The third great Naval and Military Expedition.-Rendezvous at Fortress Monroe.—Composition of the Expedition. Commander-in-chief.-General Burnside.—Birth and education. -Military career.—A memorable feat.-Resigns in the army.--A gun-manufacturer.-Unsuccessful business.-Cheated by Floyd.-The Burnside Rifle.-Heavy Losses. On the Illinois Central Railroad.-Intimacy with General McClellan.-Residence in New York.-Invited to Rhode Island.-In command of the First Rhode Island Regiment.-In Washington.-His energy in discipline.— At the Battle of Bull Run.---Opposed to that Battle.-A Brigadier-General —A Major-General.—Personal appearance and character.-Life of Goldsborough.-Naval career.-Long service.-Commander-in-chief of the Fleet.— Departure of the Expedition.-Arrival at Hatteras.-The trials and misfortunes of the Voyage.-Delay.-The first movement.-Roanoke Island.-Description. The Enemy's defences.-The attack by Union gun-boats.-Landing of troops.-A spirited charge.-Victory.-Destruction of the Enemy's fleet.-Losses and Gains.-Capture of Elizabeth City. 1862. THE third great naval and military | County, Indiana, on the 23d of May, expedition designed to act upon 1824. In 1842, at the age of nineteen, the Southern coast, and thence to he entered the Military Academy at West advance into the interior of the Confed- Point, and graduated in 1847, when he erate States, in co-operation with the became a second lieutenant in the Second Federal armies, after rendezvousing at United States Artillery. In September Jan, Fortress Monroe, sailed thence at of the same year, being transferred to II. midnight on the 11th of January. the Third Artillery, he served in the comThe expedition, consisting of over a pany of Captain Bragg, now one of the hundred steam and sailing vessels, trans- foremost generals in the enemy's service, ports, gun-boats, and tugs, and from and marched with General Patterson's fifteen to twenty thousand troops, chiefly division to Mexico, where he remained from New England, had been in prepa- until the end of the war. ration but two months, and yet was one of the most complete and formidable ever fitted out. General Ambrose Everett Burnside was chosen the commander-in-chief-an officer who had, by the completeness of his military education, his enterprising character, and the patriotic spirit he had already exhibited ever since the first call to arms, inspired the utmost confidence in his leadership. Burnside was born at Liberty, Union Subsequently, while second lieutenant in the same company, he was engaged for several years in the campaign against the Indians of New Mexico, and in August, 1849, greatly distinguished himself in a skirmish with the Apaches at Los Vegas, routing them, killing eighteen, capturing nine, and a number of horses. For his spirit and success on this occasion he was promoted to a first lieutenancy. In the commission appointed to settle the boundary line between Mexico and the United States, Burnside served as quartermaster; and in 1851, as bearer of dispatches from Colonel Graham to President Fillmore, performed the memorable feat of riding on horseback with an escort of but three men, from the Gila River across the plains, in seventeen days, over a space of 1,200 miles through a region beset by hostile Indians. Burnside was now posted at Fort Adams, in Newport Harbor, but, like many of the most enterprising of our officers, tiring of the inactivity of a military station, in peace, resigned his commission in 1853, and sought in civil life a more stirring scene of labor. Having invented a "breech-loading rifle," he devoted himself to its manufacture, in which he was encouraged to embark all his means, during the administration of Buchanan, by the promise of the secretary of war, Floyd, that it would be adopted by the Government. In the mean time, that unscrupulous public officer is supposed to have made a contract with another inventor, by whom he was promised a share of the profits, and the "Burnside rifle" was refused the Government patronage. This sudden withdrawal of the expected custom of a prodigal purchaser deprived Burnside of the anticipated profits of his manufactory, and involved him in great losses. The establishment at Bristol, R. I., was subsequently sold to his brother-in-law, who, with a change of rule, has been more fortunate in securing the custom of the Government, which has purchased considerable quantities of his rifles, now extensively used in the army. Burnside was soon after employed by the Illinois Central Railroad Company as the President of the Land Office Department, and had the credit of having perfected the time-table arrangement for their railroad trains. On receiving this appointment, he removed with his wife, whom he had married at Bristol, in Rhode Island, to Chicago, where he renewed and strengthened his relations with General McClellan, then associated with him in the service of the Illinois Central Railroad Company. Burnside, subsequently appointed treasurer of the company, removed to New York, where he was living when invited by Governor Sprague, of Rhode Island, to take the command of the First Regiment of Volunteers of that State. Having already, while a resident of Bristol, served as major-general of the militia of Rhode Island, he readily accepted the call to lead his former comrades, and marched with the regiment to Washington. Here, during the days of anxiety and doubt, when the capital was in danger, Burnside became conspicuous for his energy in preparing his soldiers for duty. His regiment was noted for its discipline and perfection of appointment. At the battle of Bull Run he served as a brigadier-general, and was in the advance on that disastrous day, giving an example of self-command and intrepidity which, if it had been generally followed, might have turned the defeat into a victory. He, however, is supposed to have strenuously objected, from what he EXPEDITION TO PAMLICO. knew of the imperfect condition of the army of the Potomac, to trust it at that early day in an assault upon an intrenched enemy. Burnside's merits were at once recognized by the Government, and he was soon made a brigadier, and subsequently a major-general. The leadership of the expedition, as will be proved by its history, could not have been trusted to a more competent person. Burnside has all the characteristics of the popular hero. Tall and graceful in person, active in movement, a bold and skilful horseman, and confident in bearing, with a dash, perhaps, of defiance, which comes from his martial training, he is a noticeable person. Though lively and affable in conversation, and fond of society, there is a certain emphasis in manner, and a positiveness of opinion, denoting a self-reliance, independent of the applause of those who surround him. A high forehead and projecting eyebrows are the external indications of the man of reflection, and his premature baldness giving greater gravity