The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-11-04
The Great Naval EXPEDITION.


i correspondent TO the New York Times.
Roads, Va, Oct. o." contains some interest
ing particulars with regard 10 the great
naval expedition which has recently lef, that
quarter, but fails to give any light as to its
destination. Below will be found some ex-
tracts from the letter:
DETERMINATION oRDEEBD-FRAR OF Az ATTACK
PROM UoSFBDERATRs.
The officers and men were in the midst of
their rejoicings at the prospect OF speedy re-
lief from the state of tedious inaction which
always exists on board u crowded ship, when
Gen. Sherman Unexpectedly dampened their
gladness by an order directing the olsen
barkation of the entire { rce. This order
couched in terse military terms, reqUrin z
the men to land in the line OF battle with
ammunition and complete eaupmen Is, az
forded great latitude for conjecture as 10 its
object, and all manner of ridiculous surrnises
We're current
The one most generally received was, that
demonstration would be made upon Sew
els Point, where saucy battery BELONGING
10 the rebels Is erected. The minds of ynanV
were prepared TO accept this solution of the
vexed question, because it had not been alto
gether uuan ticipated that the iron clad Mar-
rimac might at any moment round the sandy
promontory and escape TO sea. The battery at
the Point commands the channel, and wi tn
these guns IN possession or our forces the
chances of running the blockade in that di-
rection would be materially lessened. / have
heard grave fears expressed for the safety of
the fleet rs it lies at anchor here. Should the
rebels be desperate enough for the undertak-
ing, there is no doubt that vessel such as
the Merrimac is said TO be could do immense
injury TO these unprotected transports. What
could prevent her coming down come moon
light night and pouring i few broadsdes of
shells into our midst? The vessels are so nu
merous and close together that the havoc in
such case would be enormous. OF course
the rebel vessel would be speedily overpow-
cred by the sheer weight of mum ers, but
desperate men, fighting for 4 desperate cause
could, in the opinion of experienced persons,
do much mischief in this way. However,
opportunity win have passed away ere thi.
reaches you.
THE OBJECT DISCLOSED.
Close calculations Of the object of the de
barkation have all been dispeiied by the de-
yelopments of this morning. Instead of at
lacking Sewelfs Point, the soldiers are land
ing among friends Oh the beach, beneath the
frowning battlemenIs of Fortress Monroe
Gen sherman determined upon this step IN
order to demonstrate with what expedition
the troops could land upon the enemy shore
The facilities for disembarkiDg ARE thus made
manifest, and the men have the great adsan
tage of practicing the parts they viii b'
called upon TO perform upon more import
ant ana vastly more trying occasion. The
landing is now in progress, and surf boats
manned by the crews OF he ships OF war. ant
OF the transports. each capable of carrying
nom fifty TO one hundred soldiers trip ar
used The whole day Is likely 10 be consumed
BY the undertaking, and doubt whether
can give the result in this letter.
TEE rlMs or DRPA1rClA--oIpsR or SAILING, SC
] believe the expedition will certainly leay,
tomorrow. and. therefore. will be far beyons
the reach u harm resulting from the puhlica-
ton Of any information I may disclose. =
Such being the case send herewith the ordel
Of debarking the forces.
The expedition win be under convoy OF thu
naval sQnadron. The Transports will form n
three columns IN the resr OF the naval ships
Tie Bret column, com posed III the Thlre
brigade, lt7en. Wrtghfs.l wiA form in linz
on ths right. The sscond column. consisting
d the SECOND Hr.gade: ljsn St~ysas's.) 4
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