The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-10-29
Our First Great Naval Expeditfon-The
Real Commencement or the War.

Our First Great Naval Expedition-The
Real Commencement or the War.
Our first great naval expedition against our
rebellious Confederate States" having set sail
from Hampton Roads for its destination, we are
at liberty to spread before our readers, as we
do this morning, the elements and materials, of
the land and naval forces, Of which this for
midable expedition is composed, Our copious
and accurate details cover a large proportion of
our available space; but we cheerfully yield it
to the universal and absorbing public interest
which this important enterprise commands
Nothing to compare with it, as maritime
military movement: has ever been witnessed on
this continent Ships-of-war and transports,
the squadron numbers over seventy vessels, in
Guiding many of the very largest in our naval
and commercial service. The naval strength
of the feet is not less than five hundred guns,
combining, to a great extent the heaviest
caibrc with the latest improvements. The land
forces of the expedition, thoroughly equipped,
organized and disciplined for the duties of this
special service, may be set down at about
twenty thousand men, exclusive of
large body of laborers The freight of
the expedition embraces horses and caval-
ry equipments, intrenching and building
implements and materials, field and siege artil-
lery provisions, munitions and warlike stores
Of all kinds suggested by the wants of large
military colony on q hostile coast. The naval
branch of the expedition is under the direction
Of Commodore Samuel +. Dupont, and the land
forces are under the command of General
Thomas W. Sherman-thoronghly educated ex
perienced and approved officers.
From this brief recapitulation the reader may
conjecture the objects contemplated by this i'm
posing squadron. Many millions of money have
been required to put it aaoat; but the results,
we have reason to anticipate, will amply COM
pensate us for these and all other expenditures
incurred in behalf of that great and sacred
cause, "the integrity Of the Union" We con-
slider this expedition, in fact, as practically mark
ing the commencement of the war against this
Southern rebellion. Thus far our battles and
skirmishes have been the mere preliminary
reconnoissances, incidents and accidents of
great campaign. If they have revealed
w uS "u SHOmy Suuhiu& anu QUICK Ill
all the stratagems of guerrilla warfare, masked
batteries, sudden surprises and mysterious re-
treats, the net result is the undoubted superiority
Of our Union soldiers in courageous fighting and
in all the other solid requirements of the tented
field. Otherwise, excepting the brilliant little
affair at Hatteras Inlet, the campaign to this day
has been nothing more than desultory border
Ia, - Il oscsx~ -
This great naval expedition carries the war
into the vital parts of this rebellion. Where it
will first strike it is hardly necessary to con-
lecture. Among our other details upon the
subject we give to-day q table of all the ports,
bays, harbors, inlets, sounds and estuaries of
at high and low tide. From this table, con-
sidering the heavy ships Of the expedition, and
its object of deadly blow or two at this re-
bellion, the intelligent reader may take his
choice of one or two from half dozen differ
cnt landing places The naval department of
Commodore Dupont is limited between Cape
Hatteras and Key West. Within these limits
there are two Southern ports bearing the name
of Beaufort-one in North and the other
in South Carolina-each commanding a
good depth of water, and the one or the
other, or Charleston, or some one of the inlets
of Georgia, would constitute desirable base
Of operations for our army and navy, in view of
future inland movements into the heart of the
cotton States.
Let us suppose, however, that in North or
South Carolina, or Georgia, this expedition has
made a Judgment, the question arises, what will
be its plan Of operations? We presume that the
land forces will be put on shore at point Of
debarkation suitable for naval rendezvous;
that General Sherman will at once proceed to
fortify his position against any probable land
attack, and that large proportion of the fleet
will straightway return to Fortress Monroe for
more troops In this way, by the lst of Deccm-
Der Gen. Sherman may find himself at the head
Of sixty thousand men, and he may eat his Christ
mas dinner in the centre of an army of one hun
bred thousand. Then, changing his programme
from occupation to invasion, he may march
through the heart Of the cotton States to the
Mississippi river or coastwise, with the feet CO.
operating with him, to Charleston, to Savannah,
to Mobile and to New Orleans
In either event the war will now be trans.
ferred from the border slave States to the cotton
States, where it properly belongs, and thus
with or without blow from General Mcclellan,
the great rebel army in Virginia will soon be
demoralized, disorganized and dispersed. Nor
can there be, in any intelligent mind, the
shadow of doubt that, when relieved of the
rebel forces Of the cotton States Virginia will
be speedily restored to the Union, through the
spontaneous reaction Of her loyal people. So
with all the other border slave States. The
rebel forces Of the cotton States now hold them
in subsection, and when they are relieved of
their Southern invaders the reign Of secession.
even in Tennessee, will be ended; for the
Union forces of the great West and of Ken
tucky will be moving southwark with the re-
tirement of the rebels.
Meantime, from the last circular of Memmin-
ger, the Secretary Of the Treasury of the rebel
government, that spurious government is con-
iessedly under financial pressure which 1t
cannot LONGER sustain whila tho cottop ,,lo,+ara