, 1861-12-19
THE GULF EXPEDITION.
Buffers Band at Ship Island.
GEN. PHELPS's PROCLAMATION.

As announced in our dispatches Of 4 pre-
rious issne, We have adyices from the Gulf Of
the landing Of Gen. Butler expedition at Ship
Island. The news comes By the steamship
Constitution, which, having put ashore the
New Englanders, has returned to Boston for
three more regiments.
It is clearly intended to make Ship Island an
important strategic position It will serve as
Il military and naval depot, and as base of
operations against the most important part Of
the Southern seaboard.
Occupying midway position On the Missis-
sippi Sound, it commands the whole coast
line Of Alabama and Mississippi and the east
c1n coast of Louisiana. Westward it controls
Orleans, and Lake Ponchartrain, also connect
ed with that city by about three miles Of rail
road, and skuted along its western shore BY
the New Orleans, jackson, and Great North
e1n railroad. Eastward it commands Mobile
Bay, and therefore the City, Of Mobile, the
Mobile river, and the Mobile and Ohio and
Mobile and Girard Railroads. The pensa-
cola river, which is nayiggable for light
drauGht vessels for about d hundred miles
into the Interior Of Mississippi, is placed
under control Of this position. \ few thou.
sand troops and small feet stationed hero
threaten Mobile and New Orlears at the same
time, thereby dividing and weakening the
rebel force available at either city. The chief
protection Of New Orleans against attack
from this quarter is Fort Pike, commanding
Tho capture Of Fort Walker, however, shows
that the strongest fort is weak ieragainst
! in effectual fleet.
The expedition commanded by Brig. Gen.
| J. ". Phelps, left Fortress Monroe cn Nov.
| 29th, and on Tuesday, Dec. Sd, dropped anchor
naval feet, consisting Of the Massachusetts
| Captain Smith, lfiag oficcr}, gunboat Cuyler,
CAPTAIN Winston. Also some few prizes
among them then steamers Lewis and Anna
together with their cargoes Of sugar, n1olasses
rosin, furniture Three small fishing smack
morning Decentralization commenced: Muci
time was saved by using two rebel steam
crs. A steel 12-pounder, belonging II
the battery, WAS lost in transferring it from tn
Constitution to the Lewis.
Ship Island had been in possession Of th
rebels Hunter Rilcs), under command of Ma
jor Allen, but they Werc driven on by II
Massachusetts, some time ago. The island
i barren, desolate place. On the west end
fort partly erected by the Government. Th
work was discontinued when the rebel1io
broke out It has, however, been made aTaiIabl
casIibrc. It is tile intention Of Gen. Phelps
complete the work and make three tiers {
, guns, which are to be sent from Pcnsacol
The fort Fort Massachusetts, formerly 70
l | Riggs is IN command OF Lieut.. i. RclQ u
clanan and Capt. Fontainc Of the Navy. II
| lighthouse was fired by the rebels, burnif
, ont the interior and destroying the lanter
c II will soon, however, be placed in as got
| condition is formerly.
4 fatiguiDg march Of six or seven mil
r. through the white sand, brings one to t
other end Of the island, which is the only 1,
: tile spot on which is !: thick forest Of pine I'll
Q white oak. This part Of the island was inha
r. tied formerly by one or two families engag
: in rearing cattle Their houses have be
burned to the ground. Some twenty or tlii
$ lead Of cattle and pigs roam through
d woods. Tie soldiers have pitched their tel
IL aud given the island the appearance Of atow
On Saturday, Dec. {, at O'Clock, the Cs
stitution weighed anchor and bid farewell
le Ship Island. Arrived on Monday afterno
:. at Key West, to take i'll coal. But not bel
x- able to obtain it there, WIS obliged to 80
> Havana. She left Havana OIL tue 18th, at
le coa]ing there, and arrived at FORTRESS Mon
on the 18th. The steamer will coal there ;
proceed to Boston.
L. 4 proclamation had been issued ITO
a loyal citizens Of tho Southwest by Gem
id Phelps, under date Of Dec. 4th, embodyins
to antl-slaycry views, aud well enough on
or other mission but his. It has not one pt
OF of fitness, and shows how even good doctl
ca can bc mizuscd when it falls into the hand
IL :, nr-,t;nr commander