| From the Macon (Ga.) Telegraph |
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| July 21, 1862 |
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| 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 railroad communication between Weldon and Gaston, but this can be
easily destroyed, and the enemy thus delayed until 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 that 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 despatches 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 Enquirer |
| {The railroads around
Weldon were the Wilmington & Weldon, the Raleigh & Weldon and
the Petersburg. The railroad between Danville and Greensboro was the
Piedmont RR} |
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