The Sun.
London, England, 1861-11-11 00:00:00

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THE CIVIL WAR IN AMERICA.

The Arabia has brought us our private corre-
spondence and files of papers from New York up to
the 30th of October.
The following description of the great naval
expedition about to sail against some point 9f the
Southern Coast is given by a correspondent in New
York :
" The naval expedition, which in magnitude and
in the celerity with which it has been created and
equipped exceeds any enterprise that has ever been
undertaken by this Government, now lies at anchor
in Hampton Roads, and only waits for fair breezes
to carry it to its destination. Probably, as I write
it is already under way, unless, indeed, there
should chance to be truth in the rumour, published
this morning in the Tribune, that treachery has
been discovered in the staff of the commander.
Whatever may have been the misfortunes and short-
comings of the United States in the field, it is en-
titled to the greatest praise for the rapidity with
which it has raised and equipped this expedition.
When it is remembered that it is but a few days
more than six months since the nation was stunned
by the booming of the batteries that opened upon
Fort Sumter,—that at that time the army and navy
of the country were alike scattered over the globe
with scarcely a regiment or a ship at command,—
that nearly one-half of each service was demoralized,
and the officers known to be loyal to their country,
to the flag which they had sworn to defend, and to
their own honour, were purposely placed at distant
posts,—that the Treasury was bankrupt,—that
every bureau at Washington was filled with traitors
and spies,—and that the Cabinet officers had but
just taken the reins in hand, and were unused to
the duties of administration,—the results that have
been attained seem all the more wonderful and credi-
table. For several months past the several. navy-
yards still in possession of the Government have
been worked to their utmost capacities, building
gunboats, fitting transports, and equipping vessels
of war. The result of these separate labours, when
combined, is seen in this expedition, detailed ac-
counts of which may be found in most of the New
York papers of this week. From them I condense
the following brief statement of the number and
class of of the vessels engaged, and of the number
of the troops :—The naval part of the expedition
is commanded by Captain Dupont, the flag officer
of the Naval Coast Division extending from Hat-
teras Inlet to the Keys in Florida. From the fact
that he is selected for the command it is assumed
by some reasoners that the expedition is in-
tended for operation upon that part of the
Atlantic coast. This part of the expedition con-
sists of 27 men-otwar, with the Wabash (50 gun
frigate) as the flagship. Of the remaining 26
vessels 16 are gunboats, carrying each one 11-inch
Dahlgren gun, one Parrott rifled gun, and two 24-
pounder howitzers, and the remainder are frigates
or sloops of war, carrying from 16 to 50 guns. The
entire armament of the fleet is about 400 guns. The
transport fleet, which is to be conveyed by the
naval branch of the expedition, consists of 24 ocean
steamships of various tonnage, ranging from 3,400
American measurement to 450 tons. There are
also seven steam ferryboats and four sailing vessels,
—the Great Republic, 3,356 tons ; the Ocean Ex-
press, 1,697 tons ; the Golden Eagle, 1,128 tons;
and the Zenas Coffin, 338 tons. All these transport
vessels are armed, and carry in addition to the
troops immense quantities of provisions, ordnance,
and quartermasters' stores, bricks, frame houses,
shovels, picks, sandbags, horses, boats for landing
guns and men, timber, and ever other article likely
to be required for a campaign. The troops eeinnek
olifOilleiiiiiiitiexperienced officers in the
army of the United States, and affiliated politically
with the Republican party. He is a Rhode Islander
by birth, left West Point with the class of 1836,
and since then has been almost constantly in active
service in the Artillery. His brigadiers are Gen.
Viele, of New York, General Stevens, of Oregon,
and General Wright, of Connecticut, all West
Point men. The troops under his command will
probably number about 20,000 men, mostly from
New England and New York.

