The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1863-02-02
Large Additions to Admiral Porter'S
Gunb0at Fleet.
New Boats Completed and on the
Stocks.
THE NEW CHANNEL OF THE MISSISSIPPI.
OPERATIONS OF TIE REBELS.
&C., &C.. &c.
our Cairo Correspondence.

inncatnnS are not wanting, nor nave tney oeen Co-
ceaed from the public view that another attempt to
the rebel Notifications ycksburg will be made
How soon attempt will be made, in what manner,
il is my province TO know. l do know that the next
attempt, when made. will be of far more formidable
than those that have preceded it and promises
satisfactory results. 1t is enough to say that the
movement been committed TO General Grants con.
trohe control Of an officer who has not been defeated in
any single campaign during this war, yet has fought as
many, If not laore, than any other officer.
General Grant will take with him TO vicksburg the bulk
of his immense army Of West Tennesscc-all veterans
tired in Il score fiercey contested fields. They bear
upon their banners such proud Inscriptions as Belmont
lionclspn sshiloh, sCornth" &c, and they will
sulcr the lustrc these to be dmmed by dis
graceful McCcrnands army will also take part
the ement, and will strive with desperation wipe
the deep disgrace Of their late repulse while under
Sher man These combined armies will make a mighty
host They composed exclusively of Northwestern
mea, and mainly oiicercd by men from the
gu They therefore all have personal interests at stake
The welfare and prosperity of the states to which they be-
long require the free and uninterrupted navigation Of the
Mississippi Aside, therefore. from any purely pa
trolc and the usual stimulus the soldier in
citing TO heroic deeds these will fight for the re.
stofation personal advantages that have been taken
from them. Hence the country will not BIO disappointed
in expecting from them record such army has
yet achieved during this war.
When how this army will renew the attempt
open great TO tho free navigation OF the North
west Is fitting subject to enlarge upon They may
strike directly vcksburg, they make wide detour
and BY some stratcg movement compel the evacuation
OF the Gibraltar of the lower river without struggle
General Grant last winter compelled the evacuation Of
Columbus by his movements on the Cumberland and
Ienuessee rivers whatever the plan pursued may
he NOW hvp w mppt
with Apprentice generals are no longer in
mand in this direction, and We have become convinced
the magnitude OF the task before Tried and skfu
officers Ill henceorth lead TO the work force based
upon actual knowledge OF the strength with which they
will have 10 contend.
The naval squadron under Admiral Porter, will be in
ncly better prepared Tor hard work when another
tempt made the really formidable batteries OF vicks
burg than IL mas heretofore been The number Of
iroclad unboas will be considerably cd, and
the rcniorcements thus received will be Of greatly
improved character.
Ihe Chiicothe one the boats has already Joined
the squadron she is powerful side wheel craft heavily
plated, carrying, In stationary turret, eleven.
inch guns lhs is heavier metal than has before
been ostcj these Western rivers. and will tell with
wtndrou effect upon The snemys works The Chilcohe
also assesses the desirable qualities speed ease Of
handiu. c,thcr with against the current, in winch
The Old class OF iron. clads sadly deficient
HE ndrnoa left here last night TO ION the squadron
she considered by to be the finest gunboat afoa
H. the west She s provided with double set Of
g,uss and works side wheels well screws. Her
plating Is Of tho most substantial and impnctrable
character She has stationary turrct in front like the
having ranges that sweep the horizon, and, IN addition,
Is ait, and provided with tive nine inch guns
boiler deck, By this arrangement she is
adapted light down Than any other vessel the
fleet by anchorng in the ordinary with head
10 current both batteries brought direct
play against the objective point aud in 81 accident
she T. position 10 steam away out OF range without
delay IN turning about. She capable OF making the
saruc speed OF ordinary packet steamers, and although
carrying this heavy armament and being unusually
heavily plated she draws but four and half feet of
shc vas built ut Cincinnati where she has been
A.fa, IgArl llaf lu4 lntk If
water the falls at Louisville, which prevented her get
ting down. the canal being too narrow for her
datiOn
The lafayette another boat, which, though not
vet with the squadron, here receiving her
"a and will 90 Down in ieY days. She side.
