NP, SMN 2/13/1862

From the Savannah Morning News
 
February 13, 1862
 
What If the Enemy Reach Weldon?
   Fears have been expressed that the Burnside expedition, by an advance up the Roanoke river to Weldon, may be able to cut off the railroad communication between Richmond and the cotton States through North Carolina. This is a mistake. The railroad from Raleigh to Richmond crosses the Roanoke at Gaston, eight miles above Weldon, and though we are not sure that the enemy's gunboats may not be able to reach Weldon at a high stage of the river, we are satisfied that they cannot get to Gaston. It is between these points, we think, that  a canal has been cut, or attempted, to render the river navigable above Weldon, and of course it will be an easy matter for the North Carolinians to destroy, obstruct or dispute the passage of the canal, if there is one available to gunboats. There is also a railroad communication between Weldon and Gaston, but this can be as easily destroyed, and the enemy thus delayed until a sufficient force is gathered to dispute his inland passage. His cavalry may make a flying visit from Weldon to Gaston and destroy the railroad and other property there, but they cannot hold the position without their artillery.
   A railroad from Goldsboro' to Raleigh connects the Wilmington & Weldon with the Raleigh & Gaston Railroad; so that a slight deflection only would be necessary to avoid Weldon by this route if the Federal gunboats should reach it. There is also a railroad communication nearly completed between Columbia, S. C., and Richmond, by way of Charlotte, Salisbury and Greensboro', N. C., and Danville, Halifax C. H., and Charlotte, Va. The only gap is between Greensboro' and Danville, about forty miles. This is the gap that the Secretary of War urged the Confederate Congress to fill up, as the road was one of military necessity, and the wisdom of the recommendation is now the more apparent.
   Our dispatches report the Federal gunboats pushing towards Edenton, N. C. This town is at the mouth of the Chowan river, and near the head of Albemarle Sound. From it the gunboats would be in position to advance up either the Roanoke river or the Chowan.
Columbus [Ga.] Enquirer

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