Weekly Delaware State journal and statesman., 1861-11-01
THE GREAT NAVAL EXPEDITION.
FULL ACCOUNT OF the PREPARATIONS.
THE vRssELs, MEN MATERIALS, sc.

II has been known for some time to the publ
that vast naval expedition was preparing to gu
for some unknown point ON the Southern coas
At the request of the Government, the papers {
the north refrained from giving any of the mar
ticulars concerning ii, until il should have fairl
sailed. Aud now that it is upon the broad bosor
OF the waters, and the press generally have give
publicity 10 the details Of the whole affair, "
colhte from our exChanges-m mainly the Ne,
York Tribune and the Washington Intelligence
tho following interesting details.
1t will be found that this expedition is on
scale more vast than any thing of the kint
heretofore attempted on this continent at least
and that, from the completeness Of its outfit anC
the skill of the men to whom the command i,
entrusted, we may hope for a severe blow at The
insurgents in their weakest spot Where the
blow ls to fall is known only to the Government
and to the Commander in Chief of the expedi.
tion. Ii was unknown to every one but General
Sherman-the captains OF the different shps
sailing with sealed orders, which were not to be
opened till they got into certain latitude and
longitude. 1t is probable, therefore, that the
Insurgents will know before we do where the
landings are to be effected Whatever may be
its object, We can only wish the utmost success
TO the gallant men who compose it.
The expedition is the joint work Of the Navy
and War Departments. 1t was meant 10 have
been ready by the middle of September; and
the Navy Department had its vessels ready then.
II was, however, impossible to get ready the
immense material Of the expedition BY that
time; and though everybody concerned worked
most diligently, it was only on October 9th that
the transports we're laden and the final shipment
Of troops ready to be begun The expedition
consists of the following forces
THE LAND FORCES.
The land forces Of the expedition are under
command of Brgadier Gen Thos W. Sherman.
brave and experienced officer Of the United
States Army, with whose gallant conduct when
in command of the famous iSherman's Battery"
at Bull Run the public arc well acquainted, aud
from which he was appointed a Colonelcy to his
present rank. Gen. sherman graduated at West
Point in 1882 with distinction. In 1886 be was
Second Lieutenant in the 81 Artillery and in
March of the following year acted ~ Assistant
Commissiary of Subsistence. 10 May 1888 be
was promoted to Il lieuteuacy, aud in May 1916
to a oaptaincy. He followed our standards
throughout the Mexican war, fighting in several
battles and was bregeted Major for gallant and
meritorous conduct in the battle of Bum Vista
February %. 1S47 AT the outbreak of the
great rebellion be was promoted to a colonecy.
His qualities OF mind, and theoretical and pracli-
cal military education would seem to eminenIly
qualify him for the vastly responsible undertak-
ing now con6ded to bis care.
uen Sherman's Division is divided into three
brigades, which ure under the command Of Br.
gadier General Egbert II. Viele, Isaac j Stevens,
and H. G. Wright
FIRST BRIGADE
GEN vIELR AND STAFF.
Gen. Viele, commanding the lst Brigade, is a
well-known citizen Of New York, where, for
several years, he has puraused his profession as
civil engineer, recently in connection with the
Central Park upon which he held the post of
Chief Engineer. lie was born in Saratoga
County in 1926, graduated at West Point, in the
same class us Mcclellan and served in the
Mexican War ln 1868, ne was appointed Chief
Engineer Of the State Of New.J ersey, and was
ordered to make a geOmetrical survey of tue
State. He WAS appointed Brigadier-General of
Volunteers in August last
General Viee's brigade consists Of the New |
Hampshire Third, Col E. D. Fellows the New
York FOrty-sixlh, Col. Rosa the New York |
Forty eight, Col Perry and the Maine Eighth,
Col. Lee Strickland.
SECOND BRIGADE.
GEN. STEVENS AND STAFF.
Gen. Stephens, although native of Massachu-
setts, has been of late years identified with the
affairs of Washington Territory, of which he was |
appointed Governor and Superintendent of Indian
Affairs, in 1868, by President Pierce. Being
elected to Congress in 1857, he resigned his
offices in the Territory He graduated at West
Point il 1889, and served in The Engineers four
teen years, taking part in the seige Of Vera Cruz
under Scott, and in various battles.
The brigade of Colonel Stevens consists Of the
Pennsylvania Fiftie,h. Col. BENZ Christy; the
Michigan Eighth, Col. VIM. NJ. Feuton; the New
York Seventy ninth, Capt. Morrison, 10 COM
mandi and the Roundhead Pennsylvania, Col.
Dan. Leasure, (rifes
THlnD BRIoAnr
GEN. WRIGHT AND STAFF.
Gen. HOratio G. Wright, commanding this
Brigade, is distinguished military engineer,
and fully competent 10 the duties with which he
has been intrusted in the expedition. He gradu.
ated at West Point IN 1887 aud was appointed
Second lieutenant of Engineers in lS4l. From
1871 to 1874 he was Acting Assistant Professor
and Assistant Professor of Engineering 10 the
Military Academy, and in February, 184S, he
received his First Lieutenaucy.
General Wrights brigade consists of the New
Hampshire Fourth, Col. Thos Whipple Com
necticut Seventh, Col. A. II. Ferry; and the
Maine Ninth, Col. Rutherford Rich
Besides these regiments, are the Seventh and
Eighth Wisconsin, engineer battalion five
hundred strong, commanded by Lieut. Col
Serrel the Massachusetts Twenty first, Col.
Augustus Morse, and the famous light battery
known as Sherman's in command of which Gen
PheANoh Noh MO III MEXICO. This ts |
now commanded by Capt Hamilton, and consists
OF Blk guns, one hundred aud forty horses Be.
sides these and other regiments of whom we
have not been able to keep count, the expedition
takes one thousand stout negroes rs aborers on
ihe Notifications which will be thrown up as soon
as the troops land. These are contrabands who
have come in from Virginia at different times.
and their powerful muscle and willing hearts
will probably be great relief to our soldiers
The vessels carry, besides their full crews, a
force of between thirty and forty thousand pick
ed aoldisrs, half of them the best. trained troops
Of Gen. McClelan's command The cry that
the army Of Mcclellan needed more men, which
has for so many weeks vexed impatient souls, is
now explained. 1t was not cur land forces, but
our naval expedition that needed more men.
When troops went on 10 Washington it was only
that others better drilled and more experienced,
might be sent to Annapolis in readiness TO en-
bark in the ships of the expedition. Thus, from
time to time, by the patriotic readiness Of the
people to respond TO call the precise purport
Of which they did not quite comprehend, our
gallant General was enabled to deiaeh from his
army large force of the best soldiers he had