" Everything necessary for the success of an expo.
dition of this magnitude appears to have been pro-
vided. There are boats enough to land a division
at a time. There are army wagons, horses, and
other means of transportation quite sufficient for
the force ; the Great Republic alone is said to have
650 horses on board. There are carpenters, masons,
and labourers in abundance, picked from the North-
ern cities. There are coal, corn, hay, carts, gun-
carriages, extra camp supplies, everything which
foresight and military knowledge could suggest; so
that, if the expedition fails, it will not be for the
want of care on the part of those who have had the
charge of getting it up. The following general
order of the commander may be interesting :

(General Order, No. 19.)

Head-quarters E. C., steamer Atlantic, Oct. 25.

1. This command will sail for its destination in a very
few days, under convoy of a naval squadron, commanded
by Commodore Dupont. The transports will move in three
columns, and in rear of the main body of the squadron.
The transports belonging to the Ist Brigade will compose
the right column, those of the 2d Brigade and 3d Rhode
Island Regiment the centre, and those of the 3d Brigade
and the battalion of Volunteer Engineers the third column.
Each vessel will retain its order in column, and the
columns will move in parallel lines, equidistant, regulating
from the right. The sail vessels and other transports in-
adequate to the task of sailing with the fleet will be towed
by such steamers as the chief quartermaster may desig-
nate. Commander Dupont, in co-operation with the land
forces, has kindly made such an arrangement of his fleet as
will secure the transports from unnecessary diffusion, and
all senior officers on transports and masters of vessels will
enter into the spirit of and conform to these arrangements,
a copy of which will be duly given.
2. The General Commanding announces to the Expedi-

tionary Corps that it is intended to make a descent on the
enemy's coast, and probably under circumstances which will
demand the utmost vigilance, coolness, and intrepidity on
the part of every officer and man under his command. In
consideration of the justness and holiness of our cause, of
the ardent patriotism which has prompted the virtuous and
industrious citizens of our land to fly to their country's
standard In the moment of her peril, he most confidently
believes that he will be effectually and efficiently supported
in his efforts to overthrow a zealous, active, and wily foe,
whose cause is unholy and principles untenable.
3. On the approach of the transports to the place of dis-
embarkation each brigade commander will anchor his
transports as near each other as practicable, and will at the
proper time superintend the disembarkation of his brigade
The surf-boats, with other means of disembarkation on
hand, are believed to be capable of landing at once from
s
3,000 to 4,000 men. The surf-boats are of differente sizes.
Two of the largest may t
pany of 100 men, two o f thee nettth e eefni Lear scompanyend ve n
oeff7eosemeemn"
and so on in proportion.
ortation may take the remain-
-1 he
transP
der of aprobably one or two sections of field
other
brigade, means
with of
artillery.
4. The disembarkation will be made in three lines ; the
first line will be the brigade of General Wright, flanked by
two sections of Hamilton's light battery, and accompanied
by the squad of regular Sappers and Miners, and two com-
panies of Sewill's Volunteer Engineers, with a sufficient
supply of intrenching tools and sandbags. The second line
will be the brigade of General Stevens, and, if necessary,
accompanied by a section of Hamilton's battery and two
field pieces, to be manned by a company of the 3d Rhode
Island Regiment. The reserve will be composed of Gen.
Viele's Brigade, the remaining portion of Sewill's Volunteer
Engineers, and the 3d Rhode Island Regiment, and will be
disposed of according to circumstances.
5. The boats of not only each company, but each regi-
ment and brigade, will land abreast, as far as practicable,
and in the order of battle. The utmost effort will be made

to effect the landing in that order. Should it be found im •
practicable to land immediately from the lighters, then the
surf-boats, when emptied, will immediately proceed to the
rapid landing of the men from the lighters, and as soon as
the whole line is landed all the boats will return and bring
forward in like manner the troops of the second line, and so
with the reserve:
6. The general officers and commanders of battalions,
&c., will be furnished in time with the plan of descent and
the particular order of battle. It is probable that the first
line will have to conquer the ground on which to establish
itself. If not seriously opposed, the first line, afterbaovekr:
corning immediate difficulties, will continue to drive c