New-York daily tribune., 1861-08-14
An Important Expedition on Foot
THE LAST EXPEDITION TO PCCOAOEE Bay
Rebel Communication with Baltimore
CAPT. DYER GOING TO SPRINGFIELD.
FROM ouI Special Correspondent
FORTRESS MONROE,
Old Point Comfort, Aug. II, 1861.

this much is the fact What Will follow remains
10 be seen. Whether Gen. Butler is to remain,
and if he remains which will rank the other, or
whether he will not leave for some other field,
time will show. will remark, however, that it
ia scarcely probable that both will be- needed
here. and infer that Gen. Butler will leave
within the next three days.
Negroes who have recently sought refuge
within the Federal lines agree in representing
that there are bands of kidnappers securing the
country for many miles around. These aDd-Pirates
systematically steal Gil the able-bOdird, salable
negroes they can, and run them off 10 the South.
era markets and pocket the proceeds. This sys.
.em of land piracy has, according tn representa-
tiou. been carried on to q considerable extent.
So that, between the fight Of negroes aud the
stealing by the land-pirates, the owners OF tins
species of property in this region are hkey 10
fare badly. This fact illustrates the morals OF
the Rebels, and their proctsity for the slave
trade. In this section property in slaves some
tine since ceased to have any real value. The
standard of valuation is completely broken down,
md sales of slaves are not heard Of The rela-
t,n of master aud slave does not exist, and ii
involves no one in the charge OF Aboltionlsm to
predict that there is hardly any likelihood OF ITS
ever being revived. This state OF things must
necessarily have radical effect in landed and
every other species Of property related to labor.
Indeed every other kind OF property has but
little more real value than that III negroes. II
the lands in this part of the State are ever again
cultivated, it must be BY free labor. Some OF
the finest estates in Virgina were IN this part OF
the State. Nearly all Of them are nov aoin-
don.d and running to waste, master and slave
having alike fed, but generally in opposite direc-
tiors.
Whenever this portion Of the Old Dominion
again puts on the air OF tbriit, 1t viii Dc IN
other hands. II s scarcely probable that the
former, or rather present proPnetors VIII re-
turn to cultivate the soil or pursue business.
The di,rupton of society is perfect. The surface
of the country has been burnt over, 80 10 speak,
and TO a certain extent literally. This, therefore,
will at some time or other become q field for
new settlers. The soil is excellent, the climate
perfectly healthy, and there are many attractions
both TO the onterpr.sibg man and him who would
lie at his ease. What IL n follow the fact that
the owners of the soil are almost wholly active
participants in the rebellion, and how that fact
will be- made to effect titles, ownership, and pro.
prietary interests, is question yet to be settled.
At present there is no such thing as bargain and
sale, or the assertion Of ownership over property
Of any kind When, if ever, it will be resumed,
is a question that cannot be determined now.
The steamers Adelaide and PierpoDt have been
chartered for special service by the Government.
Though their destination IL not public fact,
have no question Of what il is. They will carry
1000, and, perhaps, greater number of troops,
but arc not calculated for sunboats. | conclude,
therefore, that troops are to be conveyed to q
portion Of JeG. Dayis's dominions, where they
as well M gunboats are confessedly needed. If
am not mistaken in my conjecture, the Govern.
mont is about to make a movement that might
have been made with advantage some time SINCE
La Mountain made fine ascensions yesterday
from the Roads. His balloon was towed out by
steamer, and then lot up about 5000 feet.
Proceeding toward Newport News, view the
James River was obtained for q long distance;
returning to the Rip Raps, the camps and works
Of the Rebels on the opposite side OF the Roads
were inspected. The main force Of Gen. Ma.
gruder was discovered encamped about five miles
from Hampton. He is evidently besitating, or
perhaps waiting for reeDforcements, before at.
tackng Newport News That position has been
strengthened considerably Of late, and the only
anxiety our troops have in the case is, that
Magr,der will return to Yorktown without pay
ing his respects TO them.
The expedition under Lieut.. Crosby returned
last evening. He visited Poconoke Bay, and
several other points on the eastern shore, and
closely inspected the vessels trading there, but
found nothing irregular. AT Shelltown, he over.
hauled the Wilson Small, on which he found
some Federal officials on their way to look for
arms said t. be stored at q place above The
rearch proved fruitless. The schooner captured
by Lieut.. Crosby on his previous trip was the
vessel by means Of which the Rebels kept up
communication between Baltimore and Virginia.
Taking the Wilson Small, they went to POGO.
moke Bay aud took land ca riage TO the point
of rendezvous on the shore below, where the
craft would be waiting. Taking the first fair
wind, they would run across the Chesapeake
under cover of night, and thencciorth their way
was clear 10 any part of JEFF. Davis's dominious.
This avenue Of communication is nOw broken up.
1 learn from gentleman lately from Rich
mond that q large invoice Of oil lately reached
that city via Louisville, direc. from Philadelphia
where it was purchased for tho Tredegar Works
Ii is now ascertained that the ship Glory, the
captain and crew Of which came over under a
flag Of truce from Norfolk on Thursday last