Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1862-01-23


at the dock to take on the Seventh Rhode
Island battery. The steamers towed some
one and some two sailing vessels, and long
before noon the entire transport feet had
cleared the harbor and was sailing down the
bay.
DOWN THE CHESAPEAKE BAY.
So the feet sailed away. 1t would have
been magnificent sight if the fleet, or in
deed any considerable portion of it, could
have been secn---but it couldn't. 1t started
in fog, sailed nearly all day in a fog, and
finally brought up in fog and anchored for
the night. At times during the day the
dense bank lifted little, showing for an
hour the nearest ships, and on either side the
long low, fog-fringed shores of the Chesa-
peake. And opposite the mouth of the Po-
tomac We were favored with a gorgeous
sunset.
The voyage was almost devoid Of interest.
! We passed but three vessels mot belonging
to our feet,l two Of them Baltimore steamers
bound up, and ono schooner, which showed
her colors--the skipper waving small Amc-
rican flag from the deck moment as we
passed. "Our" steamer, the Cossack, had
two vessels in tow--a brig and schooner,
both filled with troops-and yet made good
running time. passing her own brigade, and
at sundown overhaulng and passing by two
of the steamers of the first brigade which
had the start of us an hour.
In spite Of this facility of comparative fast
railing, which promised us an anchorage off
Old Point Comfort early in the morning, we
were doomed to disappointment. A denser
fog than any but Newfoupdlander ever
dreamed of compelled the feet to anchor at
midnight. From that time till ten O'Clock
next morning the Cossack and the vessels in
her vicinity kept up perfect pandemonium
OF unearthly sounds-stcam whistles, bells,
horns and other anti-colsion warnings. At
! ten we. started moving cautiously through
the still dense fog running not more than
five knots an hour, passing two more vessels
of the feet, anchoring off Fortress Monroe at
P. N. on Friday.
AT ANCHOR.
The roads are fairly alive with ships. AS
vessel after vessel OF the transport fleet came
in, the crews of the Minnesota and other war
ships manned the rigging and greeted the in
coming fleet with hearty cheers. ..
THE SCENE.
Hampton Roads has only witnessed one
such spectacle as the one presented at present,
and that was during the latter portion Of
October, when Gen. Sherman's Port Royal
armada congregated here. The scone pre-
sented by the numerous vessels composing
this expedition is very animating. During
the evening of yesterday all the vessels we're
illuminated, and the music Of the numerous
bands with the regiments on the vessels was
soul-stirring in the extreme.
| THE ExPEpITIoNARY VESSELS.
The total number of vessels Of all kinds,
aside from the naval forces, is forty-fve,and
are divided up as follows: 9 steamers, Q pro-
pellors or gun-boats, ships, barks, brig,
II schooners, and floating batteries.
STRENGTH OF TIE DIVISION.
The total land forces Of this Division may
be summed up as folIows-15 full regiments
and / battalion of infantry battery Of
pieces OF field artillery As riaed guns,
distributed through the feet, or total Of 81
guns at tho disposal Of the land forces. The
regiments are, with two or three exceptions,
up to the standar Of 1000 men and adding
the gunners in charge of the feet, the total
fighting force amounts to fully 10000 men,
aside from the naval vessels.
THE DEPARTURE FROM HAMPTON ROADS.
About o'clock on the night Of the llth,
the armed vessels of the fleet were taking in
water, preparatory to leaving at midnight.
About l2 O'Clock the Cossack had weighed
anchor, and in a few moments after sailed
out, in company with about one-haif tho
fleet, including all the armed vessels.
From the time mentioned until late in the
afternoon Of the 18th, vessels were being
added to the fleet, and one by one they left
] the barber