The Great Burnside Expedition

(From the Newbern Progress of Tuesday.)

Nothing would afford us more pleasure at this particular time than to be able to give a strictly correct account of the strength and condition of the Burnside Expedition.  We doubted some days ago whether there really had ever been such a thing in existence, and began to think it all a Yankee lie, but more recently we have become convinced that there is such a thing, and that what is left of it is actually at Hatteras.

The Country is so situated about Hatteras that it is difficult to get close to the enemy to take satisfactory observations without being observed.  We saw, however, and conversed with a gentleman direct from Portsmouth having left that place Saturday and arrived here Sunday night, who went to Ocracoke before leaving, took a horse and rode down the bank as near to the enemy as was safe, within 10 or 11 miles, and took as good an observation has he could with a glass.  He says he counted 93 vessels, about two thirds of which were steamers, all inside the bar and about 20 inside the Sound, and puts down the number at least 100.

(From The Newbern Progress of Monday.)

THE BURNSIDE FLEET – ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY FIVE VESSELS – AN ATTACK THOUGHT TO CERTAIN – NEWBERN, WASHINGTON AND ROANOKE THE POINTS.

The Albemarle arrived on Saturday between 3 and 4 o’clock, having left Portsmouth early Saturday morning, and we have learned from Col. Singletary, who was in command of the expedition, that he arrived at Portsmouth Wednesday evening after the storm had set in, so that it was impossible for him to make any observations himself, but he saw a Mr. Samuel Tolson, a Mr. Williams, and others, who had been applied to by the directors of the fleet to act as pilots, and those gentlemen assured him fleet was at Hatteras, numbering about 175 vessels, and represent that their force is 30,000 strong.

About one third of the fleet was in the Sound on Tuesday, on third in the Roads, and one third outside.  They were busy lightening vessels over the Swash, and as they would clear the roads by entering the Sound, others would come in from outside.  They said that the Yankees were very anxious to get pilots for the Croatan Sound and the rivers, which makes it seem that Roanoke, Edenton, Washington, and perhaps other places east of us are to be attacked and it is rendered certain that we are to be visited from the fact that the vessels they were lightening over could not attack any place but this.  These gentlemen also learned from them that they had lost three vessels and three men since they had come to Hatteras.  Also that New Orleans is to be attacked simultaneously with the attack here.

It is impossible to tell what effect the storm of Thursday and Friday had upon them but it must have been severe.  The Colonel says that Portsmouth was completely covered with water.  He thinks they must have suffered severely, for the gale was terrific, but it was impossible for him to learn anything of their condition later than Tuesday.

He reports the people of Portsmouth under arms and determined to defend themselves as best they can.  The women are apparently much alarmed.

Capt. Crosson went down the river yesterday on the Albemarle, and will probably return to-day, if so, we shall be able to give something further in relation to the movements of the fleet in our next.

THE BURNSIDE FLEET

GOLDSBORO’, Jan 28. – The Tribune of to-day saw a man who left Portsmouth on Saturday. – He said seventy five vessels could be seen from Portsmouth on Saturday.  The storm on Thursday and Friday was very severe.  Portsmouth was wholly submerged.  Several vessels were reported as stranded and there were some on Chickamacomico beach.  The Tribune says the fleet is certainly at Hatteras, and the attack is expected at Newbern and Roanoke perhaps Edenton, Elizabeth City and at other places.

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

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

Commodore Goldsboro’s Report

WASHINGTON, Feb. 27. – The Navy Department has received dispatches from Commodore Goldsboro, dated the 20^th inst.  He had received the official accounts of the visits of our vessels to Edenton and to the Carrituck canal.

The light house at Cape Hatteras may now be lighted with perfect safety.

The name of the men of war destroyed by our vessels since the fleet reached Hatteras Island are as follows.  The Sea Bird, flag steamer; the Curlew, and the Fanny, steamers; the Black Warrior, a schooner, the steamer Ellis, captured; a new gun-boat on the stocks at Elizabeth City was also destroyed, making seven vessels in all.  Each of the first six were remarkably well armed as gun-boats.  All of them, excepting the Curlew, were destroyed or captured in the attack on Elizabeth City.

As our forces took undisturbed possession of Edenton, part of a flying artillery regiment, variously estimated at from one hundred and fifty to three hundred, fled precipitately without firing a shot.  Many of the inhabitants also left in consequence.  There are no fortifications at or in the water approaches to Edenton.

Among the results of the expedition are the destruction of cannon and one schooner on the stocks at Edenton.  Two schooners were captured in the Sound – one having four thousand bushels of corn.  Six bales of cotton were taken from the custom house wharf.  There were no public stores in the town.  The custom house was empty.

