Delaware State journal and statesman., 1861-11-01
THE GREAT NAVAL EXPEDITION.
FULL ACCOUNT OF THE PREPARATIONS.
THE VESSELS, MEN MATERIALS, &C.

THE VESSELS, MEN MATERIALS, 4C.
1t has been known for some lime to the public
that vast naval expedition was preparing to sail
for some unknown point on the Southern coast.
At the request of the Government, the papers Of
the north refrained from giving any of the par
ticulars concerning it, until IL should have fairly
sailed And now thatit is upon the broad bosom
of the waters, and the press generally have given
publicity to the details of the whole affair, we
colate from our exthaugcs-mainly the New
York Tribune, and the Washington Iateliigeneer
the following interesting details.
II will be found that this expedition is on q
scale more vnst than any thing of the kind
heretofore attempted on this continent, at least
and that, from the completeness Of its outfit and
the skill of tho men to whom the command is
entrusted, we may hupe for severe blow at the
insurgents in their weakest spot. Where the
blow is to fall is known only to the Government
and to the Commander in-Chief of the expedi.
tion. 1t was unknown to every one but General
Sherman-the captains of the different ships
sailing with sealed orders, which were not to be
opened till they got into n certain latitude and
longitude 1t is probable, therefore, that the
insurgents will know before we do where the
landings are to be effected Whatever may be
it's object we can only wish the utmost success
to the gallant men who compose it,
The expedition is the joint work of the Navy
and War Departments. 1t was meant TO have
been ready by the middle of September and
the Navy Department bad its vessels ready then.
II was, however, impossible to get ready the
immense material Of the expedition by that
time; and though everybody concerned worked
most diligently it vas only on October 18th that
the transports were laden and the hnal shipment
Of troops ready to be begun. The expedition
consists Of the following forces
THE LAND FORCES.
The land forces of the expedition are under
command of Brigadler Gen. Thos W. Sherman,
brave and experienced officer of the United
States Army, with whose gallant conduct when
in command of the famous "Sherman's Battery"
at Bull Run the public are we'll acquainted, aud
from which he was appointed a COlOuelcy to his
present rank. Gen. sherman graduated at West
Point in 1882, with distinction. 10 1886 he was
Second Lieutenant in the 81 Artillery, and in
March of the following year acted az Assistant
Commissiary Of Subsistence ln May 1888 he
was promoted to a lieutenacy, and in May 1916
to a captaincy. He followed our standards
throughout the Mexican war, fighting in several
battles and was breveted Major for gallant aud
meritOrous conduct in the battle Of Buna Vista
February 49, 1S47. AT the outbreak OF the
great rebellion he was promoted to a colonelcy.
His qualities of mind, and theoretical and pract-
cal military education would seem to eminently
qualify him for the vastly responsible undertake
ing now eonfded to his care.
Gen. Sherman's Division is divided into three
brigades, which under the command of Bri-
gadier General Egbert II. Viele, Isaac ]. Stevens,
and II. G. Wright.
FiRsT BRIGADE.
GEN yIELE AND STAFF.
Gen. Viele, commanding the lst Brigade, is a
weknown citizen Of New York, where, for
several years be has pursused his profession as
civil engineer, recently in connection with the
Central Park, upon which he held the post Of
Chief Engineer. lie was born in Saratoga
County, in 1926, graduated at West Point in the
same class us Mcclellan, and served in the
Mexican War. lu 1868, he was appointed Chief
Engineer of the State OF New-J ersey, mud was
ordered 10 make a geometrical survey of the
State He was appointed Brigadier-General of
Volunteers in August last
General Vieles brigade consists Of the New
Hampshire Third Col. E. d. Fellows tue New
York Forty.sixtb, Col. Rosa the New York
Forty. eight, Col. Perry and the Maine Eighth,
Col Lee Strickland.
sRcoND BRIGADE.
GEN. STEVENS AND STAFF.
Gen. Stephens, although native of Massachu-
sets, has been Of late years identified with the
affairs of Washington Territory, Of which he WIS
appointed Governor and Superintendent of Indian
Affairs, in 1858, by President Pierce. Being
elected to Congress in 1851, he resigned his
offices in the Territory. He graduated at West
Point IN 1889, and served in the Engineers four
teen years. taking part in the sege OF Vera Cruz
under Scott, and in various battles.
The brigade of Colonel Stevens consists of the
Pennsylvania Fifie,h. Col. BENZ Christy the
Michigan Eighth, Col. Wm. NJ. Fenton the.New
York Seventy. Capt. Morrison, in COM
mand and the Roundhcad Pennsy sylyania, Col.
Dan. Leasnre, (riies
Third BRIGADE.
GEN. WRIGHT AND STAFF.
Gen. Horatio G. Wright, commanding this
brigade, is distinguished military engineer,
and fully competent to the duties with which be
has been intrusted in the expedition. He gradu
ated at West Point in 1887, and was appointed
Second Lieutenant of Engineers in ls4l. From
1S41 to 1874 he was Acting Assistant Professor
and Assistant. Professor Of Engineering 10 the
Military Academy, and in February, l84S, he
received his First Lieutenancy.
General Wright's brigade consists Of the New
Hampshire Fourth, Col. Thoa. Whipple Con
necticui SEVENTH Col. A. II. Ferry and th'
Maine Ninth, Col Rutherford Rich.
Besides these regiments, are the Seventh ant
Eighth Wisconsin, an engineer battalion fivi
hundred strong, commanded by Lieut.. Col
Serrel the Massachusetts Twenty first, Col
Augustus Morse, and the famous light batter.
known as Sherman's in command Of which Gen
Sherman won his laures in Mexico. This j
now commanded by Capt. Hamilton, and consist
Of six guns, one hundred and forty horses. Be
sides these and other regiments, of whom "
have not been able to keep count, the expedition
takes one thousand stout negroes as laborers o.
the Notifications which will be thrown up as 500
as the troops land. These are eontrabands VIII
have come in from Virginia at different times
and their powerful muscle and willing heart
will probably be q great relief to our soldiers
The vessels carry, besides their full crews,
force of between thirty and forty thousand pich
ed soldiers, half of them the best trained trooI
of Gen. McCellan's command. The cry tha
the army of Mcclellan needed more men, Whic
has for SO many weeks yexed impatient souls,
now explained. 1t was not cur land forces, bt
our naval expedition that needed more mel
When troops went on TO Washington il was onl
that others, better drilled and more experienced
might be sent to Annapolis in readiness to EN-
bark in the ships of the expedition. Thus, fro
time to time, by the patriotic readiness Of Il
people to respond to a call the precise purpo
Of (which they did not quito comprehend, OIL
gallant General was enabled to delaeh from b
army large force Of the best soldiers he ha