The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-11-08

SA1L1NG OF THE FLEET-CARGOES
OF THE TRANSPORTS.
A THOUSAND NEGROES TAKEN AWAY,
correspondence of the N. Y. Times,
HAMpmnNy Rams

a AnVO0ANU NCUhO6S TAhEN AWAY,
Correspondence of the n Y. Times,
HAMPTON ROADS,
OFF FORTRESS MONROE, Dot. %.
1t Is now more than two months since the
first intimation reached the public that
naval expedition was planning against the
Southern coast. When Gen. Viele's brigade,
consisting in part of the New Hampshire
Third and Maine Eighth regiments were so
suddenly removed from the camp of Hemp.
stead, in September, it wac instantly sur
missed that the Government was designing
q repetition of the Hatteras blow; and ever
since then the public, not only of New
York, but of the country, has been on the
alert for intelligence connected with the
movement. During that time, however,
the press has been reticent, and the public
ill informed. Those who were accustomed
to observe, indeed, found out that an unu-
sual number of steam vessels was being
collected in the harbor Of New York,
some loading, others apparently lying
inactive in the bag; but although the
numerous, nothing of Importance to keep
secret has been disclosed. Even at the time
of the removal of the transports from the
metropolis, information of the details was
entirely withheld from the community at
large and the absolute embarkati0n of the
armament, which took place yesterday and
the day before at Annapolis, affords the
first opportunity for the press to furnish
news relative to the greatest naval and mill
tary enterprise which has yet been attempted
on this continent. The absolute sailing of
the feet releases me from the obligation of
secrecy, and with the fullest concurrence of
the authority to make the following
announcements announcementsw which Gen.
Sherman informed me, only last night, it
was his express wish should not be made
until the arrival of the squadron at Old
Point Comfort.
The feet that sailed yesterday (Monday)
morning consists Ofseventeen transports, the
Atlantic, Baltic, Vanderbilt, Ariel, Daniel
Webster, Coatzacoalcos, Ocean Queen, Illi-
nois, Empire City, Ericsson, Roanoke and
Marion, all large ocean steamers, and the
Parkersburg, Winfield Scott, Pensacola,
Ben De Ford, Bevidere and Philadelphia,
steamers of another class, but adapted for
such trade as that by sea between Phil
delphia and Baltimore. -Four of the trans
ports carry horses and army wagons the
others are loaded with troops, including two
regiments from New Hampshire, the Third
and Fourth four from New York, the
Forty sixth, Forty seventh, Forty eighth
and Seventy ninth, the last now about five
hundred strong; two from Maine, the Eighth
and Ninth; two from Connecticut. the
Sixth and Seventh; one from Penn.
sylvania, the Fiftieth, and one from
Michigan, the Eighth. All these but one,
it will be noticed, are from the Eastern or
Middle States, as is eminently suitable in
coast expedition. At Fortress Monroe
they will be Joined by two steamers, the
Cahawba and Star of the South, carrying
the Rhode Island Third and the Mechanics
or Engineer regiment, under Lieutenant
Colonel Kerrell, the latter sometimes known
as the Mudsill regiment two transports,
the Oriental and Matanzas, carrying 1000
contraband negroes, received OF or near
Fortress Monroe, and six transports, the
Locust Point, the Potomac, the Golden
Eagle, the Ocean Express, the Zaros COT
fin and the Great Republic, carrying the
stores. So that the military position of
the feet will consist of eighteen vessels, car
rying fourteen regiments and one battery,
and twelve carrying stores, contraband aud
otherwise. The battery is Sherman's we'll
known one of six guns and lao men. Be-
sides this, however, a number OF heavy
siege guns are taken, corps ofsappers and
engineers belonging to the regular army,
large supplies of camp equipage, body of
masons and carpenters, quantities of
brick, mortar and large stones, and
in fact complete fitting out for an ex-
petition about to land on hostile coast
in the face, perhaps, of powerful batteries,
and to entrench itself on that coast with
view to making its Judgment the base of
important and future operations. The ne
groes are principally for digging entrench>
ments, and will, for the first time, consti-
tute an important arm of offence in the
hands of National army as the example
oil using that arm has been 30 frequently
set Us by our opponents, they will not be
surprised to learn that we have at last
chosen to avail ourselves of the example,
and at the same time, significant sugges-
ton will be afforded them of the furtive use
that could be made Of the weapon during
the war. A thousand of these contraband
articles scattered in the Southern interior
from the point d'oppui afforded by the pro-
posed movement, would do more damage to
our enemies than hundred thousand cam
non balls. We have also long abstalned
from availing ourselves of the means placed
sc obviously within our grasp; perhaps the
very natural apprehensions that the pres.
ent brandishiDg of it will awaken in our
"Southern BRETHREN" may incite in them
an appreciation of our previous forbearance
as we'll as a wholesome dread of our future
determination. A large quantity of surf
boats is taken with the expedition, whose
completeness 10 all matters of ordnance and
stores, ammunition and appurtenances seems
admirable. 1t will be under the command
of Brigadier General w. T. Sherman,
whose services to bis country are too re.
cent and too brilliant to bear more than
statement of this fact that he was the lead.
er of Sherman's battery at the battle of
Bull Run. He has now relinquished his
no fiery tn Copfain Hamilton hnf Il :, -