The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-02-28
THE NEXT BLOW ON THE
SOUTHERN COAST.
COMMANDER PORTER'S NOR
TAR FLEET:
New Orleans and Mobile the
Points to be Attacked.

THE DESTINATION OF THE MORTAR FLEET
A portion of the mortar flotilIa which
has been so long fitting out at the Brook.
Ign Navy Yard, under the charge of Com
Porter, sailed for its destination severa
weeks ago, and at intervals ever since then
other vessels of the fleet have put to sea fol
the Southern rendezvous.
Our telegrophic dispatches have announc.
cd that live ships of the expedition on the
9th instant arrived at Ship Island, in the
Gulf of Mexico, and that two were spoken
of Havana On the 18th. This leaves hardly
doubt but that the fotila is intended to
operate against New Orleans or Mobile, or
both places, and in all probability, 10 con-
nection with General Buffers command.
The greater portion of bis troops are now
at Ship Island, and Saturday General B.
sailed from Boston to assume command,
With the light draught and easily manag.
ed mortar vessels comprising Commander
Porters fotilla, the reduction of the rebel
Forts on the Mississippi, below New Or
leans, would seem to be an achievement of
no difficult accomplishment. After the
rebels are sheled out of the forts, the Mis-
sissppi will afford noble highway fer the
heavier war vessels and troop transports TO
New Orleans. The city may also be APP
preached by Lakes Pcncbartrain and Borg.
ne, and the reduction of the Forts guard.
ing the passes into th:se lakes will enable
our war vessels TO penetrate from the East
to within few miles of the city.
We believe there is strong Union els
ment in Louisiana, and particularly New
Orleans, and that, sustained by Federal
arms. it will develop itself under the lead
of such men as Soule, the Hunts, Bouligny
and other Influential leaders-the lifelong
opponents of Houmas Slidel and bis schemes.
New ORLEANS has suffered its full share of
the evils of the rebellion, and its merchants
and business men have had brought home
to them the weightiest reasons for DESERT
ing the falling fortunes of the Southern rs.
bellion.
THE MORTAR FLEET.
The plans for Commodore Porter's expe-
dition were formed several months ago, but
the novel character of the enterprise has
necessarily retarded the arrangements.
Elaborate experiments have been made in
order to test the strength of the heavy
mortars with which the fleet is armed, and
the equipment OF the vessels has been work
of time. At intervals the public has been
apprised of the progress of the work be.
slowed upon the expedition, but no COM
complete account has been given of the
character of the armament or the objects
which the feet is intended to serve.
The feet is arranged liz three divisions
as follows:
Flag. ship Sidewheel gunboat Octorara
OOHuduueI ~. ~ L OTIeT. commanding,
First Division Uieutenant Watson Smith,
commanding -Sch0oners Norfolk Packet (iag
vesseD, Oliver Lee, William Bacon, Arletto,
C. P. Williams, Para.
Second Division Qeutenant ". w. Queen
commanding -Schooners T. A. Ward alag
vesseD: George Mangun, Adolphus Fuel, Mat.
thew Vassar. jr., Sidney G. Jones, Maria J.
Carlton, Orvetta.
Third Division Uieutenant r. Randolph
Breeze cOmmanding) -Schooners j. Griffith
(hag vesseO Racer, Sarah Bruen, Sea Foam
(brig rigged)' Henry Jones, Dan. Smith.
The Horace Beale and A. Houghton are
also of the hotiila. 1t is understood that
they will carry Only ordnance and ordnance
stores aud subsistence.
The lass OF the expedition, it was antici
pated, would be ready to Sail tor its south-
ern destination, from the Brooklyn Navy
Yard. last Saturday. This consists of the
flag ship Octorara, the gunboat Forbes, the
steamers John P. jackson, Westfeld, and
Clifton, and the bark A. Houghton.
Nearly all the mortar vessels are schoon-
ers of two or three hundred tons burthen.
In this service steamers cannot be advan-
tageously employed, the ponderous NOR
tars necessarily occupying the centre of
the vessel, so that the position usual.
ly assigned to the engines or machinery of
a steamer is taken up. Besides, these
small vessels are stronger, in proportion,
than large ones ; their light draft fitting
them for the navigation of shallow waters,
and their small tonnage requiring compare
lively few men to manage them. Moreover,
as mortar vessel fights best at anchor,
facility Of movement is unnecessary. A
writer describing the adaptability of the
schooners for service, says:
"The adaptation of these schooners to the
mortar service is admirable. An almost
solid mass of wood has been built from the
keel to the upper deck. This staunch
groundwork is composed of timbers over
one foot square, and twelve feet in length,
interIaced and firmly fastened. Two cr
three inches above the upper deck tho 'Ded'