(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
