Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-11-10

The immense fleet which left Hampton Roads on
the 18th ult, for parts unknown, made demoustra-
tion Of Its mighty power in our waters Tuesday,
az will be seen by reference TO another column.
That terrible expedition, which is to pierce the
heart of the rebellion, calls 70 remembrance the gi
gantic scheme OF the stern, mOrose and supsrstie
tious Philip.
The Yankees in the plenitude Of their silly con-
eeit imagine that the ocean was never before cut
by the keels Of 90 many vessels, carrying so large
number Of men and guns, for the purpose Of iEfict
ing punishment upon an enemy. The eyes Of all
LincOlndom were fixed for weeks upon Hampton
Roads, and the Of that credulous and vain
glorious people are awaiting tidings from the feet
with eager and confident expectancy. That storm,
whose howlIngs disturbed our sIumbers on Friday
night, doubtless has saved vast quantity Of our
ammunition, and when we think Of the cost OF pow
der, and shot, and shell, we bless the storm.
The Yankees have themselves called this fleet by
the name OF the Invinelble Armada" AID their
own wicksdness and the badness Of the cause in
which they are engaged, render the title sngulary
appropriate, and foreshadOw its deereed doom.
But notwithstanding the lOudness with which
they have trumpeted the preparation, and assemb-
ling and departure Of their Armada, it is according
to the most trustworthy accounts in their own
sheets scarcely worthy to be compared with the
armament raised and equipped by Phillip II.
The number of the vessels and guns which sailed
from Lisbon on the 20th May 1885, was far greater
than Lincoln has sent forth to humble the pride of
the young Confederaey. Phillips Armada consist
ed Of hundred and fifty large ships-sf-war, arm
ed with three thousand pieces of artillery Linz
coins terrible Heet consists of between eighty and
ninety vessels carrying not more than about eight
hundred guns. TIE larger portion of this arma>
ment is composed of vessels Of small tonnage, and
many of them are weak from long a. hard ser
vice. And if we make just allowance for ths ex-
travagant and reckless exsggeration of Lincola's
letter writers and journalists there were more sol
diers in the Spanish monarchs ships than the Uni4
ted States despot hss despatched to invade the
South. The first Armada was manned by twenty
thousand soldiers and eight hundred seanen, ard
from all We can gather, the great work the second
Armada is expected to accomplish is to be done BY
between fifteen and twenty thousand men.
The Invincible Armada received some damage
from the fre-ships which attacked it st night, but
the tempest, which rode in wrath over the pillows,
Tss the instrument which Heaven made use Of to
defeat the infamous scheme of the malignant bisot.
Of that vast armament only fifty ships, with abOu;
Elk thousand men escaped the perlIs of that fearful
night.
We will not now indulge in conjecture concern
ing the effects Of the tempest upon Lincoln's mag
nicent naval expe 1ition but We confidently believe
it has suffered great damage.
II, however, the storm spared the menia,s Of the
bloody and coarse usurper, our boys at the guns
Will infict upon them the vengeance of Heaven,
and vessels and guns will swell the list Of orr navy
and furnish with the means OF chastsing the foe
on the element they have thus far been able 70
mand-( Charleston l&aUier Non G.