to his appearance, adds to the impression of the seriousness of his character. Though at this time but thirty-eight years old, he bore the appearance of much greater age. The chief command of the fleet was given to the veteran naval officer Goldsborough. Louis M. Goldsborough was born in Maryland, but received his appointment in the navy, which he entered at an early age in 1812, from the District of Columbia. He had thus been in the naval service for more than half a century. He had been employed at sea 61 for eighteen years; had been engaged twelve on duty ashore, and passed some eighteen without active occupation, when he was appointed to the command of the United States frigate Congress. From this vessel he was called to supersede Captain Stringham in the command of one-half of the Atlantic Blockading Squadron. He hoisted his flag on board of the steam frigate Minnesota, and had been stationed for some time in Hampton Roads, off Fortress Monroe, when he sailed as the commander-in-chief of the naval portion of General Burnside's expedition. Although by the act of Congress, which retires all officers who have served over forty-five years, Goldsborough is nominally withdrawn from the service, he has proved, by his active and able performance of duty, that he is really one of the most efficient commanders in the navy. While the great expedition was being fitted out, the utmost secrecy was affected, but although many at the North were perplexing themselves with speculations as to its destination, the enemy at the South, with their usual prescience, as will be seen, had been enabled to divine the direction of the blow and prepare for it, Although most of the vessels of the expedition left Hampton Roads during the night of January 11th, there were others which did not sail until the next, and even the day after. The expedition, like that to Port Royal, encountered a severe storm off the coast of Hatteras, which scattered the fleet, wrecked several vessels, and greatly damaged others. The principal portion, Jan. however, reached Hatteras Inlet, 13. and anchored there in safety. Some six vessels, four transports, a gun-boat, and floating battery were wrecked, but all those on board were rescued with the exception of a few who, being thrown on the coast of the enemy, were taken prisoners. The enemy had made formidable preparations for the defence of this im munication between our forces at Norfolk and those on dition' to attempt to force its way to Norfolk through either of these canals. our northern coast. It would be madness for any 'expe 66 seriously alarmed. Some injury, serious injury, indeed, might be done to the dwellers in Hyde, Beaufort, Craven, and Jones counties by marauding expeditions, but no strategic advantages could be secured to the enemy by any such course; and, if report speaks truth, General Burnside is not a man like Butler and others who delight in of the country, and our remarks will not apply to Newbern or Washington, or to an attempt to seize upon some the view of obtaining control of that work, either for the point on the Atlantic or North Carolina Railroad, with purpose of isolating Fort Macon or of advancing into the interior. These things are only conjectural, but as they Very naturally, the people on Pamlico Sound are rapine without a military object. Of course we speak now are neither impossible nor improbable, they naturally create no small anxiety in the minds of the people of Newbern and Beaufort incidentally. After reaching Hatteras Inlet, much difficulty was found in crossing the bar or swash, either in consequence of the great draft of the vessels, or some change in the depth of the channel from the shifting of the sand in the course of the storm.** A long delay ensued in getting the fleet into Pamlico Sound; but after great efforts, and by the use of the ordinary expedients of floats and tugs, the chief vessels were got over the bar, and the expedition was ready to commence operations. The first movement was to capture Roanoke Island, which commanded the approach approach to Albemarle mainland being called Croatan Sound, and that between Sound.† It was stated that the draft of many of the vessels was greater than had been reported, and, moreover, that instead of vessels drawing eight and a half feet being able to cross the bar, as General Burnside had been informed, none drawing over seven feet three inches could pass. †The following article, from the Wilmington Journal, (North Carolina) of January 20, will show how correct were the conjectures of the enemy, and at the same time supplies an accurate description of Roanoke Island and the rest of the field of operations : "The Norfolk Day Book asserts, as though with knowledge, that they are destined for Elizabeth City. Probably this point is suggested or indicated as being at or near the southern terminus of the two lines of water communication between Albemarle Sound and Norfolk Harbor--the Dismal Swamp Canal and the Chesapeake and Albemarle Canal. The number of canal boats would appear to give some shadow of plausibility to this. It might be an object to seal up the navigation through these works, and thus cut off two important lines of transport and com "In order to go to Elizabeth City, it would be necessary for the flotilla to force its way into Albemarle Sound, which is connected with Pamlico Sound by a narrow strait some twenty miles long, which divides the mainland of Tyrrell County from the banks. Nearly in the middle of this strait lies Roanoke Island, which is about twelve miles in length and three in breadth. Roanoke Island divides the strait into two parts, that between it and the the island and the banks being called Roanoke Sound. The former, Croatan Sound, will possibly admit the passage of vessels drawing eight and a half to nine feet water --eight and three-quarters is marked on the Coast Survey at the shallowest point. This channel approaches at one part of its course within easy range of the island, from which batteries might command it. It could not be so easily commanded from the mainland. It is thus evident that Croatan Sound will allow the passage of vessels of as large a draught of water as can approach it from the sea, whether they enter by Hatteras or Ocracoke Inlet. The channel, however, is intricate and narrow, and capable of being readily obstructed, we should think. "The same narrowness of the channel would evidently preclude the possibility of any manœuvring by gun-boats or other vessels attacking any batteries on the island, and it seems to us they would be forced to pass certain points in single file. Once in Albemarle Sound, the shore can be approached with safety in twelve feet water, within three-fourths of a mile of the shore, save at two or three points. Any vessel that can enter Albemarle Sound can ascend the Pasquotank River to Elizabeth City. The Dismal Swamp Canal empties into the Pasquotank River, the |