The New York herald., 1861-12-19

double boed together, layer upon layer crosswisc to
tho depth Of about FIVE and half six feet Each layer
or tier OF timbers is firmly botcd 60 those above and
below ~ so that the whole solid body of wood about
hundred feet in length by fifty in width, with cham
Der IN It's centre for magazine Hence shot may strike
and penetrate it but II sink shell may ex-
ode upon II without further damage than would epspc
upoh the same area upon land. Upon its deck
ranged mortars OF the largest class six in NUMBER but
no arrangements are made for vctGaing ard lodging the
working them, as the ganbcets will accompany
tem 10 furnish ordnance for the armament and house
and culinary accommodations for the men. You may
judge Of the effectiveness of squadron Of thirty such
craft, anchored at long range against a town like
Columbus Memphis, and then half dozen punboa,s
running here and there delivering their re and scnddng
OIL before rebel battery get bearing upon them
Tho Maria enning lies anchored In the river opposite
Cairo, loaded down with the armament for the feet,
and ] am informed that another boat will be here
IN few days from PittsbGrg, with like cargo
To-day three o. The gunboats, the S. Louis Tyler and
lexington, went down the Norfolk TO look
for fons feet which rumor said was lying there; but
the search was irutess; for no Hons and no "rtles
could be found heard Of II settled now
that the rebel feet Of the Mississippi Holns and a are
at Memphis but the gunboais oil like those that
showed themselves of Fort Holt week ago Sunday
the task Of clearing the river Of them will not be
dnons ~ some rebel sympazers to believe for
more gross libel upon the Of 'sman-of war; have
never seen. met the rebel commodore, Holins, the
other day Columbus or rather on steamer lust this
side, and had quite long conversation with him. and
your Northern readers will thank and your Southern
ones will pardon daguerreotyre him He is Short
say five feet eight salow, restless and Observing sits
in his chair as slvers perforatng his
penetrating his person quick spoken earnest styie de-
'lutfis fh fhdhhcfs, wants You 10 under
stand that he Hollns and to acknowledge that be is
olHs; gray haired and gray whskered beard long and
pofcGpnish; has decidedly tobaccoey odor and COM
rcxon loves to tell good story but has patience TO
hoar blows inordinatey, and has figured himself up
70 the total that he Is decidedly the biggest card
in the rebellion pack After an hours conversation
with him would to the conclusion that
he claimed no nationality, but was cross be-
tween an Albany politician and French am.
Nbassado with all the low cunning and bombast Of the
former and tho alimportant superficial make up OF the
latter. As 10 his truthulncss, may be permitted to
f al tba
rest Of the Confederate officers have seen are lars for
Hoins said that he had the famous steam Manassas
u at a skrInsh with Fort Holt, and all the rest said
and the Memphis papers corroboated that that wonderful
piece Of naval ingenuity still upon the docks at New
Orleans. II may be, however, that all the rest were
wrong and Hollins right.
Yesterday companies OF the Second Illinois cavalry
went out as Tar Bertrand, in Missouri and surprised
" "seccsh z toragirg party from JEFF. Thompson's army
OF Amorougns," took sixteen prisoners, killed six or
eight, took all the rebel property aud returned at night
with the loss Of one killed Lieutenant Colonel Mudd
commanded.
To-day we have been treated to grand review Of Gene
raj McCcinands brigade. Six regiments Of infantry,
two Of cavalry and two companies OF artillery
and made very imposing appearance Colonel Dckeys
Fourth Illinois cavalry was the great feature OF the occa
sion They turned out full thousand, and really they
looked ten times that number General Mcclernand re-
viewed them.
Briqader Generals Sturgis and Sweeney have arrived
here and gone TO Paducah, wnat business
not saw but count upon the visit another Of
The good time coming General Haleck will DO here
on Saturday, snys despatch to-day to General Grant
but good Of the service requires that should keep
secret. However, will say 10 your readers, " Wait
little ougcr," and then learn why and what pufp0so
has been our protractod delay.