THE BURNSIDE EXPEDITION.

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concentrating in Virginia , and holding possession of the inland waters on theAtlantic coast.

After the approval of the plan, I was ordered to New York to lit out thefleet; and on the 23d of’October orders were issued establishing my head-quarters for the concentration of the troops of the division at Annapolis .Troops arrived from time to time at Annapolis , and all went well in thecamp, which was established on beautiful grounds just outside the town.The improvement in drill and discipline was very rapid, hut affairs did notprogress so smoothly at the headquarters in New York . There was greatdifficulty in procuring vessels of a light draught, almost everything of thatsort having already been called into service; but after much difficulty I wasenabled to report to General McClellan on the 12th of December that a suf-ficient amount of transportation and armament had been secured for thedivision. It was a motley fleet. North River barges and propellers had beenstrengthened from deck to keelson by heavy oak planks, and water-tightcompartments had been built in them: they were so arranged that parapetsof sand-bags or bales of hay could be built upon their decks, and each onecarried from four to six guns. Sailing vessels, formerly belonging to the coast-ing trade, had been fitted up in the same manner. Several large passengersteamers, which were guaranteed to draw less than eight feet of water, togetherwith tug and ferry boats, served to make up the fleet, which gave a capacityto transport 15,000 troops, with baggage, camp-equipage, rations, etc. Light-draught sailing vessels were also added to the fleet, on which were storedbuilding material for bridges, rafts, scows, intrenching implements, quarter-masters’ stores, tools, extra ordnance stores, etc. All of these vessels wereordered to rendezvous at Fort Monroe. Coal and water vessels were charteredin Baltimore , and ordered to rendezvous at the same place. The trans-ports were ordered to Annapolis Harbor, at which point, after most morti-fying and vexatious delays, they all arrived by the 4th of January, 1862,and on this day were promulgated the orders for embarkation, which werereceived with most enthusiastic cheers from one end of the camp to the other.

I had organized the division into three brigades, which were placed in com-mand of General J. G. Foster, General Jesse L. Reno, and General John G.Parke , three of my most trusted friends. We had been cadets together atWest Point, and I had always entertained for them the greatest confidence andesteem. In all future operations in the expedition, our close friendly relationswere maintained, and I was never disappointed in any reliance which I placedon their gallantry, skill, and integrity. I had been notified by General McClel-lan that our destination would be Hatteras Inlet, with a view to operations inthe inland waters of North Carolina .

On the 5th of January the troops began to embark. During that day therewere some delays, which resulted from inexperience in the manoeuvring of thevessels and in the new work to which they were unaccustomed. On thatnight, snow to the depth of from two to three inches fell, which gave to thecamp and surrounding country, on the morning of the 6th, a most picturesqueappearance. Regiment after regiment struck their tents and marched to the