Year: 1862

FROM the RlcnmOnd DlSpatcn, teD. IL.
Until within day two past, the capture Of Roanoke
Island by Burnside pds considered foegone conclusion.


feet of nearly hundred sail and army of fifteen
twenty thousand with guns and equipments pro-


fusion, esteemed equal TO the capture of any
posed piece Of water bound land like the island ques
ton But the brave resistance offered for nearly two
days by troops and the hopeful terms in which they
spoke of their prospects, led people to believe that
the island might be held Il has however, been lost,
and compelled to resign ourselves the conclu
sion which day or two Of hope-we confess rot strong
in our own case-had unsettled


Burnside has landed, after hard fght seaboard


island not advantageousy situated, nor encompassed
by rich surroundings Of country Beaufort His OBJ


ect supposed by somo TO be Norfolk but if we are to
believe the recent ougvings Of Northern journals, his
leading purpose s to make demonstration against the
Weldon and Wilmington Railroad, with view to cutting
our great line Of Southern communication. That thing
for the present to be the special of the enemy
erery quarter. His in Western Kentucky aud
Tennessee have that single object for the present


in view and has been repeatedly declared by Northern
journals that Burnsides primary purpose demonstra
tion upon railroad. It remains to be whether
such be his real design, and with what success he will
prosecute it, The experience Of Sherman in q similar
undertaking may possibly be his


An assault upon Norfolk is the only object next after
this railroad enterprise commensurate In importance
with the magnitude Of the exped In such under
taking the enemys vessels could be Of little direct USE
The water approaches to that city from North Carolina
narrow tortuous and easily obstructed to admit
the Of vessels; and il the enemy attempts land
attack the chances in favor Of repeing him are


two or three to The reduction Of Norfolk would DO
the work OF months and could only be effected by large
increase OF Burnsdes forces, increase which tho
Yankee sxchequer is not able to afford for an
operation stretching through protracted Pc
ricd. Nothing at all saW their treasury,
and noihing can keep the Wdr foot but
rapid oreratioNs and decisive Yet do not
wherein the Burnside expedition promises these re-
suits more unmistakably than Shsrmans did which
| landed in November, nearly three months ago.


Measured by its cost 10 the enemy, not the cap
ture Of Norfolk if it could be Effected would conpen
safe him for his outays, and this at last Is the true
standard by which his should be estimated
Tho South need not expect and cannot nationally ex-
pcct that these huge expeditions, fitted ont at Immense
expense should fail TO effect any achievement Fifteen
twenty thousand landed anywhere upon our sea


board must succeed in getting possession II would be
idle to expect otherwise and mbece to be discouraged
by the fact The true consideration is, whether such
| successes repay their cost.


Measured by this standard the achisvem OF tho
Burnside expedition not likely to be very important.
rs cost cannot hare been less, in the first instance than ten
millions OF dollars, ana rs charges frery day are al least
quarter Of million. 1t has been thirty days prose-
cutting its to the point Of capturing Roanoke Island


feat which has the federal government several
Millions Independently Of the first outlay tho enter
prise, and the losses incurred by thestorm If tho
pedton should succeed in capturing the whole Carolina
seaboard and considerable slice of the country
besides egsther with Norfolk still the fifteen twenty
millions Of federal money laid out in the whole operation
would not be reimbursed by half.


We are not Of those ho suffer discorasenent from
rondI Of the enemy. They have far overtaxed
the resources Of the North in bringing their prodgous
forces into the field. Tho effect may be damage
considerably, but they damaging themselves much
The injury they nnct upon is local and
dabc; that which they bring upon themselves in debt
| and taxation, is general universal and enduring They
have chosen gigantic and expensive programme which
l must break down, and which succsssss, however
1 great, can compensate the cost Of