Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1862-01-04
The Great nIIssI..IppI R11oaitIon.

The fitting out Of a feet for the proposed
Mississippi expedition, through the success
OF which the most important consequences
VIII ensue to the cause of the Union, has
been conducted on scale 30 gigantic, and
includes so many adjuncts Of strength and
ethcienoy, as almost to make success an as
surance. The feet has been prepared at
Cairo and st. Louie. The number of gum
boats Is twelve, each carrying fifteen guns
hye 68- pound columbiads at each side, three
ritied guns at the bow and two at the stern.
Inc guns and gunners are protected by
strong casemates. The contract for these
boats provided that they were to be l75 feet
in length, fifty-one feet six inches beam,
and when loaded to draw FIVE feet Each
was to have two engines and FIVE boilers
cylinders twenty-five inches, with six
feet stroke; wheels Of wrought iron, to
be placed near the stern, like ferry boat
80 as to be as little exposed as possible.
All the machinery was to be so placed as
to be under water; the boats to have an aver
age Of $50 tuns; to be fiat -bottomed, and con-
structed Of the heaviest and best oak timber;
the sides covered with plates Of the best
charcoal iron, two and half inches in thick
ness, and securely bolted together and to the
woodwork within. The sides were to in.
cline inward at an angle of about 45o, so as
to turn or 'glsnce off" a missile, the bottom
to have the same inclination toward the
keel. So confident are some of the naval
officers in the strength of the Gun boats that
several of them have offered 10 take the Ben
ton and lay her under the batteries of Colum-
bus, confident that her immense strength
will resist the heaviest metal in the possess
sion of the Confederates. The plates upon
the gun-boats were submitted to severe tests,
and evinced almost fabulous invincibility.
Heavy riied shots were fred at them at a
distance of only 100 yards, and in every case
they were either only slightly indented or
else they shivered the shots into inuumer-
able fragments or turned them harmlessly
aside.
Twenty eight tugs and steamboats, and
Thirty eight mortar. boats were also contract
ed for. They are heavily built of timber,
with the sides of boiler iron looped for mus.
ketfy, and each will carry monster mortar
the heaviest that have been used in siege
operations. These boats are 30 constructed
that they can be formed as bridges. The
tug. boats are also strongly built, and will be
used to tow the mortar-boa into position.
The magnitude of the preparations may to
some extent be inferred when it is known
that the salaries of the officers reach the
amount of 100000 a month-that 5OO,OOe
bushels of coal have been contracted for and
delivered at Cairo-that clothing to the
amount of $4,000 has been contracted for
duu ~ On tls way LulLner-JnaJ 6UU tun9 OF
powder have been sent to Cairo, and other
war materials beyond all computation.
Flsg- officer A. h. Foote, who has been the
leading spirit in the preparation of this
expeditionary feet, is native of Connecti-
cut, and has seen service in China, and re-
ceived the highest credit for his gallantry.
Even the redoubted HolliDs has compliment
ed him on his surprising ability as a naval
commander.
There is nothing very certainly known as
to where the first blow struck by this float
ing series of Notifications will fall. Colum.
bus, Memphis and other points of attack are
speculated upon. But visit may be paid to
the Cumberland or Tennessee Rivers. But
Columbus is generally expected to be the
grand point of attack, as it can be assaulted
in front and rear, and its fifty thousand
rebels placed in a peril whence they can
hardly escape.