Delaware State journal and statesman., 1862-04-11
OPERATIONS OF GENERAL BURNSIDE.
he Taking Of Washington, N. U
OFFICIAL DESPATCH.

Loyalty of the People-Refugees frOm se-
cessiOn Tyranny.
The following communication has heen tOTWar-
ded to the Navy Department by Commander
Rowan;
u. s. SlEAMER LOUISIANA,
Washington, NJ c. March 26, 1862
lSU-ln obeiience tu your orders OF the 10Th
instant, proceeded to this place, arriving at the
uhstructions about five miles below on the morn
ing of the 2lst. Tue naval column consisted of
this vessel, the Delaware, Lieutenant Command
ing Quackenbush, aud the Commodore Perry,
Lieutenant Commanding Plusser. We were
accompanied 10 the distractions by the steamer
Admiral, an army transport, with eight compa-
nies of the Twenty fourth Regiment Massachu-
selis Volunteers, Colonel Stevens and a email
tuyhoat We met with no resistance, the hattie
ries having been abandoned aud their armament
removed
| BY blasting add other processes we soon forced
channel through the piles though they had
| been driven very deep in trIple rows and cut oil
three (3) feet below the surface. At eleven last
night we arrived abreast the town, the
Delaware bringing from the transport the ileld
officers two companies and the regimenta band,
The authorities, with many of the citizens met
us on the wharf, where / briefly explained 10
them the object Of our visit, The military then
formed, and We proceeded to the Court House,
where with all tue Gel emonies, we hOsled the
" Flag of the Unlonn The troops returned to
the Delaware with unbrOken ranks.
found on further consultation with the au-
thoritles on whom | made my demand for the
restoration Of the Hatleraa light property llat
underlying an apparent aequiescence Of the
people Of the town and neighborhOOd in permit
ting the building Of gunbOats and the cOustruc-
ton OF batteries to repel The approach Of the
Federal forces, MAS deep rooted affection fol
the old Union, and not n little anmosity for ts
enemies the latter element not being diminished
by The importation of troops from u distant State
The result of this state of Affairs was 10 be au-
tlr pl,vL The abandonment Of its defences by
The troops followed by the destruction of whai
remained OF Confederate property by the people
| The launches and sunbOats had been toWet
r several miles up the river, loaded with turpen
tine, and fired on the night Of our arrival.
) A few hundred bushels Of meal and corn, LEI
in the COmmissary store was distributed to th
3 poor by my orders.
s The most valuable part of the Hatteras ligh
property, the lenses, have been taken to Tarbo
\ rough. | have hopes of their recovery, through
a the fundamentally of the people of Washington
K The rest Of the property Is secured with channe
hunys and mooring5.
II la addition to the batteries on the other sid
= Of the distractions, the enemy had thrown u
:. breastworks east of the town, extending half
mile. They also had fortified their camp, Whic
commanded the hlgh foAu' n bketuh oi the rlfs
from the distractions to the bridge above th
town is enclosed; il includes all the fertilization
y The woods and swamps in this and Hyde count
~ are represented being alive with refugees fro
10 the draft. Many Of them, encouraged by OF
presence, came in. They are deep and bitter
le their denuneiatons of the Secession hereey, al
u promise a regiment, if called for, to aid in Il
be restoration OF the flag.
re- A. MURRAY,
Dill Lieutenant Commanding Column.
oil To Commander s. C. Rowan, commanding Nav
Forces, Albemarle aud Pamlico Sounds, Nor
~ Carolina.