The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-08-28

Seven spies have been arrested and placed in conAne
ment.
DEPARTURE OF A FORMIDABLE NAVAL
EXPEDITION.
PHILADELPHIA, August 81 1851.
The following is CLEANED from Fortress Monroe
respondent and the Baltimore evening papers
FoRrREss MONROE, August 20, 1861.
The much talked Of expedition Old Point sailed
under the command Of General Butler. It consisted OF
the frigates Minnesota and Wabash the sloop Of
Pawnee, gunboats Monticello and Harriet Lane, the
steamers Adelaide and George Peabody the propelers
Fanny and Adriac, with large number Of schooners,
barges &c.
The Quaker City will follow in q few hours The vesses
carried over 100 guns, and about 600 men.
Several powerful gunbOats remain at O!d Point and
Newport News.
brilliant achievement is expected from General But
Ter and Commodore Stringham.
Calone Max webcr's and Hawkins zouaves take part
in the expedition.
OUR FORTRESS MONROE CORRESPONDENCE.
FORTRESS MONROE, Va, August %, 1861.
Active Preparations for Decisive Action and Fbrldrd
Aopemest-A Secret Expedition Against the Rebels in
emplatiom-Morements Of General Wool-Inspection
Of the Troops-Important Procamatioa and Order Of
General WOOL, de-
After months Of anxious waiting there to be
fair prospect Of accomplishing something in the Depart
ment Of Eastern Virginia. We have yet done little in
Eastern Virginia. save the seizure occupation and hold
ing of Newport News, the James river and the credit
Of that is due to General Butler Besides holding posi-
ton which blockades the mouth Of the James river
ting Off Communication between Norfolk and the internal
waters Of the State have taken step, even
very short towards Richmond. We have Also placed
ourselves in an mpregnable position at Fortress Monroe
minon but beyond all this have made little Roadway.
1t looks though the other States embraced in the
Department, of Eastern Virginia, &C., might be the scene
OF conflict and claim its share of the publcs attention
The scenery is likely to be shifted to that proper the
enactng of stirring tragedy, have enough Of
forces We hope to have Big Behels the de-
partment, but hereafter look for actions that will equal
Rich Mountain Cheat river, in Western Virginia. where
the enemy felt the power Of loyal For that
will be apparent cannot state where the impending
blow upon the rebels will be struck; but will venture
predict that wherever it falls will our arms
with the laurels of success shall accompany the expo
dton and will send the earliest intelligence Of its opera
tons. Probably the expedition will leave to morrow.
General Wool, with his staff, visited Newport
News to-day and reviewed tho brigade there en-
camped, but was unable, from want Of time, to
inspect them. He prefers to have the
main under the weight Of their knapsacks and arm
short time possible He prefers frequent reviews
and inspections to those Of occurrence where has
dozen fall from coup dc sotc because he better
observe the different stages of their Improvement and
| more clearly understand in what they lack BY this
means, instead OF disgusting and wearing men, he
leads them up by easy stages and finally makes them
soldiers every Of the term. The review passed
oil in the finest STYLE Every regiment turned out Ia
strenghso much indeed that elected the remarks of
all who had been accustomed to witness the brigade under
like happy observe in the ranks of the
Second and Ninth regiments those macontents who have
occasoned little trouble heretofore in the regiments
They have resumed thcr position the ranks and it is
not likely that they will again show any signs Of ipsubor
dnat!on General Wool, by his kind and paternal advice
the of their returning again to their duty; and
in days review regiments made finer appearance
| than the Second and Ninth New York,
General Wool arrived, with his staff at Newport News
at at about hnipast nine o'clock, and in short
in line the parade ground After he had spent q few
moments with General Phelps he mounted his charger,
and accompanied by his staff proceeded TO the place Of
review. The brigade drawnup in line, and after it
had salated the General commanding, and had closed
ranks he rode front in rear Of the line inspect NJ
them infinitely he could Ter the circumstances
After this the b'igde passe in in the following
order:Detachnelt ofregulrs Massachusetts, battalion,
Second New York, Seventh New York Ninth New York,
First New York Volunteers and Lieutenant Hook battery
When all performed their part we'll it is difficult to
award Special praise TO any. Indeed ALL by the regu
lry Of their STEP the precision Of their evortions and
movem ,ns, and by their martial bearing equal to
any brigade to be found in the service. There
mistakes in the evolrtons Of the line that followed all
te ny performed in excellent STYLE the iorna-
tons by regiment into oblique squares &C. which eli
cited the highest praise from the General comm
| General Phelps handel the brigade with consummate
skill and with the be would have directed
! the movements of battalion or regiment. No
better selection for Brgadier General could
| have been made by the President. His appointment
meets the hearty approval OF every soldier in the depart
| ment After the review General Wool received the staff
and field officers Of the different regiments at General
Phelps Headquarters, when he propounded number of
Questions to the officers as to the length Of time required
for pork bread and beans and other raons to be pro-
perry cooked, aud the condition Of the mems quarters
and others Of similar character: and when he found
them ignorant he suggested iii very plain terms the
cessy of their becoming personally acquainted with
what some might consider minor details, but what he
deemed the very foundation for an officers knowle lge
There is likely to be investigation the part of officers
into these not very abstruse subjects hereafter This
only specimen brick Of the which the General
will erect He devotes his attention the welfare the
men and to their discipline, and holds the officers respon-
sbc for any derelicton of dutyand that duty compre
hends more details than most Of them imagine But
they WIN all learn IL in due time. General Wool is de-
| termned to know the exact condition Of tho forces
under his command, and, though here little than
week he comprehends precisely the wants Of all. II
the forces under his command do not shortly become
equal and superior to any in the service IL will
be owing to his want of activity and zeal His energy
marvellous. and the improvements that already mani
fest both in the discipline and Of the efficiency of the
| men, stamp him the very man for the place N
short he is a soldier and his men know it, and feel that
they do their duty and attain that proficiency which
! will demand his appreciation
The following is an important order issued yesterday,
| which will explain Itself
HgADQu ARTEns DEPARTMENT OF VIRGINIA &C. I
| FORTRESS MONROE, August "a, 1851 :
GENERAL ORpBR--No. a.
! l. Many Of the inhabitants Of Elizabeth City county
complain Of depredatons having been committed their
property by soldiers stationed in their neghborhood All
such persons others residing within the pale of this
command engaged in farming, cuvatng their fields and
gardens, tending their focks or herds, or bringing pro
visions supplies to the several camps posts for the
use of the troops, and pursuing peaceaby their ordinary
avocatons, and who do not communicate directly in
tyyhp mi w
such orders as may be given them, will he protected in
thelIp and property Any violation of this order
by either officers or soldiers any parties interested,
VIII be severely punished and those who force safe
guard on conviction before court martial, will be pun
shed with death.
2. The attention of all who embraced in this order,
and of all others whose business brings them within the
limits of this command, whether by land water is
called to the fifty sixth and hfy seventh articles OF war,