The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-09-17

MONT market was excited and active. The sales
were chiefly for domestic and for export The market
closed at an advance Of &c. q 15c. per Dbl.
Wheat was active and in good demand, with sales for
export chiefly to France, at full prices especially for
primo shipping lots Corn was frmer and closed at an
advance of 1c 20. per bushel while sales active
Pork opened dull but closed rmer the sales embraced
mess at $14 $14 25, and some heavy barrels re-
ported at $14 So and Of prime at 50 Is $40. Sugars
were rm with sales Of TOO hhds and 800 bags at rates
given in another column Coffee was Hrm with sales of
$500 bags Rio at 14c. 15Ho, 100 bags Java at 1oc
19c, and 100 bags IAguayra at 1870. Freights were
1rm with fair amount Of engagements.
Important Secret Naval Expeditions
Against tho South.
1t has been rumored for some time that there
were other secret expeditions in contemplation
against the Southern coast besides that which
resulted SO successfully at Hatteras Inlet, on
the coast of North Carolina, and within the last
few days mysterious notes of preparation were
heard which went far to show that those rumors
were not without foundation But movements
have now taken place which leave no doubt on
the subject even if we were not placed in posses
sion of facts, which we are not now at liberty to
MENTION but which satisfy us that there is some
thing important In the wind.
81 Enthusiastically stSsca that tkUne monster
steamships-the Atlantic, the Baltic and the
Vanderbilt-had been chartered by the govern
ment for some secret naval service, at the same
time that other transports, previously engaged,
had come to this city for the same purpose. The
transports have suddenly disappeared, and with
them as suddenly several regiments encamped
on Long Island at Scarsdale, at Camp Winfield
Scott, Hampstead, at Fort Hamilton and other
points The New Hampshire regiment which
was missed from its camp on Sunday was seen to
take the cars Of the Long Island Railroad early
in the morning, and it is ascertained that it pro-
ceeded to the terminus of the road, at the other
end of the island. Everybody who witnessed
this movement felt astonished What, it was
asked, can troops be wanted for in that region?
But the appearance of the Atlantic off Green
port soon solved the mystery. The troops were
taken on board, and the ship steered in q south
ward direction.
OF the precise destination of these troops and
of the other regiments-in all from six to ten
thousand men--we cannot inform our readers;
it is government secret But we may state
generally that it is undoubtedly the Southern
coast. There are at least three naval cxpedi-
tioas on FOOT and all the available troops on
the Northern coast will be sent in one or the
other of them. General Butler went to Boston
to send forward troops from that direction, and
he is to command one of the expeditions him
self. In tho course Of three weeks perhaps
sixty thousand men will have been landed
at different points on the Southern coast,
where they will act in cooperation to
the same end, ard penetrate to the very heart
of the cotton region. Such is the vigor with
which the Navy and War Departments are being
conducted since the government obtained the
new loan.
What will be the effect ofthese expeditions on
the Confederate army now in front of Washing
ton? 1t will be to break up and scatter those
forces without wasting shot upon them.
From the recent fro," tho S".'th -~L;.h 800
have published, it appears that the Confederate
army is most impatient to fight, and is in immi-
nent peril of being demoralizcd from inaction.
But the generals are not ready, and they are
holding back their army till they have the rail-
road finished from Winchester to Strasburg-a
distance of about eighteen miles-whch will
thus complete continuous line from Harper's
Ferry to Richmond, enabling the rebel generals
not only to transport large quantities of provi-
sons and munitions of war to Maryland by way
Of the Upper Potomac, but to concentrate rapidly
large force at any desired point of their de-
fensive line. The ten miles of rails and the
locomotives and cars of the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad which they recently seized at Martins
burg are now being applied to the compile
ton of their road and the rolling stock
When this is accomplished they will then
be ready for action. But, meantime, the naval
expeditions will pounce upon the Southern
coast. AS soon as the intelligence reaches
the army of the Potomac it will spread
terror and alarm throughout its ranks
The troops of South Carolina Georgia
Florida, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana
decimated from the effects of change of climate
from infectious mortal diseases and filthy
camps, will insist on going home to defend theil
native States, and let Virginia defend herself
The decentralization already begun will soon be
completed, and instead of finishing the railroad
from Winchester to Strasburg, to invade Mary.
land and capture Baltimore and invest
Washington, the troops of the cotton
States will hurry southwark by the most
direct railroads already finished to defend
all that they hold dear at home The
operations of Rosecrans in Western Virginia
threatening the rear of the rebel force in East
ern Virginia, and the cutting off of it's retreat
| by crossing the Blue Ridge and Selling the
| Tennessee and Virginia Railroad, as well as
the expedition of Fremont down the Mississippi
will hasten the consummation; and before the
end Of winter the nsurgent army now manGu
vering from Occoquan creek to Leesburg will
melt away like last years snow, and the place
! that knew it shall know ii no more. If that
army so to pieces, as it must the rebel leaders
vii. never be able to organize another and be-
fore the lst of May peace will be restored to