Weekly Delaware State journal and statesman., 1861-11-01


All of the transports are fully armed, ant
have a crew on board to work the guns. Seye-
raj Transports were added to the fleet at Fortres,
Monroe, and the entire Atlantic squadron viii
cooperate with the expedition.
Tho expedition consists, in all, Of eighty yes
sels. Of these three are steam-frigates, sis
others are sailing men-of-War, twenty.eix nrf
gunboats, twelve ferry-boats, and thirty steam
and six sailing transports.
The total tunnage of the steamers amounts Ia
1881 tuns, aud of the Great Republic and
other sailing vessels Z, l5l tuns. So that, exclu.
slGe oil eoal-ships, Gen. Sherman has collected
within sour weeks in single port, fleet Of
merchant vessels whose aggregate tunnaRe il
two-thirds as great as that Of the Great Spanish
Armada, which Philip II. of Spain sent in 5ss
for the conquest of England. The total tunnagp
OF that wonderful expedition was only 75. SIS
tuns, and it is probable that if the capacity Of
the men 'of-war conveying our transports were
taken into account our own expedition would
show much larger result.
THE TRANSPORT FLEET.
The Headquarters of the Division ia the At
antic, which, like all the other vessels, has been
RENTED throughout with temporary berths for
troops, OF which she carries about 1900. This
splendid vessel, loaded down with army stores
-NA StNAehsot hNt hOld CThuLQeu Rlth rough
berths for the troops, and her decks piled with
lumber, hay and bricks, bears little resemblance
TO that tidy passenger steamer that once sailed
so regularly for liverpool with gay crowds of
pleasure-seekers. We all recollect how. for
weeks, the whole country was in au agony of
suspense to learn her fate, and how every benrt
rejoiced at her safe return. Her present VOYAGE
Is one OF as great peril, and we all hope and pray
that she and her noble sister transports NAV
come safely out of it, The Atlantic is command.
ed BY Capt Oliver Eldridge of the Baltic, who
is temporarily transferred.
THE BALTIC.
This splendid steamer is under command of
Capt. Joe Comstock, who, having done pood
service on the Naval Examining Board, and helm
ed the Government in other ways, puts on his
pea'jaeket and tarpaulin again, and takes COM
mand OF his old ship for this expedition. The
Baltic has about | 500 extra berths, and carries
not far short of 1000 men. Her cargo consists
Of army stores hay, straw, and large quantity
OF oats for the horses; wheelbarrows, picks, and
spades for trenching some immense 64-pound
gunsi six large surf-boais; the lumber and
frame for large house, all marked and ready
to put together and sixty horses, which are
housed on stalls on deck.
THE VANDERBILT
Capt. P. e. Lefevre, the veteran commander
OF the vanderbilt, reported himself to his owners
ready for duty when the FIRST expedition to Fort
flckens was proposed, 30 this is the third or
fourth naval expedition with which he has been
connected. His vessel carries about 1000.
men, and cargo composed Of 5000 bushels of
oats. tuns upon tuns of ordnance, az pound guns.
30 army wagons and carts, 1000 barrels Of com,
missary stores, rations for the troops, 10 surf
boats aud launches, hay and straw, aud 10, 900
feet Of lumber. The Vanderbilt tows the shin
Great Republic with alkher immense load, but
withal Capt. Lefeyere felt no hesitation iu say
ing before be started that he could keep up with
the best 10 the fleet.
THE EMPIRE CITY.
The Empire City, Capt. Baxter, is steamer