The New York herald., 1862-11-10
THE MISSISSIPPI FlOrILLA.
Our Cairo Correspondence.

uuG WtSSlSStPPI tLUutILus
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Our Cairo Corresp0ndences
CAIRO, Ill.,, Nov 8. 1863
TNs Weaer Papers Prematurely Giving Mtary Ne,us--
fAe Efsa-Admiras Porser's Plosila7Ae AtssisssfF'
SQaadrom-Cap<ain Wise Relieved-fhe FLEET Captan--
Efficiency " the Ordnance Officer. Lieutenant Sanford-
Changes IN ne Comwsond Of ne GunIo1ts Increase OF
Tie SQsadro~-7he Flag Boat &C., DC.
The sensation newspapers the West have made them
selves ridiculous onoe In the premature
mont Of grand combined military ana naval expedition,
under command Of Major General MoCiernand Admiral
Porter respectively before which vicksburg was TO fall
as by magic the Mississippi to be thrown open
the commerce OF tho entire Union and rebellion in the
Southwest to be squelched in the twnkiing Of an
eye However much Of foundation there may have been
10 this welcome report, It's publicity was a. gross
an act OF disioya!ty could we'll have been
committed by newspaper. We're such expedition in
contemplation, traitor or . spy could do the South
better than by announcing 1t publicly 70 the
world. II there has been any such scheme conempla-
ton has been postponed Of necessity because Of it's
publicity, and those who thus wsntonly frustrated il
should be brought strio account. say the schome.
such existed has been postponed because there is
evidence that such expedition il Gting out undoubt
ediy at appropriate te probably not far distant,
effort will be made 70 reopen the great Mssissippi
throughout its length and nobody doubts the success Of
the effort but will surely not be made al time adver
tised unless failure be desired The effort might posi-.
bly, have been made al this time had not those 70 whom
chance had impaired the secret dhonoraby disclosed
alike to the rebels and the rest OF mankind.
Acting Rear Admiral Porter s here busly engaged In
reorganzing the Mississippi fotia, aud fitting for &C
tive service under its exclusively naval regulation with
the title Of Mississippi squadron The organization
yet incomplete, requiring amount Of labor 10 per
exceed doyen-naval olcers III the fotla Now all who
fl Offices from the highest 10 the lowest rank will
aare c nass 90 .o aa sue snSn M ro ~
tained and commissioned the recommendation OF the
Admiral others will retire and give place to regularly
educated and commissioned officers from the coast
and the whole squadron all its various departmente
and ramdcations win be subjected to the regular dis
There will be number OF changes both in the character
Of aud the officers commanding Hitherto
Capt A. D. Wise or the army held the position OF
Quartermaster the otila which anomalous charac
ter he has performed the duties devovng the regular
navy upon several ohcsrs-as navy agent, naval store
keeper inspector aud TO extent naval constructor
He the connecting link, so TO speak bewecn the na
val character Of the aota and the War Department.
der whose orders and at whose expense II carried
forward The duties deyolyng upon this officer we're
necessarily very and complicated bot dis
charged by Capt Wise with vgof efficiency and success
He very capable and popular officer. Under the
organization OF this arm OF the service the ONCE Of
qnartermaster is dispensed with other officers perform
ing the duties This relieves Capt. Wise from the SER
vice. and enables him. as he shall close up his
accounts, 10 return TO duty with the army lie has al
ready gone TO st Louis whore he will reman until the
outstanding accounts OF the fota estimated at million
and quarter Of dollars, are settled
Commander A. W. rennock will remain 10 his old posi-
ton feet captain and conmandant at this station
He Dlls the position OF chsr Of the Adnas sa, and
under that oicer, the highest in command. Captain
Pennock has been with the aoa since its organization,
and has shown himself sngulariy adapted TO the posi-
tion he occupies here, which, while i gives him no op
portuny to distinguish himself by any nublic service
which the world can recognize, really one OF great
responsibility and labor and upon which the squadron
must largely depend for its Success The Captain has
been for long time anxious 10 be appointed 30 the
mand Of vessel that he might compete it'll the other
officers their honorable strife FOR promotion, but has
uniformly been persuaded To remain where he the
discharge oil duties that not one III thousand per-
form.
the first officer Admiral Foote applied como west
with him when he came 70 organize and equip the
Hoa Lieutenant Sandtord had twenty-five years
In the seventeen OF which had been spent AZ sea-
lie had resigned his commission about eight years prev
ousy when the country was AT with all the world
He ready enter the service IL the country
needed him, only spuiatng that he should be rensated
the position he would have occupied had ne drawn hts
needed him. This reouest was complied Win 70 The
OF Admiral Foote'S and the Secretary OF the Navys
ability TO do He re entered the service as volunteer
lieutenant and last winter the Secretary Of the Navy re-
statement, which would have placed Lieutenant
sandford the list of commanders But the
Scna ate refused to comply with the rccommen dation,
and the ordnance officer OF the lola rs now mereya
volunteer lieutenan Admiral toota las publicly ackow.
lodged that officer than any other
he indebted for the efficiency Of the fleet. II under
Lieutenant Sandtords direction that every boat 10 the
feet fitted out He prepared the armament for each
and every OF them and personally superncnded its
mounting He has had entire and full charge of the ord
nance department from the rst inception OF the river
feet until and has there been word 0f con
plant at his management In fact Lieutenant sanford
has been broken down the discharge OF his duties and
is confined 10 his quarters and applicant for duty
the East TO recruit his health The squadron cannot
spare him, aud Il Is hoped that he will soon DO able TO
his duties here that Congress at its next
will the justice OF recognizing his by
iastatng hun In hts old position TO which he IS 30 well
adapted by his long apprenticeship
Macy o. the old naval oficcrs who have h,d command
OF gunboats the 1ota have brokon down in The ardu
The climate OF the Mississippi valley ID ex
Cecdngly trying 20 sransor and when TO this Is added
roasting In these contracted iron clad gunboat bake
ovens is not strange that health gives way Captain
Kitty, of the Mound City; Captain Winsow OF the st.
Louis and Commander Dove, ol the louisville have been
detached this account Their not yet
named. Others absent recruiting their health, while
et others the sick list. The list OF commanding
occrs will thus be very materially changed for tho noxt
cnm,aign.
In addition TO the changes noted in organization
and command. the squadron will be largely increased
within few weeks. There building OF points
the Ohio river aud OF Cincinnat eleven gunbosts
after improved models several OF thcm hlvrg stationary
turrcs ftr their armamcnts and all heavily ion Clad
Some o these vessels are now about ready for service
while 9th re- 10 crudc state. They will be coming
| into throughout the entire winter.
The Eastport which promised so well at first aud
which fitted out the flagship ot the squadron has
developed points OF weakness 10 her construction
which sill necessatate her beng taken into dock
hauling Her and armament have proved toe
heavy her bu causing the centre OF ber aat bottom
TO settle She Is here waiting for sufficient rso in
the water enable her get TO Mound City ST. Louis,
where she be docked During her absence from tho
squadron the admiras Gag win be borne BY q light
draught steamer-the Marmorawhich has not hitherto
been included 10 the list Of Cunboas She Is fast sailing
stern wheeler covered only with boter ron AZ defence
against musketry sue carries har dozen light guns.