Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-01-14
THE BURNSIDE EXPEDITION.


The fate of the republic will probably be
decided within the next two months. If the
movements now afoot should fail TO break the
power of the rebellion, all faith in the capacity
of the present administration OF the war de-
partment to deal with it successfully will dis
appear. Our forces are in motion, and the
signs Indicate that great results will be reached
before the present month closes Foremost
among the agencies relied on for success is
the Burnside expedition in which there are
five regiments and one battery from Massachu.
sets, two of the regiments being from Worces-
ter county, and one OF them to large extent,
from this city.
Where will the Burnside expedition land
The rebels have prepared to receive it at Nor.
folk and up the Rappahannock and, at last
accounts, ;hey were beginning to make prep
arations for it at Roanoke island. 1t will not
surprise us to hear that this expedition has
passed into Abemarle sound at the most
available inlet this side OF Cape Hatteras. Nor
folk can be approached and threatened from
that direction. The Chowan river is naviga-
bic for vessels of light draft up to Winlon in
North Carolina, near the Virginia line, some
fifty miles from the point where this stream
enters Albemare sound. The inland waters
of North Carolina navigable in other di-
rections, and some very important results
might be achieved there by such an expedi-
lion. Il would not be difficult to get control
of the railroad communication to Norfolk, or
between Richmond and the gulf states.
The secret of the expedition has been well
kept and the public have been cleverly mysti-
fed in regard TO it. We cannot know certain
ly where it will operate until we get an au-
thentic account of its landing. The Burnside
expedition has been theme of lively discus
sion among the rebels. 1t is now some weeks
since Gen. Magruder fell into Mysteries over
it, and it is stated that he has been order
ed to burn Yorktown should Gen. Burnside
land anywhere near that place. The southern
newspapers have discussed it at great length.
The Norfolk Day Book of Jan. 9th, says: =
Information reached this city last evening,
10 the effect thar federal fleet had made lis
appearance on Pamiico Sound The feet
consists Of twenty gunboats, drawing from
five 10 six leet Of water and carrying some
OF them, five guns. They were first discov.
cred by Capt. Hunter, who, while reconnot.
ering, was shot at by them On his return to
the island he reported the TACT and our forces
proceeded az once to place themselves in a
state OF readiness for an attack This is sup.
posed to be a portion Of the Burnside expedi.
ton, and il is thought by some That its object
Is 10 prepare tor an attack upon Norfolk from
tue rear However this may be, one thing is
certain, and that is, that should this be their
programme, they will find it a hard road to
travel before they get to the end OF it. We
trust that our friends OF Roanoke island will
make every preparation to successfully resist
the foe, and that when lie shows battle they
will keep themselves cool and their powder
dry, and by their valor cause another ''mas.
terly retreat upon the part OF the Hessians."
A letter to the Richmond Dispatch, dated at
Norfolk, Jan. 7th, discourses on the subject in
this Style
There are new rumors about the grand
armada OF gunboats, rotten hulks, and dear
bought transport ships. OF course they are to
come to Hampton Roads, take their position
under the iort-scarcely eleven miles distant
have a drunken spree at Segar's hotel, and
then come in grand style up to Norfolk, level
ing the Sewalls Point batteries to the ground,
knocking Craney Island clear from its tounda-
ton, and ling it up over the mainland, blow
ing up old Fort Norfolk and the magazine,
demolishng the splendid stone structure aud
model hospital On the opposite shore, taking
quiet possession of Norfolk and Portsmouth
helping themselves to the Navy Yard, and SO
forth and so on. But to be little more
serious-a gentleman recently from the north
says the expedition is intended for Norfolk
and the correspondent OF western paper
says it is certainly designed for the waters
of eastern Virginia, including Elizabeth and
its branches"
Evidently the rebels feel that such an ex.
petition could approach Norfolk and attack ii
successfully. Perhaps General Burnside will
rebels suppose.