Evening star., 1864-12-17

Nh" BEhNs Dcc. lo-it 10 epoi Su hefe Inho
morning that onr forces captured Kinston
where they struck the railroad, and are still
moving on into the Interior.
PoRrER's EXPEDITION.
A Grand Naval Armada-A Cooperating
Land Force-Its Departure from Psrt
Monroe-Its Destination Una nneunced--
Passes Hatteras on w dnesday.
The following letter of our correspondent,
as its dates evidence, has been In our possess
sion for several days, but it's publication was
withheld for fear OF publishing conTaband IN
telligenee. As. no viewer, the departure of the
fleet has now been announced by the Northern
press, there is no reason for further reucence
on our PARTED. Amer.
GFeat Naval Expedition
Correspondence of the Baltimore American I
ON BOARD THE UNITED STATES STEAMER
SANTIAGO DE CUBA, HAMPTON ROADS Dec l2
3p m, ls6i..ThIough the kind courtesy OF
Rear Admiral Porter, have been permitted to
accompany the great naval and Ian force
about TO take its departure from this harbor TO
operate against an Important point on the South
ern coast; and have been assigned acoommoda-
tions on board the splendid steamer Santiago
de Cuba, Captain o. S. Glisson.
As write, all appears to be ready for start,
certainly 1t is SO on board our ship, and Capt.
q. is only waiting the signal to get under way.
Orders have been issued TO keep bright look
out out on the hagshiP for the signal, but as the
ably not get of for some hours yet.
Meanwhile l will occupy my time in endeav-
oring 10 give your readers some account OF this
great armada but its destination and the plans
arranged for operations, although fully known,
must not at present be stated, lest by prema-
ture publication OF the same important infor-
nation should be communicated to the enemy.
Suffice 1t, therefore, for the present, TO say that
the expedition is no doubt by far the largest in
tonnage, class of ships, and weight OF metal OF
rmament, that has yet been sent against the
enemy.
The feet, including transports and tenders,
Will number not less than one hundred and
fifty vessels Of all grades. By far the largest
portion of the fleet has already sailed. That
portion now here embraces, however, the
larger and most important vessels and the
army transports.
The entire expedition is under command OF
Rear Admiral ID. d. Porter, whose name and
operations on the Mississippi and Its triouta-
ries during this war, is go familiar to your
readers that need do nothing more than mem
ton il.
The cooperating land force, numbering
about - thousand men, is under command
Of General Butler.
war vessels proper-number sixty. Ave, In.
Guiding the largest and most powerful vessels
in the navy. The fleet is divided into fvs di-
visions, the iron. clads forming one, and the
wooden hulls formed into four others, with Q
large reserve force Of smaller vessels.
The names OF these vessels are as follows:
Iron on-clads.-Ironsides 20 guns; Canonicus,
guns; MahOpac, guns; Monadnock, two tor
rets, guns; Saugus, guns.
Wooden Tenders-Nyack, screw, guns; Una
dllla, screw, guns; Huron, screw, guns; Pc.
quoit screw, guns.
Wooden Huls.-Juniata, 0 guns; Powhatan,
81 guns; Brooklyn, 26 gums; Susq quehanna- I6
guns; Wabash, as guns; Tusca1ora, 10 guas;
Colorado, So guns; MinnesoEa, So guns; Seneca,
guns; Shenandoah, 10 guns; Pawtuxet 10
guns; Maumee, guns; Yantic, guns; KAN
sas, guns; Iasco. 10 suas; Quaker Oity,
guns; Cuyler, l2 guns. Montgomery, guns;
Roun. RSods Is1anS kePnGn' gnns MSnssio guns
Osceola 10 guns; Tacony, 10 guns; Santiago de
Cuba, 10 guns; Fort jackson. guns Aries,
guns Howqua, guns; Wilderness, gunsi
Fort Donelson, guns; Cherokee, guns;
Vance, guns; Anemone, suns; moeassin,
guns; Eolus, guns; Gettysburg, guns; state
OF Georgia, guns; Keystone State, 13 guns;
Banshee, guns; Emma, guns; Lillian,
guns; Nansemond, guns; Bignonia, guns;
Clematis, guns; Tristan Shandy, 4 guns;
Brittannia, guns; Buckingham, guns; Dum-
barton, guns.
The Sailing Of the Fleet.
TUESDAY MORNING, Dec. I3, q. NO wing
to the ronghness of the sea, although the gale
had very much subsided long before nightfall,
It was deemed prudent on account of The from
clads, not to sail until the weather should be-
come m ore calm, and thus all expectation o, q
departure was postponed till morning.
The officer of the deck has just aounced q
general signal'' to the fleet from the flagship.
Our gallant Captain COL suits his signal book;
ms quick eye IN moment catches Its signifi-
canoe, and he announces the order, "Get the
ship under way" and to his guests, "Gentle-
men, we are OF at last
Now comes a stirring scene. 1.-THE sight OF
last evening was inspiring, the one now pre-
sented to our gaze is vastly more SO. The noble
flagship is gay with brilliant signal flags. The
come the signals from the tlagships Of the va
rlous divisions. There goes q signal TO the
mast. head OF the grim looking "IrOnsides."
Quickly her iron-clad satellites respond, and
pnffs OF steam announce they are all heavlng
up anchors and getting under way.
The tall, towering masts Of the great frigates
jackets, bending sail So as to avail of the
breeze and save coal for operations else
where. 10
Our own good ship is moving. Our "blus
jackets" are heaving up the anchor with q will,
and their lively tramp as they go round and
round shows they are not 10th 70 start We are
iea1y to n, Tow me sss co, Of ma
tors, they are all to be towed except the Mo-
nadnock, which has proved such good sea
boat that she is expected to take care OF herself.
She has just steamed by us In gallant style,
whilst we are waiting TO take In tow the Ma.
hopac ... a
slipped out during the night, and are well out
seaward by this time. =. - -
10 oCLoCK,-Ws are now fully of, the whole
fleet moving out OF Hampton waters In gallant
style. bright sky overhead, faYoying breeze
and smooth rea. May the God OF Battles :. be
unto us safeguard and defence, /" and grant us
good success! a.-s - z- - -
OFF CAPE HENRY, Dec. ls-Noon.-I close
this letter hastily in order to give it to the pilot
Yours, &c, AT.
nc rieet OH dattefas On thursday Last.
NRw YORK, Dec. 16-The steamer Moruine
Star, from New Orleans the 10th has arri we'd. d
She passed, off Hatteras, on Thursday, a larse
fleet Of steamers steering southeast.
SUPREME CoURr OF TIE UNITED srArKs.
December I6.-On motion Of Mr. Carlisle. Hon.
s. s. Cox, OF Ohio, was admitted an attorney
and counsellor Of this Court.
NO le4. Jonathan II Ransom, plaintiff In
error, VS.. Chester X. Williams St al This
cause was submitted to the consideration OF the
Court on the record and printed arguments by +:
by Mr.. Hitch cock for the DEFENDANT in error.
No. 2lS The brig Lila, &c, appellant w.
The United States. Appeal from the Otreuiti
Massachusetts. The matters in con troversy ia =,
this cause have been agreed and settled be- =
tween the parties, 1t was on motion OF Mr.
Bartlett, dsmissed' al the costs OF the appel =
lants. IL fse., :. ,ra~s 30 hss
IIniied States. The Argument Of this causa WAS