From Gen. Burnside’s Expedition

PROVIDENCE, March 13. – A letter received here from a man in Gen. Burnside’s division, dated Roanoke Island, the 3d inst., announced that the report that the rebels were evacuating Manassas had reached Gen. Burnside.  He will therefore be on his guard.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, March 15, 1862, p. 3

There is the same material for . . .

. . . reconstruction in North Carolina.  Letters from the Burnside expedition speak of the Union demonstrations made at every point on the main land explored by our troops.  Among the documents captured at Roanoke was a letter from Jeff Davis to Com. Lynch, strongly urging “the importance of suppressing the Union sentiment existing among the people on these Sounds without a moment’s delay, a growing danger springing up in different sections of the Confederacy which will soon, if not put down, give us more trouble than the northern foe.”  The danger foreseen by Davis has already grown beyond his ability to suppress it.  A letter from Edenton, N. C., says –

“The authorities said the city was all Union, and that if we could protect the people in these counties we would have all the support the Government could desire, not only in Edenton, but throughout the entire State.  They said that they had not taken up arms against the Union, or suffered any fortifications to be erected about or near the city, or menaced the Government in any manner whatever.  On the contrary, they organized a Union company at the commencement of the rebellion, and continued to keep it up until a late day, when they were finally obliged to take a neutral position in order to save their lives and property from the vengeance of the Virginia rebels.  The county it appears is Union, two to one; as also are the eastern counties of the State, we are informed by the people, though they dare not openly express their sentiments.  It is truly an affecting scene to see with what reverence these oppressed Union people looked upon the stars and stripes.  I saw a group of men at Elizabeth city weeping under its ample folds, relating how much they had suffered since they had been deprived of its protection, kissing their hands at the proud emblem as they took their departure, wishing that their eyes might never again be insulted by the sight of the piratical flag of the rebellion.  I have been informed by many prominent Union men that just as soon as our forces can assure the people of this section of our ability to afford them permanent protection, that not only will we see at least two-thirds of the people arraying themselves openly on the side of the Union, but any number will volunteer to fight for the old flag.”

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, March 8, 1862, p. 2

The Burnside Expedition

WASHINGTON, Feb. 20. – A dispatch boat from Gen. Burnside’s Expedition has just arrived at Baltimore.

The official report of Gen. Burnside is now on its way to the War Department.

The Federal Losses at the battle of Roanoke Island were 50 killed and 222 wounded.  The rebel loss was 13 killed and 89 wounded.  The enemy were protected by their entrenchments and poured a destructive fire upon our advance columns, so that our loss is the heaviest.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, February 22, 1862, p. 3

Arrival of the Hibernian

The steamship Hibernian, from Liverpool on Thursday, the 13^th, via Londonderry 14^th, arrive here this afternoon.

American affairs had been debated in the House of Lords, and papers relative to the blockade of the Southern ports were promised shortly by Earl Russell.

The European political news is generally unimportant.

GREAT BRITAIN. – Parliament was discussing American affairs.  In the House of Lords, on the 10^th inst., Earl Carnarvon said he had received information that no less than three British subjects were confined in the prisons of the Federal Government, and had lain there for several months, denied a trial or their release, unless they took an oath of allegiance to the United States.

Earl Russell said that Lord Carnarvon could hardly have read the papers which had been laid on the table, for if he had, he would have seen that these cases had been brought under the notice of the Government.

Earl Maimsbury, in asking for the papers connected with the blockade, complained that the Times had deliberately represented that Earl Derby advocated its being forcibly raised.

Earl Russell said in reply to Maimsbury that on the first night he was glad to find that the noble Earl opposite had approved of the conduct of the Government, and the country must have full confidence when all its leading men agreed.  The papers were now being printed.  They would be in their lordships hands before long.  He hoped they would reserve their opinions till then, considering the importance of the question.

The London Daily News received the engagement at Mill Springs, Ky., as a genuine and important Federal success, and it thinks it may reasonably hope that the Federal troops engaged in it may be taken as a representative specimen of the Union army as it has become under McClellan.  The result of the rapid and decisive nation cannot be doubted.

FRANCE. – Paris letters say that Mr. Slidell had been received by Mr. Thouvenel in a private capacity, his diplomatic assumption of the character being entirely ignored.

LIVERPOOL, 13^th, P. M. – It is intended to dispatch the steamer Great Eastern for New York in April.

The London Times, of the 13^th, publishes further correspondence from Dr. Russell, dated from New York.  In it the writer says that the army of the Potomac is not likely to move till the winter is over, and that a mutinous spirit prevailed among the men, many of whom are better off than ever they were; and that the various expeditions by sea had so far accomplished nothing of moment.  The “affair” in Kentucky he regards as the greatest success yet achieved by the Federals.

Letters from Vienna are filled with most lamentable accounts of the [inundation].  The district submerged in Vienna alone comprises a population of 80,000 persons to be provided for.  Rain fell for four days almost without intermission.  Bridges and viaducts were destroyed, and the railroad services were nearly all suspended.

The Times in an editorial on Burnside’s expedition says the force engaged is plainly inadequate to the service expected, and if Burnside wishes success he will entrench himself, establish a good base of operations, and await reinforcements before renewing the risk of penetrating the enemy’s country.

The great exhibition building, in London, has been delivered up to the commissioners by the contractors.  It was virtually completed at noon on the 12^th inst., as stipulated in the contract.

The Sumter is still at Gibraltar.  Several of her crew who had landed wouldn’t re-embark.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Saturday Morning, March 1, 1862, p. 1

The Victory at Roanoke Island

As Roanoke Island has recently fallen into the hands of Government there is a natural desire to become fully acquainted with its geographical position in regard to important points still in the hands of the rebels.  From a lengthy article on the subject in the Cincinnati Gazette we compile some interesting facts.

