The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-11-16
OUR SPECIAL EXPEDITI0NARY DISPATCHES

voIuS9i
OUR SPECIAL EXPEDITIONARY DISPATCHES.
OUR DESPATCH FROM THE ORIENTAL.
STEAMSHIP ORIENTAL,
Orr PoRT ROYAL, S. G., Nov. 8, 1861.
NOTES FROM M DIARY.
take this my ast opportunity to lay before the read
Of tho HERALD the earliest and fullest intelligence Of
the operations of the great naval expedition to This place.
giving plain statement Of facts they have trans
phed to date
FIRST DAY, TUESDAY, OCT. 20.
SAILING OF THE ExigDTIoS.
After pos,ponements delays and other draw
backs to-day is at last fixed for the expedition TO sail
from Fortress Monroe. Tho war and transport vessels
were up to this time promiscuously anchored between
Fortress Monroe and the Rip Raps.
At daylight the flag hip Wabash, occupying central
pos ton in tho fleet, weighed anchor, and In few mo-
nents bang went gun from her broadside-a
prearranged signal for tho fleet to get Nd steam
and start The flagship took the lead, ana wa.
soon after followed by the gunboat Aotilia-
tn whole so arranged to form a hollow square, in
which the transports - sail in three lines CORES
pontng to the numerical designation Of the brgales
In hour from the signal the dense white steam was
seen curling out Of the escape pipes Of the trans
ports and soon followed the revolving Of paddle wheels
The weather was as propitous as could be DESIRED the
sSy was clear, The water smooth. BY eight O'Clock A. NJ
She majority OF the transports cleared from their moorngs
aud followed i'll the wake Of the flagship for the final rem
devious and point Of departure of Cape Henry
AID about nine miles from Fortress Monroe the bands
performing the national airs with inspiring effect,
while the united voices Of the expeaonsts made the air
reyerberate with ripas of farewell The war vessels ac
copanying the fleet beiecked from stem to stern
~.
scene. Indeed, the departure of the feet from Hampton
Roads was scene to bs forgotten by those who
had the good fortune to behold it.
DELAY CAUSE.
hiatus now occurred which operated to cause tenn
pormy delay and which for time caused no little djsap
pontment. The night previous the commanding gene
Of tho division promulgated ardor % put board
each transport for the Of the troops eight DAYS add
tona raons the fifteen previously issued To do this
required the united efforts Of every brigade and reri
mental commssary during the entire night and before
the last transport had received quota of stores good
portion Of the forenoon of the subsequent day was OK
hased The steamer Atlantic the last transport to
leave the anchorage, followed by the gunboats Mohcan
Petit and Seminole, forming the guard.
OFF CAPE HENRY.
The recedng tide drfted the vessels seward but IL
was nearly four O'Clock P. NJ. be.oro all the
vessels arrived of Cape Henry Ugh house At
this time the leading vessels Of the exped
ton had drifted fifteen miles to sea- The sea was
comparatively calm, the westerly breeze still blowing
The signal given from the fgaship to got into
hne according the published order copy of which
sent at the Sme to the HRRAp This accomplished
southery.
AT sEA.
After dark the vessels Of the fleet were only distr
guishcl by their signal lights OF white red and blue
thas forming unique galaxy as they danced up and
down before the vision From dark until midnight
che merry voices Of the troops and crews Of tie
vessels could be heard upon tn. air. while enjoying the
Innocent pasnfe in singing the patriotic OF thu dav
while the regenal ba dis made the air reverberae with
melody During the night the wind veered around 70 the
southwest with tolerably heavy running This fact
operated in great degree 10 break the order sailing
rs prescribed by general orders hence there
but uncomfortable confusion Those vessels of the left
hne straycd to the right, and rice cerSd.
SECOND DAY, WEDNESDAY, OCT. 80.
APPEARANCE
Sunrise revealed sad confusion Of the order Of the pre
vous day The vessels Of the ct were all in sight bu sad
~ out Of line Some had dded to the leeward Others as
far asteru and ahc AL The naval vessels formed no OK
ccpion the skin Of their nders giving them no pre-
eedcncc the CAPTAINS Of the transports AMI thew
IL every place hut The right one To remedy this
work Of no ordinary skill but they proceeded to
the task and 10 the OF hour reg liar lines Of
the day previous appeared out OF the chaotic mass
Of ships. General Ntcc, who had his quarters on the
splendid steamship Oriental, ship and pad personal
Attcn'ion TO the regulation OF his ships going from the
herd Of his line e Is 10 tho rear aud reforming in
curing after the health and on of his mon ihen
forming grand move, sea review.
cApE HArTERAs.
At six O'Clock A. NJ the posi- on Of the aec was thirty
miles north % Cape lIaeras The sea was rum Ig
pretty highjnst enough to aeet those subject TO sea
sickness. The sailing OF all the vessels in order ~ keep
the feet whole, was necessarily slow-he speed not OK
ceeding i've mihs per hour Passed Hatteras at one
O'Clock p NJ. Up to this time the vessels of the
feet except the principal naval officers and command,
Of the brigades, were cgnzsn. OF the de s,na; o the
feet.
THIRD DAY, THURSDAY, OCT. 81.
During the night, rather towards morning, the wind
and sea abatedat sunrise the dispersion Of the feet
seemed un fat accomfH Your correspondent, WITH the
assistance Of good glass asceaded TO the masthead Of
his vessel, and, after minute view OF the horizon
could see, far and near, just twenty sail out "
about seventy that comp sed the original number At
SIX Clock a. NJ. the steam guAbod Augusta along
Side Of the steamship Oriental and inquired whether Or
NOT the capita Of toe latter bad The Commodore
ship. To this question NEGATIVE reply was given At
nine O'Clock y. NJ. the gunboat Benye came alonqe de
Of the Oriental AID asked same qnes ion ana rcce
viee ordered the captain OF his Gtship the Oriental to
crowd sail aud steam and whether or moi the Hea Hal
preceded him during the cover Of night
fNtlUtNTS
From the guuboat Augusta II wac ascer,aiped ,b.. ~,
Hght previous during the southwest blow lin s,aa,or
Illinois. while towing the shpGoldeu Eagle was nm no
by the latter, carrying away smoke stack and doing
other damage.
II was ascertained tina, the steamship Baltic won,
ashore the night previous on hat'eras Shoals but got Oh
in few hours with slight damage. The Oriental steamed
away until two O'Clock r. NJ when the eet the greater
POI lion Of it, seen ahead, heading due south The
steansh Atlantic heading the III was sent back
The rest OF the day passed off without
any particular incident worthy Of record The wind
continued blow fresh from the southwest Thu four
vessels OF the expedition from the deck o tho
Ut amEbip Oriental at shutdown.
FOURTH DAY, FRIDAY, NOV. j.
FoRE1AsTE TIE sToRS.
just before daylight there was a fresh breeze accom-
panied by heavy rain. AZ sunrise ihere was very
Little sea on. AZ bali past ten O'Clock rugged clouds