Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1862-11-24

competition Of Gen. McClernan1's
CoSpS i'AYne.
The 0un-boat Fleet under Com
Porter.


Porter.
The fleet OF boats which carried the
Ninety seventh and Ninety ninth lndi-
ana Regiments to Columbus, n.y., Ar
rived at New Albany, on their retnrn,
Monday. From officers ofthe boat: the
New Albany Ledger gathers the follow
inc information with reference to Zen.
McClernand's Mississippi River Expe-
dition:
"The expedition is being organized on
A gigantic scale being tho
point of rendezvous. Maj. Gen. Mo.
Clernaud is now there, giving his per-
soma, .uperiute dence TO the armament
and equipment Of the forces, and taking
Ill the necessary steps TO insure the sue
cess Of the expedition.
His corps d'arme will consist entire.
Nv Of western aud northwestern regi-
men,s. It will embrace ten regiments
from Indiana, twelve regiments from
Illinois, four regiments from Iowa, four
regiment, from Wisconsin, two regi
ments from Minnesota, and aome ten
thousand troops, infantry, cavalry and
| artillery, from the army now IN Ken
lucky, probably a portion Of Gen. Nor.
guns command, and part OF the late
command Of Gen. Granger. The cav
airy and artillery force will be ample
for any and cvery emergency.
"In addition to this force, the gun-boat
fleet under Com. Porter will cooperate
with the expedition. The feet Of Com.
Porter consists Of the following vessels:
Benton dag ship,) Capt. G~inn, l6
guns Passport, Capt. Phelps, 10 guns;
Caron delet, Capt. Wilkes, l3 guns !;
| Baron De Kalb formerly st. LOUISE
Capt. Winslow, Is guns; Essex. Capt.
Porter, I guns Lexington, Captain
Shirk, guns making a total OF ten
vnn. boats and one hundred and twenty.
one guns.
wv ere it necessary, this naval force
could be augmented by the Tyler, Con-
e.,oga, Chilico,he, Indianapolis, Bragg.
Little Rebel, Fort Henry, and those OF
the new gun-boats now nearly finished.
"The first great obstacle for tho ex
petition to overcome will be the Tor
midable Notifications at Nicksburg. But
when it is remembered that Commodore
Farragut, with his fleet Of guuboats and
mortar boats, is below these works, and
can easily cooperate with the fleet from
above. it will be seen what an ovcr.pow-
ing force will be brought to bear for the
reduction Of the rebel stronghold oil
Vicksburg.
The canal dug by order OF Gen. But
Ter, last Summer, will be Of advantage
TO 10 in an attack. Gentlemen who
have lately been with the transports
carrying rebel prisoners to Nicksbarg,
saw that since the abandonment Of the
work by our troops the enemy have
erected very formidable batteries there
comm andiug the dedouche OF the canal
. aud had taken all the precautions Of til
ing up the channel, SO as to prevent
the washing out of the canal when tbt
river rises. And even should the water
rise sufficiently to wash out channel
the guns ef the enemy would still com
mand the canal.
"The attack upon Vicksburg las
Summer failed for want of cc-operat
ing land force on our part. McCler
hands expedition will obviate this wao'
, in the future, and when Vicksbrfg II
again attacked it will be token by
storm by McClernsnd's troops. Ih''
city captured, aud the wavis compare
lively clear to New Orleans.
"The expedition Of zen. McClernand
will be ready to usve by the 10th O
December at f.rthert, perhaps much
earlier. 1t Will be followed by the gun
boats Of Gc.. Elicit, who will have 8
! large fo~e Of infantry, cavalry and artil
,ery :, keep the river clear Of guerrilla,
an1 rebel batteries. Gen. Ellett's com
uaud will be quartered upon armed
: transports. SO that it can be moved rap
idly to any point where its presence may
be required; and it will bave, in con
junction with the gnnboats, complete
surveillance on the LowerMissis,ippi anl
it's navigable tributaries, SO that wbe!
the river is opened it will remain open
and its navigation become entirely SAFE
to steamers"
An Unlocked for Confession.