New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-07-10

Yfom Our Special Correspondents
The intended demonstration on Norfolk and the inter-
mediate batteries has been abandoned for wnst reason
do not know The wonder is that that purpose should
have existed. The idea of attacking strong land bat
teries with ships u.s. TO say The least doubtful one,
Fbe man who, as commander of the naval forces saw
all their batteries go up and did not protest. by
70 much as the firing Of single shot, when was the
easiest thing in the world for him TO have prevented
the construction Of any all OF them should not be
held 70 very high standard of Judgment or activity.
Having omitted to do the thing he ought there should
be no surprise should he do almost any act not con-
sistent with good sense There can be no accounting
for the action or non-action Of officers who have not
by this time found that the country is in actual
war and that the Rebels be treated enemies
and overborne at all points. Nor is so much to be
wondered at that while these things SO, with feet
larger perhaps, than was ever before assembled in
our waters the rebel pirates are inesting Chesapeake
Bay. These things all Of piece
understand that the Cumberland instead of taking
refuge from the rebel batteries the opposite shore
which nearly ready to Open is going Boston for
repairs. Htbe improvements contemplated were not
confined TO the chip then might wait hopefully for
her return to these waters.
About three hundred men, discharged from the seye-
raj regiments under the rigid examination lately ns
tuted leave to-day in the steamer Stars and Stripes
One hundred of them are from Col. Cars regiment,
the remainder about equally fiom the other regiments.
They will be in charge of Lieut. Col Kenyon, who will
await further orders at New-York. While this shows
the losenees with which corps organized at the
outset, the large harvest of unfit at this time
should not be charged wholly that In most
cases the New-York regiments vert fitted out in a
manner little calculated to cause the improve in
anything. Il was not weeks before they made
10 realize that while they had manifested patriotic
zeal 10 defend the Government, they were at the same
time victims of importure and speculation. Their
clothing shoes, and entire outfit became shabby, and
the meH very soon found themselves in a condition
little calculated to improve their efficiency or self
respects for footed and ragged soldiers scarce
ly be expected to do otherwise than 60 down hill No
small proportion of the deterioration in the condition Of
men, of which have heretofore spoken, is charge
able directly to the mposOns pracLiced them and
their consequent barefooted and ragged state mpos
tons and frauds that finally reduces whole regi-
ments TO the most unpresentabe condition imaginable.
The rascay that has been developed In this respect
q standing disgrace TO New-York State. Whole
platoons in certain regiments without shoes If
they have shirts, man has than one and that
dirty and ragged while the rest Of his clothing is of
piece No efforts Of officers the influence
which such a state of things exerts 1t brushes
out all selfrespect and reduces them to condition
when the feeling of dissatisfaction takes the place Of
every other. The spirit Of emulation which, il cult
waited goes far in eleyating the status Of and
regiments becomes extinct and the soldier who one
time animated by the nobles sentiments becomes
q grumbler and mere hanger-on. If New-York
would see her regiments improve in efficiency and take
good rank, let her clOthe her men well and sub
santiay let them be shielded from the rascaites Of
contractors and cherished in their welfare and COM
forts.
Gen. Pierce having established his headquarters at
Hampton, where the two Massachusetts, Regiments are
located, Col. Duryee is temporarily in command Of
the regiments forming the brigade at Camp Hamilton.
The bridge at Hampton, which might have been recon.
s:ructed in weeks time, seems almost indefinitely
postponed, because the lumber purchased in Boston
mas not vet arrived Is it not singular that purchases
should be made in Boston, when the markets of the
Snsauebanna the best in the country 30 Us
Il will not be difficult TO state the precise increased
cost of the Boston purchases, to say nothing Of the
larger item in the matter Of delay, what it would
have been # the purchases had zen made on the Sus
ouebanna am 10th TO believe that private interests
are being subserveda public expense.
The Notifications which Capt. Casey Of the Engi-
neers has projected On the east bank Of Hampton
Greek, and which are in good state Of fOrwardness,
viii prove an eectual barrier to the advance Of the
enemy Ttey0ompletely command the passages, and
will be works Of permanens strength and importance.
The camp OF Newport News having completed their
5ostihea,ion and battery, keep active in seong the
ce-r.y I. :ke -eas and sp Jai-es RlyeS. Cap. Hsa-