New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-12-28
North Atlantic Squadron Vessels CsmPss'
ing the Fleet
ON Or speeisl Correspondent.

Bren Our Special Correspondent.
On BOARD u. STEAMER BRooKLYN
NAVAL RENDEZyoUs OFF WILMINGTON, Dec. l6. )
A POPULAR ERROR CORRECTED.
Before entering upon any account of this i'm
portant expedition destined, believe IT, 20 destroy
secusny the last and perhaps, all things considered
the most mportant post In Rebellion, deem il ny duty
10 correct popular which exists OF the North in
relation to the efficiency of the blockade OF this coast
AND more particularly that part of 10 which this
ment Is more Immediately directed. The supposit0n
which almost universally obtains is that 10 Constitute
blockade Il s simply necessary 10 anchor few yesscs
OF el1nboats al the month Of hMboTtbe officers com
mandiug them, and tie under their command hay
ing high time the meanwhile sherry wine and fresh
fsh-an hands becoming rapidly rich in the harvest Of
prizes that persist in dropping in upon them
Ills Is the popular belief and It Is needless 10 add
that IL 10 ridiculous it unjust 10 the officers and
men engaged. A brief glance at the extent OF the
coast under blockade and the nature OF the work TO be
performed III sufficiently dispe any deuson that may
eth exist IN the minds OF the increuCus on this point
To quote the language OF the s,cfesry Of the Navy In
ais late report:
This locality (w1ington) POSSESSES singular natural
advantages to resist a blockade TO which the Rebels
have added others In the way Of osIhwoks with power
ful guns 10 cover the and 70 open on
our vessels Wheuever they come within range. These
shore batteries were made 10 command the several
channels and the numerous. inlets In tia. quarter go
The difficulties Of closing this port entirely While
Rebel forts command the channels, and which hone ~
Dar chips with heavy broadsde batteries can approach
by Of the extreme shallovDess Of The water can
De rightly appreciated By those cy who arc isiO, ,hs
station. Without cooperating lane force ~ " mol e.
Iected that we could close the port II Wilmington
here has been no time within the last two years when
The navy has not been ready aud anxious 20 perform So
part in such expedition. for possssoh 81 nc a'Ta.cc
10 Cape Fear Rirer fs neeessiy I" ,'op tnreg s a.
81 fsfyg "
ode at that point has been made matter of business S
foreign capitalists we'll os by the Rebels Such has
been aud the stIingency Of the blockade that articles
Of cornmercc command fabulous prices throughout the
hole nsurrectionary region, thereby stimulating the
tupdity OF reckless nentrals Bnt while successful
"Trip bcgets large profits the blockade has got been Vio
lated with imppnity. Heavy Losses have beialen most
Of those who have been engaged In the Illicit trade
SIty.fye steamers the aggregate ,ane o. Which, win
teir cargocs will scarcely fall short OF thirteen millions
Of dollars have beoD captured or destroyed IN endeavor
ing to enter or escape from Wilmington orer my
such results have occurred since Rear Adrral DeIen
snchored his Monitor 1oe Dsde OF Chsrestcp Dor ana
rlosed that port TO commerce
Further on referring 20 the sspe subject Secretary
weles says:
some idea Of the difficulty OF closing the main On.
frances 20 Cape Fear River which are nearly for't
,7s, apart oap be formed when Il 10 considered that
with y Of onr steamers some Of them the fastest IN
tie service stationed and distributed by naval oicers
81 intelligence aud experience of those entrances:
syaps themselves Of dark nights. good pilots and
traordnary speed sneceedl lgetinQ in,o and out Of
Wilmington
Sufficient Itinl, to ,efnts the popular svperstiion
r-lstIye 20 the blockade Of Wilmington.
ADMIRAL PORTER Assaults coASASD.
On lie 18th of October OF she present year, Rear
Admiral David d. Porter took COMMAND Of the North
Atlantic Squadron. relieving Acting Resr.AdDirI
7. Lee who for tvoyesrs !rrcyious had been In CON.
aaand &.
On the following dey Admiral Ports, 'ssned the fol
Lwns General Order(N o. % which gives the disnibu
T.. ,cn Of lheisessels composing tho. Squadron
yIKsI IIvIsIos.
Com H. T. 1hstches, commanding
COLORADO NyGi, FLORIDA Grand Cu!,, kriss VsDdHtt,
Hewqn.h fos:n, Monticello, Asswsn, A. d. vsnc.. For
e0re,.op Rhode Island Mannee. james Ads.r, Wilder
ssss HuIsa Nohicsn. Cherokee, Tallapocss.
SECOND DIVISION.
CoU. Jessyh Isnnar commanding
ahneso0 Msckinap, Senecs. Kansas AeIsrs foIt Jack
sen Osceos Eous Y5iic, hsssaso Ge:tysbprE sste Of
6scrgis, Jan!s,s, Ksy,ton. State, CGypso.
4 THIRD DIVISION.
Com james y. Sokenei, commanding 49, -
ssnsemond Mercedits Bsnsbee Powhsian Unsa'h he1ni
x@Son Msitsbe,.'i, Emos, saco Lillian, sh'nspaoAh'
frssNyn, BisDems ssssseus Alabama, Nippon.
... FOURTH DIVISION
Com o. W. Cedon con8L.Apdins -
sssqos unns, Cismstis Wsbs.b, fsqgo Chilpsws hsnt
fmsry, santiago Dc Cobs r. Cpyie. oasim City, We
sStsasis, 1Ns's. asv. pretlnsfsns psafsS1sa, Pew.