The national Republican., 1861-10-31
The Great Naval Expedition.
IMPORTANT GENERAL ORDER REG ARDING
IL THE DEBARKATl0N.
STEAMER ATLANTIC.

Yet, no time has been lost by any one connected |
with the expedition, the utmost diligence and the
most constant effort having been displayed.
From this some slight idea may be formed ofthe
ficuties which beset nearly every step of the |
enterprise. The long delay has itself necessi. |
lated still further procrastinaton, rs additional
stores OF coal and water were consequently re- |
qdired. For day or two past the feet has
been awaiting the arrival Of Mr.. Boutelle,
whose experience, In coast surveys, is likely to
prove an Invaluable aid to the expedition. But,
although, many have grumbled at what has
Sc smed to them inexplicable or unnecessary,
the time they were compelled to spend here in
waiting. .H
EXPERIMENTAL DECLARATION.
To-day, whole brigade was debarked en- the
beach, outside Of Fortress Monroe, and both
Gen. Sherman and Capt. Dupont have assured
me that the experience gained by this movement
more than repays the disadvantage of the de.
lay. The various minutB oflanding becoming
thus practically familiar, both officers aud
troops were enabled to foresee difficulties tina,
otherwise would have been unanticipated, and
BY consequence we will obviate these difhcul.
tios, some Of which would have otherwise
proven almost insurmountable. The spectacle
was an extremely lively one. Twenty.six ships
boats were at one time by the side of the At
landc, each bringing an officer to receive his
orders, and the whole subsequent operation
was unusually inspiriting. 1forbear, however,
To reoite its particulars, lest they should be
enough to describe debarkatons when the ac
tual one shall have occurred.
THE MILITARY.
The assistance to he rendered to the military
movements by the feet will be immense. Be.
sides the purely naval operations, the Commo.
| dore will be able to loan seamen for purely land
| service. Four hundred from the Wabash alone
will be detached for this purpose. and this is
only one specimen of the manner In which the
two arms Of the service will be combined.
| STEAM GuNBOATa.
| Twepty.four gunboats are TO be comprised In
| the armament, each to carry four guns, forming
II squadron unparalleled, in its peculiar nature,
| in American warfare-steam gunboats having
| besides the combination Of such immense frig.
| ates as the Wabash, which carries forty-four
guns, many of them riaed whose efficiency was
| so completely tested at Hatteras, where some
of the finest practice in gunnery ever known is
| said to have occurred. Commodore Barron,
who at one time commanded the Wabash, when
its present captain (Rodgers) was his first lieu
| tenant, was extremely anxious to witness the
| result of naval engagement In which one OF
these superb steam frigates should take part.
| he was gratifed recently, and is said to have
| expressed the utmost admiration of the success
| Of his old ship and guns. OF course, purely as
| n matter of service and skill, with the Interior
effects he cannot be supposed to be particular.
ly gratifed.
LOYAL OFFICERS.
| Every confidence is felt by those engaged In
| the naval force of this expedition. The coun.
try, it is true, expects great things from its
| navy, but the navy has never yet disappointed
| the country, and there seems no probability
that this emergency is to inaugurate disaster
The commodore ia regarded as Il master spirit
and is efficiently supported by such skiIful men
Davis, sailing officer of the entire feet, all wei
known already to the country, and anxious
still further to distinguish themselves. Several
of the officers on these ships are Southernert
even South Carolinians-but all are animated
by an enthusiastic loyalty. Indeed, l havt
observed, especially in the navy, that when
patriots have once gone through with the great
struggle between country and friends, theil
devotion is ever after of the most ardent sort
They seem particularly anxious to blot out the
stigma which the treason of others has thrown
| on the fair fame of this branch of the service
| THE ORDER OF BATTLE.
| OF course, the utmost anxiety 10 felt In regar(
to the weather. II is now hoped that we may
be able to sail tomorrow. Gen. Sherman hal
transferred his headquarters from the trans
port Atlantic to tho Wabash, probably for th'
purpose Of obtaining. more etfectual and con
stant communication with his compeer, Flal
Officer Dupont, the transfer being marked b,
salute of thirteen guns, the same paid to
; major general, and by tho cheers of thos
vessels passed by the commander. The CAP
tains of the transports have paid their las
visit to Commodore Dupont, and received thei
! final instructions, their signals, &c. The genert
i
tatipg the order Of battle or debarkation to
preserved, and appealing to the patriotism an
a., devotion OF the troops; and If Boutelle arrives
as he is expected to do this evening, we sha
sail to. morrow morning, unless stormy weathe
. . nterposes. There seems, at the time of m
! writing, an imminent possibility of such a
4 interposition; and, indeed, 1t would be wron
= 4 to send this letter without reminding th
= readers Of the thousand chances which tn
u elements may bring to contend against us
> this important movement.
DANGERS OF THE COAST.
r The Hatteras coast, along which we are flr
~ | to pass, is one of the most inhospitable in tt
:, a world, famous for the winds that blow along
~ and the shoals and the currents that render
|. | especially dangerous. The season of the yes
- is that ut which storms especially prevail
~ this neighborhood, and after everything th
4 human foresight and prudence can suggest hi
" uncertainty, which ever attends movemen
y that depend upon the winds and waves. HOY
- ever, the officers of the navy and the transpo
(; feet are experienced In navigation, many
A. them particularly acquainted with this viCinit
q. and all are hopeful.
" ORDER OF EMBARKATIoN.
d HEADQUARTERS e. c., STEAMER ATLANTIC,
lg October rs, 1861.
at General Order No. 10.
n. /. This command will sail for its destnati,
r. in very few days, under convoy Of nav
., squadron, commanded by Com. Dupont. IT
lg transports will move in three columns, and
or rear Of the main body of the squadron. II
Q. transports belonging to the First brigade "
10 compose the right column those of the Seco
ne brigade and Third Rhode Island regiment, t
10 centre and those of the Third brigade and L
u. battalion of Volunteer Engineers, the thi
so column.
II Each vessel will retain its order In oolum
at and the columns will move in parallel linz
n. equi distant, regulating from the right. T
lrt sail vessels and other transports, inadequate
ng the task of sailing with the fleet, will be tow
en- by such steamers as the chief quartermast
H. may designate. Com. Dupont in co.operati
ed with the land forces, has kindly made such
nd arrangement of his feet as will secure t
en- transports from unnecessary diffusion, and
senior officers on transports, and masters
as vessels, will enter into the spirit Of and CT
de form to, these arrangements, copy of whi
Of will be duly given.
th 2. The general commanding announces to t
IN expeditionary corps that 1t Is intended to ma
IN, II descent on the enemy's coast, and probat
ss- under circumstances which will demand t
as utmost vigilance, GOODNESS, and intrepidity
D." the part Of every officer and man of his co
ar mand. In consideration of the iustness a