The New York herald., 1862-12-18
THE BANKS EXPEDITION.
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INTERESTING FROM PORT ROYAL.
Arrival Of Six Vessels Of the Banks EXps-
dition in Distress.
WHERE THE FLEET Is DESTINED.
THE OTHER VESSELS GONE SOUTH
The UnpOpularity Of General
SaxfOn,
d.. &C.. &c.

d.. &C.. &c.
The steamshp Star OF the South, which left Hilton
Head Monday last. arrived at this port yesterday
Our Hilton Head Correspondence.
HilroS HEAD, s. c., Dec Is, 1852.
Nature Asds NaryArrirat of -Four More Vessels Of
Banks E1rsduion--7c Vessels Unfit for Ssrvice--A
.Scare' ct Fort Pslaski--7he Cansc-AnotAer Method
Of ssciwdtsns-An inconpstent Srgson-Generos SarOw
Very Unpopaidr--Naral Aopennents-Generai Order de-
Tho bright moonlight ts OF the past week have had
the effect TO deter the blockade from any at
semps at getting In or out Of Charleston. We hear how
sver OF numerous vessels waiting at Nassau and Havana
and with the adventor nocturnal darkness may
pect them along this way.
Four more steamers with troops OF General Banks
oumand have put into this port since last commun
cation Thursday morning the Salvor laden with four
hundred Of the One Hundred and Sxtieh New York
regiment the Quincy, having board three comna
Of the Forty Massachusetts, and OF the
rwenty-eighth Connecticut, entered the harbor and
dropped their anchors The former lacked coal and water
which supplied her. she sailed again yesterday
morning.
The Quincy which lct New York on the 4th instant,
days Ia reaching Port Rcval She is a pro-
peler Of small tonnage, built in Buffalo about five
years ago. and hitherto employed in the grain trade be-
tween that city and Detroit So fnr her sea voy-
age has demonstrated she is almost wholly unfit for the
service In which she s engaged. Fortunately she
weashored the storm which prevailed for the first three
days OF her passage but Monday afternoon her boilers
sprrAs ateas, her res put OUT and che obliged
20 Ay 10 thirteen hours for repairs These Effected she
Steamed on for another day. when second leak dis
covered; but with careful pansaking she managed
proceed at snals pace until she reached this port
board Of survey appointed to inquire into her condition.
examined her hull and boilers yesterday and report that
she can be repaired the naval machine shop. Our
mechanics pushing the work upon her. and probably
by Tuesaay psyt shs VIII get 70 see again.
The crowd Of soldiers who have been SO long cooped u
N the hold Of the Quincy stretching their legs
shore today. They utter loud and deep at
the dscomforts 10 which they have been compelled to
submit. Enduring by day and by night the pangs Of
sickness sleeping upon ropes and chains and casks
ss to very little Of the pluck that animated them when
they signed tie muster roll. cannot avoid the belief
shat it would be far cheaper fy the government and
Oefter for those who 10 fight its battles IL only
staunch, swift going vessels were employed in their
transportation. One steamer like the Arago or the
Atlantic would convey the troops board tho Thames,
the Salvor aud the Quincy ia half the time required
by the latter vessels with greater comfort the
tess expense to the government and with Infinitely less
risk.
Ihc propelers Albany and Prometheus, which left New
York IN company with the expedition, reached here this
forenoon, having been nine days the way. The
Albany has board two hundred OF the One Hundred
Sxtieth New York four companies of which proceeded
ence 10 the Salvor yeserdcy. The Promctheus, laden
with hundred OF tho Fifteenth New Hampshire
only coal and water 10 enable her to proceed but the
Albany will be detained two shrce days repairs
That portion or the One Hundred and Fourteenth
New York which embarked from Fortress Monroe in
ehe steamer Thames tof whose utter undtness for an
army transport wrote the HERALD some days since)
will leave here Monday next Tne bark voguer has
been fitted up for the accommodation Of tho men, and
viii convey them TO their destination with creator safety
and probably short time the miserable propel
tors which have put into Port Royal on their way.