Commodore Goldsboro says he remained two hours abreast the town and was visited by the authorities and others, many of whom professed sentiments of loyalty to the old Union.

A proclamation dated the 18^th inst. and signed jointly by Commodore Goldsboro and General Burnside, to the people of North Carolina says, the mission of the joint expedition is not to invade any rights, but to assert the authority of the United States and to close with them the desolating war brought upon the State by comparatively few men in their midst.

The Proclamation concludes as follows:  We invite you in the name of the Constitution, and in that of virtuous loyalty and civilization to separate yourselves at once from their malign influence and return at once to your allegiance and not to compel us to resort further to the force under our control.  The Government asks only that its authority may be recognized, and we repeat that in no manner or way does it desire to interfere with your laws, constitutionally established, your institutions of any kind whatever, your property of any sort, or your usages in any respect.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, March 1, 1862, p. 3

From Fortress Monroe

FORTRESS MONROE, Feb. 18. – A flag of truce carried several passengers to Norfolk this morning, but brought no news back.

Burnside’s forces still occupied Edenton, and had thrown out pickets some six or eight miles.  No mention is made of any further advance.

FORTRESS MONROE, Feb. 19. -  No further advance had been made by Gen. Burnsides [sic], nor was any immediately expected.

The gunboats had returned from Elizabeth City.  All the fleet were at anchor off Roanoke Island.

An immense amount of trophies had been captured, including the splendid state flag of North Carolina, worked by the ladies of that State.  Also quantities of antiquated arms.

Col. Corcoran and 700 other Federal prisoners are expected hourly to arrive at Old Point.

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

Report of Com. Goldsborough

WASHINGTON, Feb. 27.

The Navy Department has received dispatches from Com. Goldsboro [sic], dated 20th inst.  He had received the official accounts of the visit of our vessels to Edenton and to the Currituck canal.  The light house at Cape Hatteras may now be lighted with perfect safety.

The names of the men-of-war destroyed by our vessels since the fleet reached Hatteras Island, are as follows: The Seabird, flag steamer, the Curlew and the Wanny, all steamers, and the Black Warrior, a schooner.  The steamer Edisto was captured.  A new gunboat on the stocks at Elizabeth City was also destroyed, making seven vessels in all.  The first six were remarkably well armed as gunboats.  All of them, excepting the Curlew, were destroyed or captured in the attack on Elizabeth City.  As our forces took undisturbed possession of Edenton, part of a flying artillery regiment, variously estimated from 150 to 300, fled precipitately without firing a shot.

Many of the in habitants also left in consequence.

There are no fortifications at or in the water approaches to Edenton.

Among the results of the expedition ware the destruction of 8 cannon, and one schooner on the stocks at Edenton.  Two schooners were captured in the sound; one having 4,000 bu. of corn.  Six bales of cotton were taken from the custom house wharf.  There were no public stores in the town. – The custom house was empty.

Com. Goldsborough says he remained two hours abreast of the town, and was visited by the authorities and others, many of whom professed sentiments of loyalty to the old Union.

A proclamation, dated the 18th inst., and signed jointly by Com. Goldsborough and Gen. Burnside, to the people of North Carolina, says the mission of the joint expedition is not to invade any rights, but to assert the authority of the United States, and to close with them the desolating war brought upon the State by comparatively a few men in their midst.  The proclamation concludes as follows: “We invite you, in the name of the Constitution, in that of virtuous loyalty and civilization, to separate yourselves at once from their malignant influence to return to your allegiance, and not compel us to resort further to the force under our command.  The government asks only that its authority may be recognized and we repeat that in no manner or way does it desire to interfere with your laws constitutionally established, your institutions of any kind, or your property of any kind whatever, or usages in any respect.”

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Friday Morning, February 28, 1862, p. 1

From Fort Monroe

FORT MONORE, Feb. 18.

A flag of truce carried several passengers to Norfolk this morning, but brought no news back.

Burnside’s force still occupied Edenton, and had thrown out pickets some six or eight miles.  No mention is made of any further advance.

No further advance has been made by Gen. Burnside, nor was any immediately expected.  The gunboats had returned from Elizabeth City.  All the fleet were at anchor off Roanoke Island.

An immense amount of trophies had been captured, including the splendid State flag of North Carolina worked by the ladies of the State; also quantities of antiquated arms.

Col. Corcoran and 700 other Federal prisoners are expected hourly to arrive at Old Point.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Friday Morning, February 21, 1862, p. 1