Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-10-31
THE GREAT NAVAL EXPEDITION

The New York papers publish the following
as the official orders for the sailing and land.
ing Of the great naval expedition
The transports are to move in three columns
and in rear of the main body of the squadron.
The transports belonging to the first brigade
are to compose the right column those Of the
second brigade and Third Rhode Island Regi.
ment the center; and those of the third brigade
and the battalion of volunteer engineers the
left column. Each vessel is to retain its order
in column, and the columns will move in par
allel lines equi-distant, regulating from the
right The sail vessels and other transports,
inadequate to the task of sailing with the feet,
are to be towed by such steamers as the Chief
Quartermasters may designate.
The expeditionary corps is intended TO make
descent on the enemy's coast. and probably
under circumstances which will demand the
the part Of every officer and man of his COM
mand; and the General declares his belief
that in consideration Of the justness and holi-
ness of the cause, of the ardent patriotism
which has prompted the virtuous and indus
trious citizens of the land to fly to their coun-
try's standard in the moment Of her peril he
will be efectually and efficiently supported in
his efforts to overthrow a jealous, active and
willy foe, whose cause is unholy and principles
untenable. On the approach Of the transports
to the place of disem barkation, each brigade
commander is directed to anchor his trans
ports as near each other as practicable, and to
superintend the Decentralization of his brig
ade. The surf boats with other means of dis
en- mbarkation on board are believed to be ca
pable Of landing at once from three to four
thousand men. The surf boats are ef different
sizes: two Of the largest may take the officers
and men Of a company Of one hundred men;
two Of the next size q company of seventy
men, and 90 on In proportion. The other
means Of transportation may take the remain
1Ar rnfa krsn IL al zLoll
tions OF field artillery. The disembarkment
Is to be made In three lines; the first line will
be the brigade sof Gen. Wright, hanked by
two sections Of Hamilton's battery and accom-
panied by the squsd Of regular sappers and
miners and two companies Of Ssrrell's Volun-
teer Engineers, with q sufficient supply of in
trenchlng tools and sand bags. The second
line will be the brigade of Cen. Stevens, and
If necessary accompanied by section of Ham
ilton's battery and two pieces to be manned
BY company Of the Third Rhode Island regi-
nent. The reserve will be composed of Gen
Vieler's brigade, the remaining portions of
Serrell's Volunteer Engineers and the Third
Rhode Island regiment, and will be disposed
Of according to circumstances. The boats of
not only each company, but Of each regiment
and brigade will land abreast as far as praeti-
cable, and in the order of battle. The utmost
EFFORT will be made to effect the landing in
that order. Should it be found impractic able
to land Immediately from the lighters. then
the surf boats, when emptied, will immediate
ly proceed to the rapid landing of the men
from the lighters, and as soon as the whole
line Is landed all the boats will return, and
bring forward in like manner the troops of
the second line, and 30 with the reserve. The
general officers and commanders of battalions,
&C., will be furnished in time with the plan
of descent and the particular order of battle.
The General thinks 1t probable that the FIRST
line will have to conquer the ground on which
to establish itself, and if opposed by greatly
superior numbers, to vancouver, and perhaps
to momentarily entrench. If not seriously op-
posed, the first line, after overcoming imme-
diate difficulties is to continue to drive back
the enemy, but will not venture beyond
supporting distance from the shore before the
landing Of the general commanding or without
his special orders Three hundred sailors are
To- be furnished 10 assist in launching and man
ming the surfboats, and any deficiency of oars
men in surfboats is to be supplied from the
plstoons on board Of these respectively, 30 that
each boat when ready may be rapidly rowed
ashore. The soldiers oarsmen viii land and
form with their platoons.