, 1861-10-29
THE NAVAL EXPEDITION.
4 THOUSAND e0krRABAnpa" Taken AWAY.


OfF FORTRESS AQsaoEe VEl. &I
1t is now more than two months since the
first intiu8tion reached the public that naval
expedition Has 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 Hampstead, In
September, it was instantly surmised that the
Government vas designing repetition Of the
Ha1teras blow and ever since then the public,
not only Of New York, but Of the country,
has been On the alert for intelligence connect
ed with the movement. During that time,
however, the Press has been reticent, and the
public lH-informed. Those who were accus-
TONED to observe, indeed, found ont that an
unusual number Of steam vessels Was being
collected in the harboE Of New York,
acme loading, others apparently lying
inactive in the bay; but although the
preparations have been constant, varied
and 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 de.
tails Wss entirely withheld from the commu.
n1tY at large and the absolute embarkatiou
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 military en-
te,prise which ha. yet been attempted on this
continent. The absolute calling Of the feet
releases me from the obligation of secrecy,
snd with the fullest concurrence Of the an
thority to make the following announcements
formed me, only last night, 1t was his express
wish should not be msde until the arrival Of
the squadlon at Old Point Comfort
The fleet that sailed yesterday (Monday)
morning consists OF eighteen transports, the
Atlantic, Baltic Vanderbilt, Ariel, Daniel
nois, Empire City, Ericsson, Roanoke and
5iarion, all large ocean steamers, and the Par
kereburg, Winfisld Scott, Pensacola, Ben. De
Ford, BelviderG aud Philadelphia, steamers Of
another class, but adapted for such a trade as
that by sea between Philadelphia and Balti-
more: Four Of the transports CITY hoEsss
troops, including two regiments from
New Hampshire, the Third and Fourth !;
four from New York, the Fo1tysi2th,
Folty-sezenth, Forty-eighth and Seventy
pinth, the last now about 500 strong; two from
Maine, the Eighth and Ninth; two rom Con
neeticlt, the Sixth and seyonth; one from
Pennsylvania, the Fifuetb, and one from
Michigan, the Eighth All these but one, it
will be noticed, are from the Eastern or Mid.
die States, IS Is eminently suitable in Coast
expedition. at Fortress Monroe they will be
joined BY two steamers, the Gahaw6a and
Star Of the South, carrying the Rhode Island
Third and tie Mechanics Of Engineer Regi-
| ment, under Lieut.. Col Kerrel], the latter
sometimes known IS the Mudeil1 Regiment /;
two transports, the Oriental and Matanzas,
! ca.ryirg 1000 contrabana negroes, received at
| or rear Fortress Monroe, and SIX transports,
| the Locust Point, the Potomac, the Golden
and the Great Republic carrying the stores:
SO that the military position Of the fleet will
consist Of eighteen vessels carrying fourteen
| regiments and one battery, and twelve
| carrying stores, conttaband and Other
Wise. The battery is sherman's Wei:knoWn
I oofe eS-
| however,, number Of heavy eiege-guns are
taken, corps Of sappere and engineers be:
longing to the regular army, large supplies o1
csmp tquipage, body Of masons and carpen
te1a, quantities Of b1ick, mortar and largt
.tones, and in fact complete hitting cut to-
in the lace, perhaps, OF powerful batteries,a ami
to intrench itself on that coast with I
vitW to making it's 1odgment the bas
Of important and future operations
The negroes ere principally for diggin|
lntrepchments, and T1n, TOT the hrsS TINE
| ha1Ge Of q National army; as the example q
11s5rg that a1m has been 20 frequently set u
bg our opponents, they wil not be surprise
to learn that We have at last chosen 10 ara1
Ourselves OF the example, and at the sam
tine, significant suggestIon will be 9
be made Of the weapon during tn
war. A thouEand- Of these contraband art
c'es scattered in the Southern interior, ,sfro1
the point dagpus afforded By the propose
movement, would do moro damage to our el
emiee than hundred Thousand cannon ball
We hare too long abstained from .ayailin
ourselves Of the means placed 20 obviousl
within our grasp; perhaps the very natut
apprehensions that the present brandishing
it viii awaken in our u ssouthe1n brethren
may incite in them an appreciation Of o.
previous forbearaEce az well IS wholesou
|. dread Of our future discrimination 4 larE
quantity of surf boats Is taken with the exp
| oisio0, whose completeness in all matters
I | ordnance stores, ammunition and appurtena
ces eeems admirable. 1t viii be under t
. command Of Brig. General ". T. sherma
I wtoee services 70 his country ara too rece
!, and too brilliant to bear more than sta1
!, ment Of this fact that he was the leader
. sherman's Battery at the Battle OF Bull Rr
He has now relinquiehed his Battery to Ca
Hamilton, bat it is to accompany him on Il
t precious enterprise. Brig. Gems, Eg5ert
Viele of New York, Stevens Qate Govern'
:, Of Oregon, and Wright, recently Major
Il United States Engineers, are all attached
# the expedition, each having command q
n Brigade; all are graduates Of the West Po
;. Academy, sad have served with honor in
u United States service.