Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1862-12-26

THE BANKS EXPEDITIoN.-The Oswego
IN. W Times publishes a letter from the
steamship Ericsson. Of the banks expedition,
dated one days sail from Port Royal. The
writer says the fleet to which the Ericsson is
attached sailed from Fortress Monroe Dec 4,
in the following order
Sea Lblc--s,eamship Baltic, Gag ship propellcrs
George Gucn, CITY Of Bath, Pucahontas, Maanzas
steamships s. X Spaulding, Aragu.
Shore Liie-Steamship Atlantic propellers Key
West. Carlow. Thorn, Thames, United states steam
ship Ericsson gunboat Augusta
This part of the expedition comprised a.
bout 10000 troops. The vessels sailed IN
der scaled instructions, not to be opened IN
less the Atlantic or flag ship was lost sight
OF for some hours. The following account is
given Of the disaster to the transport Thames ,
before reported
About p. IN. Friday If ernoon, Col Lituejohn,
standing the house. discovered the propeller
Thames run up flag and Immediately the Ericsson was
ordered TO head o hers but before her course fairly
taken the hid the propeller from view In hour
she discovered rolling in the having broken her
engine TO get enoagh to throw line and not bring
the ships ia contact In such and easy
matter Lines were ready on board ship, and away
we went for the propeller. As We approached I'M
lucky drove US down upon the Thames and anoth-
or rushed her with great force toward us Looking down
upon her from dcckst seemed as II she must
der her mast struck sarbuafd life boat breaking 1t
and rigging flew about the decks IN wild conu ion but
the line the hands Of well delivered, and
secured ON The Thames and IN few moments she was
in saturday morning the hawser parted and by very
bad management the part Of the Of the Thames
she run into our laIbpard quarter and carried
olher c-boat. and very nearly swamped another with
first mate and crew. They only saved themselves
by cutting their line aud drifting of to
A letter to the Philadelphia Inquirer, from
the propeller Albany, says that the second oil
the sealed orders, pointing out the true course
OF the expedition, was "opened at the time
indicated, and, although it will not do for me
to state the place Of our destination, still
may be allowed TO say that all on board were
taken by surprise. In fact, the captain de-
clared at once he was not competent to navi-
gate the vessel to the point named. He
therefore determined to put in at Fortres,
Monroe and secure a pilot"
After delays and telegraphing to Baltimore
one was obtained. The vessel then stood ou
to sea. n Saturday night there was ter
rble storm. The writer says: ave escaped
without any serious damage to the vessel
Considerable loose property belonging to tn,
vessel was swept overheard. Our vessel, il
my opinion, is entirely unfit for the voysg,
we have before us, and if we arrive at thu
end OF our journey without accident, it viii
be wonder to all on board"
A considerable feet of steamers belonging
to the expedition we're seen off Key West OIL
the llth, steering west, toward the Gulf o
Mexico. Several vessels of the expedition
were at Key West on the 18th Among
them we're the Curlew of Providence, the NJ
Thorn of Mystic, and the Georges Creek
The Curlew and the Thorn left after obtain
ng supplies; the Georges Creek remained
or repairs. Her engineer reported that a
EAST ten patches would be needed on her boil
RS before she would be fit for sea.
The steamer M. Sanford, which went ashor,
n Carysfort reef during storm, is very mucl
njured, and it it believed will prove a tota
/ oss.
The rotten steamer Niagara, now at Phil
delpha condemned, was in government EN-
10y as transport at the rate Of $4,000 pc
lonth and fuel found. She is eighteen year
I'D.