THE BURNSIDE EXPEDITION: The Brilliant Successes in North Carolina; Full Reports from Our Special Correspondent (2/15/1862)

New York Times - Times Machine ^ | 2/15/1862

[Homer_J_Simpson]

PAMLICO SOUND, Friday, Feb. 6, 1862.

As we are on the eve of most important events, I shall be obliged to make but a brief reference to the daily routine of the Expedition, and only recite what may be necessary to preserve the thread of my narrative from the date of my last letter.

Tuesday, the 4th, was stormy; a gale prevailed from the northeast, and it rained heavily during the night. A change of wind to the northwest, however, brought with it clear weather on the 5th, and we once more basked in the warm rays of a cheering sunlight. A large amount of business was transacted by Capt. RICHMOND, the Adjutant-General.

The steamer Suwanee left for Fort Monroe at 3 P.M., while your reporter was preparing to inclose to the TIMES the General Order No. 5 which Gen. BURNSIDE had just issued to the troops. The simple brevity and directness of this address; its carefulness for the property of the citizens of the State; as well as the patriotic and humane spirit which inspired it, will secure general respect for its author. It was read to the troops, and was hailed with admiration, as well for its sentiments as for the proof which it gave that a movement of some kind was contemplated soon.

The following is a copy of Gen. BURNSIDE's first address to the troops:

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF NORTH CAROLINA,

PAMLICO SOUND, Feb. 3, 1862.

GENERAL ORDER, No. 5. -- This expedition being about to land on the soil of North Carolina, the General Commanding desires his soldiers to remember that they are here to support the Constitution and the Laws, to put down rebellion, and to protect the persons and property of the loyal and peaceable citizens of the State.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Free Republic University, Department of History presents U.S. History, 1861-1865: Seminar and Discussion Forum
The American Civil War, as seen through news reports of the time and later historical accounts

First session: November 21, 2015. Last date to add: May 2025.
Reading: Self-assigned. Recommendations made and welcomed.

Posting history, in reverse order

https://www.freerepublic.com/tag/by:homerjsimpson/index?tab=articles

To add this class to or drop it from your schedule notify Admissions and Records (Attn: Homer_J_Simpson) by reply or freepmail.

Link to previous New York Times thread

https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/4038159/posts

[Homer_J_Simpson]

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[Homer_J_Simpson]

The Burnside Expedition: The Brilliant Successes in North Carolina – 2-8
Important from Missouri: Price’s Forces Driven from Springfield – 8
Fort Donelson Attacked: Desperate Fighting for an Entire Day – 9
Important from Washington: Result of the Mission of Messrs. Fish and Ames – 9-10
Editorial: The Battle of Roanoke – 10-11
Editorial: The Campaign-Gen. McClellan’s Promises and their Fulfilment – 11
Editorial: The Rebel Retreat from Missouri – 11-12
Wykoff and Sickles – 12
From Ship Island: Arrival of the Gunboat Massachusetts – 12
Amusements – 12
Death of Pat Mathews – 12

[GrandJediMasterYoda]

I’ll never understand in a million years how they set that type every day. First off all the letters are reversed for it to print right side up, so they would have to spell out words using reversed type unless they used mirrors? But look how many words there are! And they did this EVERY day letter by letter???

[Homer_J_Simpson]

I guess that’s why the normal NY Times edition had only 8 pages instead of 50.

[katana]

I so deeply appreciate every posting of the "Newspaper of Record" from the dates one hundred and sixty years ago. Especially being directly descended from one soldier serving at the time under Grant and Sherman somewhere in the "west"

But the gloss The New York Times put on news from the front, which we now know at this point in the struggle was mostly bad for Union forces, is a reminder that "spin" is nothing new. The same namesake rag can be seen every day performing the same gyrations on behalf of the Democrats and the Biden Circus.

[BroJoeK]

Including "tomorrow's" engagement at Little Sugar Creek, Arkansas, here is the latest summary of engagements won & lost.
Note that since January 1862, the weight of wins vs. losses has begun to swing in the Union's favor.
But there are still 53 engagements in Union states & territories, versus only 30 in Confederate states.
So as of "today" it is still very much a "War of Confederate Aggression".

Summary of Civil War Engagements as of February 17, 1862:
Engagements in Confederate states:

State	Union Victories	Confederate Victories	Inconclusive	Total Engagements
South Carolina	1	1	1	3
Virginia	4	11	5	20
North Carolina	1	0	0	1
Florida	1	0	0	1
Louisiana	0	1	0	1
Tennessee	2	0	0	2
Arkansas	0	0	1	1
Total Engagements in CSA	10	13	7	30

Engagements in Union states/territories:

State	Union Victories	Confederate Victories	Inconclusive	Total Engagements
Maryland	1	0	1	2
West Virginia	9	2	2	13
Missouri	11	9	1	21
New Mexico	0	5	0	5
Kentucky	4	3	2	9
Oklahoma	0	3	0	3
Total Engagements in Union	25	22	6	53
Total Engagements to date	35	35	13	83