Roanoke Island commands the strait between Pamlico Sound on the south, and Albemarle and Carrituck Sounds on the north, being about midway between them and all being separate from the ocean by the narrow sand spit which runs the whole length of the North Carolina coast.  The first English settlement in America was made on this island by Sir Walter Raleigh, in 1585.  The island is about fifty miles north of Hatteras Inlet, and nearly twenty miles long.  The rebels had an intrenched camp in the center, and five forts at the most commanding points.  They had been fortifying this island ever since the capture of Hatteras and owing to the treason, which notwithstanding the efforts of Government, still exists at the North, they were fully advised of the destination of the Burnside expedition long before it sailed, as they have been by the same means of every movement made or contemplated in this war.  Our soldiers fight treason in front and treason and treachery in the rear.

The question which now occurs to the people is, what is the strategic value of this situation?  As the natural advantages of it to an invading army, North Carolina is open before it, “where to choose,” for two hundred miles north and south, penetrated by numerous rivers, bays and lagoons, giving access to many important towns, but of course we cannot appropriate all this wealth of opportunities, nor do our expeditions go about destroying towns.  About twenty miles north of the island is the foot of Albemarle Sound, which stretches west sixty miles, and from five to fifteen miles broad.  At the head of the bay, Chowan River enters from the north-west, by which our lightest draft boats could probably ascend to a point forty or fifty miles below the line of the railroad, which runs from the great North and South line at Weldon, N. C., to Norfolk, Va.  Carrituck Sound runs along the coast from the foot of Albemarle Sound to within thirty miles of Norfolk.  It is navigable for vessels of light draft, but cannot be regarded as much more commanding than the sea itself, near and parallel to which it runs.

Near the foot of Albemarle Sound Pasquatunk river, a broad, shallow arm of the Sound, enters from the northwest.  At the head of this, twenty miles from the Sound, is Elizabeth City, where our vessels captured the rebel gunboats, and which the rebels set on fire.  This place is connected with Norfolk by navigation, partly by a small stream and partly by the Dismal Swamp Canal.  At the head of Albemarle Sound is Edenton, which has also surrendered to our forces.  There are many towns accessible by the various streams and sounds but the country from the coast to near the head of Albemarle Sound is generally swampy, except near the margin of the sounds and lagoons.  For sixty miles from the cost the country is a chaos of land and water.

The enemy has railroad lines for transferring troops from Petersburg, to Richmond and Manassas, to resist any advance of our troops into their interior.  Therefore it will be seen that an advance must be supported by large re-inforcements, or by an aggressive movement from the Potomac that would prevent the diversion of troops from Manassas or Richmond to resist Burnside.  His force is supposed to be from 15,000 to 18,000.  It is not sufficient to advance far into a hostile country which has railroad communication with an army of 100,000 to 200,000 men, unless it is supported by a general movement from the Potomac.

The railroad lines below Petersburg give the rebels means of concentrating their forces either in the direction of Norfolk or Weldon.  It is presumed that other movements are to be made in combination with this; and that warned by the inadequate result of the former expedition to that vicinity, the general in command has made arrangements to support this by the general movement of his strategic plan, which will result in the capture of Norfolk and Richmond.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Tuesday Morning, February 18, 1862, p. 2

O. Jennings Wise dead – Com. Lynch Drowned – Other Officers Prisoners

PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 14.

The Inquirer has a special dispatch about the Burnside expedition, saying that the enemy was pursued for several hours, and that two complete regiments on their way to reinforce the fort were captured.  Every road was lined with the guns, knapsacks and clothing of the wounded, dead and dying.

Gov. Wise’s son was shot through both legs and the longs, and died the following day.  Acting Brigadier-General Hill, and Colonels Shaw, Gordon and Green were captured, with a large number of subordinate officers.

The Federal gunboat Com. Perry [ran] down the rebel flag ship Sea Bird, having on board Com. Lynch, cutting her apart.  Our men boarded her, and during the encounter which ensued a portion of her officers and crew jumped overboard, and others had their brains knocked out with handspikes.

Rebel accounts state that Com. Lynch has not yet been heard from.  He was probably drowned during the fight.

Assistant Secretary of the Navy Fox has also received a private letter, in which it is stated that the number of killed of our navy is about 20, and of the enemy about 30.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Monday Morning, February 17, 1862, p. 1

The Burnside Expedition

Pres. Lincoln Revisits its Destination.

We learn from excellent authority that during the recent visit of the Finance Committee of our Board of Trade to Washington, an informal visit was paid to President Lincoln, by whom the Committee was received with all of his well known affability and cordiality.  Encouraged by the President’s Open manner, one of the old members of the Committee made bold to attack him on the topic nearest his own heart when the following dialogue ensued:

“Mr. President, I wish you will tell me where the Burnside expedition has gone?”

“Why, don’t you know where they have gone?  I thought everybody knew that.”

“Well sir, it may appear very ignorant in me, but I must confess I don’t know, and that I would like to know, exceedingly.”

“You really surprise me, sir.  The papers have been full of it; everybody has been talking of it, and I did not suppose there was anybody who did not know all about it.  Of course I will tell you if you will promise not to give me your authority.”

The Gentleman promised solemnly.

The President drew his chair close to him, and with his hand carefully interposed between him and the rest of the company, whispered, with mysterious emphasis –

“The Burnside expedition, sir, has gone TO SEA!” – Philadelphia Bulletin

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Saturday Morning, February 15, 1862, p. 2