otherwise known
as the 90 Richmond, Fredericksburg and Poto-
mac, Richmond and Petersburg, and Peters
burg railways" By this route Richmond is
one hundred and eighty-six miles from Wei
don; Petersburg, Virginia, is one hundred
and sixty-f miles distant.
Weldon seems peculiarly situated for an at
tack. 1t is easy Of access, and when gained
can be as formidsbly intrenched as is Manassas.
1t is not far from Richmond, and, furthermore,
the seizure Of this point would seriously in
eommOde the Rebels at Richmond and Ma
naSsss.
NEwBERN, n. c.
NeWbern is On the Neuse eriver-pronounced
as if spelled Nuss-which, next to Cape Fear,
Is the largest navigable stream in North Car
olina. II is navigable for steamboats, from its
mouth, which is at the lower part Of PamlicO
Sound, in WaynesberOugh, Y. c., distance
Of more than 100 miles GoldsbOroSgh, near
WaynesbOrOugh, on the river is q point at
which the railroads from Wilmington on the
Cape Fear, and from NeTbern on the Neuse
rivers converge
WASHINGTON, n. c.
Washington is in Beaufort county, on the
left bank Of the Tar river, at the head of Pam
lico river. The latter is navigable to Wash
ingtOn for boats drawing eight feet of water.
The river, which Is q continuation of Pamlico
river, is navigable for boats with less than
eight feet Of water to TsrbOro.
ELIZABETH CITY.
Elizabeth City, one of the towns destroyed
by the COufederates, is the county seat Of Pas
quOtank county, North Carolina, on the right
bank of the PasquOtank river, about twenty
miles from its mouth, and fifty miles south of
Norfolk, Va. 1t was one of the most consider
able towns in the northeast section Of the State
Itcontained two banks, three newspaper Offices
and several churches, and had q population Of
about 2, 800. Small vessels ascended the river
to the place, and 10 communicates with Nor
folk by means OF the river and the Dismal
Swamp canal. Lumber, rosin and pitch were
the chief exports.
EDENTON
The village of EdentOn, also reported as de-
strOyed, is the county town Of Chowsn county,
and is situated at the head Of Edenton bay,
which opens into Albemarle Sound, little be-
low the mouth Of ChOwaA river, about $50
miles east from Raleigh, and about IS miles
southwest of Norfolk, Va.
1t was a beautiful town, containing many
handsome residences, besides a courthouse,
bank, newspaper Office and several churches
1t was one Of the principal towns Of the sea-
board, and carried on a considerable trade by
the navigation Of the sound. The population
was about 1000. 1t was settled in I7l6.