Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-02-03


direct from the sngraver, complete map Of
the coast Of North Carolina and q part Of
Virginia particularly Interesting, Just now,
as ths scepe Of Pc operations Of The Burn
side Expedition. The turning point of the
eOas. i6 Cape Hhttsraa, the PoiHt specially IA
nous foS terrific storms and e such, dreaded
BY ell sailors, whether old salts or landsmen
up0a tkslFaFSt voyags here is WhsrO The
Burnside feet suffered 10 terribly rom the
gale. Just below the Cape Is Hstteras Inlet,
where forts CLARK and Hatteras are situated,
and whence the expedition entered the Sound.
Having once entered this great inland sea,
The feet has command of The whole coast Of
NorthOarolina, viii all the seaboatd cities and
the rivers flowing into the Sound. The map
extends back from the coast far enough to show
the railroad system Of the State, with ita i'm
pOrtsnt strategic points. Its generally sup
posed-as We pointed out few days ago
that The main point 70 which the Burnside
force win directi.s attention, Is GOldsborO',
on the Railroad line between Richmond and
the Southern States. Goldpboro' Is situated
fifty miles inland from Newbern, and iB con.
nected with It over 9 level country by the
Atlantic and North Carolina Railroad, and by
the Eeuse river. NeRbern Is situated at the
confluence of the Neuse and Trent near the
head Of a sound or extended hay, which it
self empGss into Pamlieo Sound, the COM
mand of both the principal entrances to
which-Hatteras and 0craeoke Inlets-has
been secured by the national forces. New
bern is the port Of entry Of North Carolina
and is the chief town of Craven county. 1t
is sitnAted at the confluence Of the Neuse
and Trent rivers, the Neuse being over a mile
wide in front of the town. It has popula-
ton Of about Eve thousand persons.
But If GoldsborO' was In our possession,
there would still be an indirect and round
about connection between Eastern Virginia
and the Southern States BY way Of Raleigh
the capital Of the State. Raleigh is but for
ty. eight miles from GoldsbOro' upon the
North Carolina Railroad. This road extends
beyond Raleigh to Charlotte, where 1t con-
meets with the South Carolina roads for Co
lumbia and Charleston. Raleigh is also con.
nected with Richmond by g Railroad to Gas
ton, (seen in the msp) and thence northward
If those two points can be taken and held
Goldsboro' and Rsleigh-the communication
between Eastern Virginia and the Southern
Atlantic States can be completely cut off,
Whether the disasters which befel the expe
dition were sufficient to prevent this being
done. we are not yet informed. At last 40
counts, Gen. Burnside and Commodore Colds
borough were confident and hopeful. The
latter reported-as we learned by our special
dispatches of FHday-thst his vessels, sew,
enteen in number, mounting rty-eight heavy
guns, most Of them riAed, were all in thC
sound ready for work. His efforts will b
directed against the towns upon the coss
while Gen. Burnside pushes into the interior
Another very important strategic point L
Roanoke Island, between Pamlico and Abe
marie Sounds. This being taken and held
all rebel communication between the Sound
would be cut OF, while it will also threater
Norfolk by the canal through the Disma
Swamp. The Pasquotank river, which ha
its rise In the Dismal Swamp, flows into thi
Sound. A canal, called the Dismal Swami
canal, connects this river with Drummont
Lake in Dismal Swamp. This lake is abou
thirty miles in length, and from ten to twelvu
miles in breadth. When full, the surface o
the lake is twenty-sne feet above tide water
Another canal-the Jericho canal-nOt lAi'
down in the map, connects this lake with Suf
folk, through which the railroads leading t
Norfolk pass. Suffolk is upon the Eansemon'
river, eighty-fvs miles northeast Of Rich
mond, and twenty miles from Hampton Roads
Nansemond river enters Hampton Roads, an'
is navigable for vessels Of ten feet of wste
from Suffolk.
Should the frat object of the expedition b
neither Raleigh nor Norfolk, it may be Vel
don. This place is upon the Roanoke river
at the hsad Of steamboat navigation, on
hundred and fifty miles from its mouth
Weldon is an important point four railroad
diverging from il, viz: one to GOldSborO an
Wilmington, one to Raleigh, one to Ports
mouth and Norfolk, and one to Petersburg
and Richmond. The first Is one hundred an
sixty-two mile in length, the second ninety
seven miles, the third eighty miles, and tn
fourth one hundred and eighty-siE miles
Richmond.
The rebels also anticipate, as would apes
from dispatches from the South, an attack o
Wilmington. This city Is situated on th
left bank Of Cape Fear river, lust below th
entrance Of its northeast branch, thirty-fOu
miles from the sea, one hundred and thirty
Eve miles southeast from Raleigh, and on
hundred and eighty miles northeast frol
Charleston. The Wilmington and Raleig
Railroad extends from here north to Weldon
on the Roanoke river, one hundred and sixty
two miles, and forms part Of the great higt
way Of travel north and south. AnothC
railroad IVES not long since opened froI
Washington to Manchester, in South Carol
na, where It connects with the Csmde
Branch Railroad.
We have thus given a brief sketch Of Il
prominent points likely to be threatened b
the Burnside expedition, which, with the maj
will enable our readers 10 follow intelligent
its operations as reported daily in the regulf
tslegraphic reports and OurSpeCial diSpstche
We now subjoin