, 1861-10-31
THE GREAL NAVAL EXPEDITION.
Plan OF pfzem embarkal1oH-Ee Or.
der from Gen. Sherman.

HEADQUARTERS, E. C. STEAMER ATLANTIC,
October Is, 1851.
SPECIAL ORDERS, No. 19.-l This command
viii sail for its destinstion in a very few days,
under Convoy Of q na7al 6quadron, commanded I
by Commander Dupont. Ths Transports VIII |
move In three columns, and IN rsar Of the
belonging to the Frat Brigade will compose
theright column; thoee ofIhe Second Brigade |
and Third Rhode Islaud Regiment the centre,
and those Of the Third Brigade, and the Bat |
talon OF Volunteer Engineers, the left |
column.
q Each ressel will retain Is order in col
INN, and the columns will move in parallel ]
lines eqiuistaDt, regulating from the right. |
The sail Vessela and other transports, made
quate to The task of sailing with the feet, will
De toWed by such steamers as the Chief Quar-
termaster may designate. Commander L apont
In cooperation With the land forces, has kidly
made snch an arrangement Of his feet IS will
secure tie ira. sports from necessary diffusion,
and all senior officers on transports, and mas
| terE of vessels, will enter Into the spirit Of,
| and conform to these arrangements, plan Of
| which will be duly given
| The General Commanding announces to the
E1peditiona1y Corps that il Is intended to nsaks
descent upon the eneny's coast, and probably
under circumstances which viii denand the
| utmost vigilance, coolHees aud lntfepidity On
| the part OF every officer and Ean of his com
| mand. In consideration Of the business and
holmes Of cur cause, of the ardent patriot
| dustriCns citizens to fy to their countrE's
stat da1d in the moment Of her peril, he most
ctnhdent'ly believes that he will be ettectu-
ally and efficiently supported il his efforts to
overthrow jealous, active and willy foe,
whoEe cause Is unholy and principles untsna.
| Ale.
5. On The approach of the transports to the
pirce cf Decentralization, each Brigade Com
Insnder will anchor his transports as near each
other as practicable, and will st the proper
time Euperintend the decentralization Of his
brigade. The surt boats, and other means Of
characterization 1t hand, are believed to be
capable cf landing at once from three to four
, | Thousand men Inc surf beats ara different
siZcE: two Of the largest may take the officers
) and men of company Of 100 men: two Of
the ne1t size company of 10 men, And 80 On
, | il proportion. The other means OF transport
, alton may take the remainder of brigade,
! with probably one or two sections OF field
4. Tie disembarkment will be made in
three lines. The first line will be the brigade
Of Gen. Wright, htnked By two sections OF
!, the squad Of Regular sappers and Mineti, and
l. two companies OF Se1Ten's Volunteer En-
:. eireers, with sufficient supply Of intrench
:. ing tools and sand bags. The second line
;. will be the br;gsde OF Gen. Stevens, and, il
: ilton's Battery, and two field piece, to BE-
= | Island Regiment. The reserve viii be com
7 posed Of Gen viele's brigade, the remaining
). | portions Of Serreli's Volunteer Engineers auG
. The Third Rhode Island r. giment, and will b.
q disposed Of according to circumstances.
- S. The boats Of not only ea h company, bu
~ Of each regiE ent and brigade, will land aoresst
as far as practicable and in the orderof batt1e
= The utmost effort will be made to effect tn
., landing in that order. Should it be found i'm
e practicable to land Immediately from th
~ ltghtere, then the surf-boats, when emptied
~ Will immediately proceed to tha rapid landin!
~ Of the men from the lighters; ard Is so0n q
~ the whole line is landed, all the hoass will II
v turn and bring forward in like manner ii
~ troops Of the second line, aud 60 with the II
~ serve.
~ 6. The general officers and commanders c
E as battalions, &c, will be furnished in time wit
IL the pla1 Of descent and the particular order
- battle. 1t is probable that the first line vi
4 have TO conquer the ground on which to e
or tablish itself, and If opposed by greatly 51pe,
~ or numbers to maneuVer and probably
10 momentarily iutre1ch itaelE II not serious
IL opposed, the frat line, after overcoming IL
~. nj nediate difficulties, will continue to dri'
e backward the enemy, but will not ve1tu
- beyond supporting distance from the shoz
~. before the landing Of the General Comman
NJ ing, or without his special orde,
a 2. The commanding officer Of the Nay
- Squadron has kindly consented to furnish 3
~ sailors to assist in launching and manning u
a as surf boate, and he appeals to the patriotism
-. the masters, mstes and Sailors Of the seTe1
ny transports, to furnish an additional number
a9 ~, coxsTains snd oaramen. Any deficiency
az la1 oa1amen in snrfhoate will be supplied fri
- 10. the platocns On beard Ct these respective
's' so that each bt at, when ready, may be rapid
49, roEed ashore. The soldier oarsmen viii IA
~ ~ ARD form with their platoons.
-. ~ s. General and field officers, with their
IL spectiye etafe will endeaYo- 70 ch.s;c =,
% ng.boafs for themselves, and the Hecesss
W ~. co1wains and oarsnen from the transports q
m Eon other hired vessels Of the feet.
~ y. The senior officers Of the troops on boz
!. ~ ~ eArh transport will arrange with the mas
~. ~ 11r vnlanta1y helps Of this kind, which d
- ~ . De Iee6sd and can be given, and will max
~ srecial report to headquarters, as early as T
,.o s.ble, Ct tbs assistance thus rendered.
.sa 1 10 AZ ecGn as the landing shall have b
~ effected, the surf and other landing boats
80 ~ revert to The Chief Qu2rte1master for imm
2's 2te snpplies-
ling ain ~ nG hns1 ns A The .evarsi transnors u
eo provision can be made for them on sht
~ - The non electives will be especially char
nc with the care Of the sick, under direction
3to be left BY the respective medical officers,
12. Medical officers, excepting one Fl
oot esch brigade, to be designated By the resi-
tive brigade commanders, will land with
n"o troops. The three medical officers left all
will, under the direction OF the Medical
rector, divide the duty BY visiting all the
OF board, including those Of the Third Kh
raan leland Regiment, and the battalion Of Vo
ms: teer Engineers. By order Of
le1l- [Signed1 Bng Gen. I. ". sHHRNA
at toG1s a. PE1orzE. Capt. 18th Inf, !,
$ be- AEi't. Gen. f. j,
be1s