Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-01-04
THE BURNSIDE EXPEDITION.
Preparations fer Departure-Ths Transpor
Fleet.

The Annapolis (Md) correspondent of the
New York Post writes:
DECEMBER 20, 1S6I.-To-day the vessels are
taking in the last Of the ordnance and ammu-
milton, and an enormous quantity has been
shipped. The transports are coaled and pro-
vissnsd, and can be under steam at two
hours notice. The troops are ready to en-
bark, and all is so formidable and so COM
Flets that everything hoped or expected of
the Burnside Expedition must be fully real
lied.
There are now in the harbor Il steamers,
propeller, 4 ships, barks, brig, IL schooners,
heating batteries, besides little despatch
steam tugs-in all Al. These are, perhaps, not
half the vessels to be employed in the expe-
sItion, which will be largely reinforced at
Fortress Monroe; for, unless the floating bat
ferries are counted, none of tho naval vessels
have come TO Annapolis. All of the transports,
large and small, are, however, armed, and
carry large supplies of shell and ball for use in
the field as well as on board ship.
The transports have been thoroughly over
hauled and completely fitted out with every
thing necessary for the expedition. The
steamers are Of light draught, and capable of
carrying from four hundred to six hundred
men each, besides stores and ordnance, and
when loaded will draw but from six to eight
feet of water. There is no particular difference
In the vessels, and every captain thinks his
10 devoted to use. Bunks have been erected
and "standees" put up, which ssn be taken
down at short notice, If necessary to clear the
ship for action, or ian unpleasant thought to
afsrd room for a cockpit.
The two steam boats New York and New
Brunswick will each easily carry whole regi-
nent. The propeller Pioneer formerly the
shsrmsn) carries six guns, two of them formid-
able PARROTS, which speak with mot fOr)
crackers" in the shape Of thirty-tWo pound
balls, one fifteen pound swivel gun on the FORE
castle, and three more twelVe-pounders She
carries comfortably FIVE hundred troops. Most
sl the steamers are equally well armed. The
Highlander tonce the Clermont, a confscated
vessel belonging to Vim. Allen, on the James
riyer) Ii a schooner Of 500 tons, armed with two
twelve pound PARROT guns, and capable of
carrying, besides her crew Of twenty FIVE men
four hundred troops and eighteen officers.
The ships can carry q much larger number
Of men, but will be loaded mainly with provi-
Sons and ammuDitiOns, and all the sailing YES
sells will be towed by the steamers to Fortress
Monroe.
Ths Pickett, handsome little propeller of
four hundred tons, is the flagship of the trans
port teet, and is appropriated by General
Burnside and his staff. She carries two twelve
pound Wizard guns, and draws bat six feet of
water. 1t is not unlikely that when the ex-
petition reaches the point of attack General
Burnside will leave the Pickett and use the
Cosssck as flagship. The Cossack is fine
steamer, formerly the Eastern City, plying
between Boston and st. Johns, N. B., and the
newspaper men are already comfortably
quartered on board Of her. If she is struck by
shell the reporters viii receive the earliest
possible intelligence of the event
The i've floating batteries are large canal
boats, as strong as timbers can make them, and
divided into five compartments, so as to be
beyond the danger Of sinking by any ordinary
casualty. The Rocket and Grenade each
carry three thirty-two pound riled cannon ON
deck, and the Shrspnel, Grapeshot and Bomb
aneti each carry Two guns Of the same calibre
They will 90 into action and will be valuable
additions to the naval part Of the expedition.
ms general description of a vessel of each
Glass OF those connected with the description is
sufnclent to give an idea Of the completeness of
their OUTFIT. 1t seems as if nothing is wanting
10 render the feet as formidable as Is necessary,
and with the additions of the naval vessels now
lying at Fortress Monroe il IL believed that the
expedition, in size and strength, will far sur
pass the one sent to Port Royal