The ultimate destination Of the Banks expedition,
though not ascertaincd with certainty any vessel
hating hcre II known 10 be point in the Gulf II
s neither Key wes nor Pensacola nor New Orleans The
troops rendezvous Ship Island Where they
60 from that point IS mystery as yet unravelled
cooperation with the Army Of the Southwest, looking to
che capture OF vcks5ury and tho permanent opening OF
the Mississippi may DO the plan which these forces
accomplish dash Mobile, or the occupation Of
Texas may constitute portion OF their prospective
pagn whatever General tanks ls to do however, does
the idea which prevails here that the troops
apdcS bis Command could have struck more telling
SLOW al pcint less distant than the they evi
IDENTITY aiming at.
1nother "scaro occurred at For. Pulaski on Thursday
morning. just The gray dawn took the place Of dark
small and suspicious locking craft deserted
by the vigant seatincls winding through azaretto
creek and slowly making It's towards Cocksput Isl.
and from point which had been occupied by the rebel
pickct Her hull hidden from view by the tall reeds
which skirt the stream; but from her lofty pipe dense
volumes or smoke and steam were bechng As she
steadily ncarcd tho river amt turned down the channel
xhe conviction that the stranger rebel
gne Of destruction became overwhelming, and the bar
unuers awaited the moment when she should reach the
range Of then pieces AT length shot from sixty fcur
polndsr kissing her bows, aud with becoming
pronptness the unknown craft stopped Tho
Mattano sent up the river ascertain her
character when she proved 70 DC one OF the launches OF
the gulboat Paul cncs in which small donkey engine
captured from the rebels had been placed, and from
which, with the aid Of lengthy stoveppe couple Of
paddle wheels and tller, steamboat had been mpro
v!sed o had of eighteen men, and had made The
passage from tho Sc Marys river through the sounds and
nland waters getting over distance of about hundred
mt " "A Gil xra nc a
proceed to Port Royal where she arrived towards noon OF
the same day.
few days since bad occasion 70 visit the Office OF DR.
Craven, Mcdicsi purveyor OF the department The Med
asl Examining Beard, before which all wishing
sssck eaye and soldiers discharge from service must
appear, 10 session miserable looking volunteer
3at basng In the sunshine, which sireamed hro gh the
windows. anon rubbing his bauas as 10 beeet little
accumulated miseres. vas interested la his and
waited to hear what nigh: ne the action OF the assembled
&aleps Hin surgeon and his captain had onty append
ed their signatures document certify ing that he
s.unnt for military service from frequent attacks OF
rheumatism and worthless BY reason OF natural weak
ness and chronic laziuess aud possessing no moral
responsibility whatever" appeared evidence before
the board that this soldier, whose name is Elisha II.
Ford, had enlisted IN lsss than three New
Hampshire regiments receiving nrge bounes and then
assuming the character of invalid and obtaining his
relense rom service On THIS OCCASION instead Of grant
ing him permission TO return homo, the doctors recon-
rnc1dcd that ho bc put diet d bread and water until
his s'rbeurnatiz should disappear am assured that
there exaggeratou In the statement that cases Of
sham sickness Or ths klDd brought before the Ex
smEhy Board at eacn o hs uoy sessions Largo mum
OF those who enlisted undcr tho last cali Of the
President practising similar deception their greed
shcy have hcsatci receive the bounty and advance
piy oi recruit, without any Intention OF doing
duty In tho field. ~ they rench their regiments
they themselves into perpetual uusauces Of whom
is the especial desire Of their captains and their
rades % be rid.
An Instance OF nconp4tency somewhat remarkable,
che Of rcgmena surgeon has been brought TO my
lying on his face "a escape the deadly shower
falling Trick and fast overy sde was struck
rear hs shoulder strap by Mimic ball and at the same
instant was wounded In the hip His surgeon unable 70
ond the ballet, declared that II lad traycrsed his body
snd passed out and treated him accordingly: but
weeks elapsed and tho lieutenant mended not all 10
strength he was advised 10 seek and change Of
st his Northern home He appeared before the fxamin
Ing Board 10 the requisite permission when the
bullet hc had received nearly two mouths before was
found lodged IN tho ceh below the scapula aud was or
tiacted almost IA TIE twnkling OF az eye Four days
thing lament though little, perhaps, To wonder at Ia
tho sc that political popularity at home has recently