vince steamer Of great power and good speed, with
sharp PROV, finished wi solid timber aud for the
much Ike the PASSPORT although much larger she has
ensth OF two hundred and Dinety-two feet
with forty 1--WE feet beam and thirty-six feet
floors Her hold Is ten feet deep. Her engines OF
which there two, are high pressure, with twenty
inch - ,indcrs aud ten feet stroke Her wheels
are thirty three feet diameter. with four
teen feet buckets. Her classmates are different from
those Of the astport, in having inch aud half OF
rubber boneth the IRON and between IL and the wood
after the fashion Of the Essex. am not permitted 10
mention tho thickness u her IRON Of the timber
composing the casemates upon which Is placed This
may say: that the whole forms tho q impregnable
casematc OF any vessel IN the aeet Besides this fos
midtblc cascmate heavy iron plated buiA head sur
rounds her boilers and engines all OF which placed
below the water line. Her great length gives ample
the main deck for the accommodation Of officers
and crew the apartments provided Tor whom
c0us, airy aud comfortable. Her armament Is the lncst
that has yet been put upon any SHIN this nce, She
carries two eleven inch guns, ak ninc-inch and
two hundred FOUNDER PARROTS The Captain
wake-vetersn at least touching his with this
squadron-has been assigned TO the command this nne
vessel Captain Wake al the hrst batch Of
officers that est ana has had command OF the
Carondeet during all Western naval operations lie
fought that ship bravey and we'll IN all the carry
ran the blockade Island No 10 with her tackled
the Arkansas o. the mouth OF the Yazuo, last
mer and would have sunk her or been sunk himself but
...<n h.r fl...k
from him. performed her valiant feat OF running through
entire 81 adrun unnjured No officer IN the feet has
done more efficient service than has Captain Wake and
none are more deserving o the command that has been
assigned to him.
The Eastport that met with a slight breakdown. owing
u afsui her construction has been thoroughly over
hauled and strengthened and Is anaat again trim
and pretty She has been greatly stleng
aud VIII not DO likely 10 meet with similar misisp
again Her repairs been directed by Lieutenant
Commander Phelps, who viii have command Of her
after. shc 10 now taking on her armament, and will be
ready 10 g. below IN few days " 70 carry four
inch guns and two hundred FOUNDER PARROTS
Her officers will afmi, that she has any superior IN
the squadron, and are extremely jealous the praise
given 20 the lafayette,
mouths since which time her constructors promised
thai she would he ready for service within three weess
But she has made her appearance here vet and y
matter OF doubt bow much longer she viii he delay ed.
She Is the counterpart all respects u The ludanoa
aud will probably be- rs good vessel Lieutenant tom.
mander shrk a,e Of the Lexington has been assigned
the command u her and has already gone a. New Albany
20 expedite the finishing work upon ner.
The Choctaw, At 81 Louis, Is another vessel the
same plan the lafayette. though somewhat smaller
She 10 very advanced stage ~ completion. and
viii be ont few weeks 10Th She and the Lafayette
were planned ~ Commodore W y Porter aud Acting
volunteer lcutenart James Iannng, and have been
sfuccd under tie sapcriuendcuce OF the latter named
olcer
he uagei roecrty launched at = Louis win he more
on the tlan = tue Monitor. she viii have two ctrcular
turrcls, each stationary, however and between them
deck Carp ms snge thtecn.nch mortar THIS vessel
with some ha dozen more Of the character vet ON
the stocks Is no, yet sufficiently advanced 70 aford
clear idea % what she will De Whom done
The Chicothc lndauOla, Eistport afava,te apd mar
bars the Choctas WI De available IN another campaign
against yicksburg and owing - the improved
these and the heavy cabcc % their arrnamens
Will be equal 10 the entire cd feet thus donbng The
elective force Of the naval squadron. Wv
In the excitement in Western Tennessee and Ken,nckv
Ryst Va. It INST, caused by the rebel rad upon M