Evening star., 1864-12-23
THE GREAT EXPEDITION
Its Progress SOuth-One of the M MOnitors in
Danger-The Peril Surmounted The
Safety of the Iron. cladS


Safety of the Iron. clads.
Correspondence Baltimore Americana
On B0AkD u. ). STEAMER SANTIAGO De
CUBA, Dec. 13, IL noon.-Our pilot has just
of the ship, including q letter from your COR
respondent, which 1 hope will reach you ia
good season.
We are now fairly off, as fast as our tow, the
impedime Mt, the captain ass ures me we should
be making full fourteen knots; as it Is, we are
doing well.
The fleet is already pretty we'll scattered.
The transports, which sailed some hours be-
fore as, are far ahead, out OF sight.
The only vessels In sight ahead OF us are the
Fort jackson and the two turreted monitor
Mcnadpock, about two miles to the south ward.
The Rhode Island, with the monitor Canoni-
Gus IN tow, is some miles to the eastward on
our port beam. Some five miles astern OF US,
III parallel lines, come the grand old frigates,
sloops Of war, and other smaller vessels com
posing Uncle Sans wooden walls.
The lIonsides is just visible, coming along
slow but sure.
shortly after parting with the pilot, about
II 20 m. our bearings were taken. and we were
from Cape Haiieras Our immediate destna-
tior is -. That harbor has been assigned
Tor the expedition to rendezvous, and here the
monitors are expected TO take in fresh supply
OF coal
-Four p m-we have made 26 miles from
Cape HeEry Light, and are progressing ia vora-
bly,, leading all the feet except the Monaduock
and Fort Jackson, which, having got consid-
cradle of start OF US, are yet some three or four
miles ahead The frIgates and other vessels
are far Us astern-hull down. The sea, though
calm, IL breaking over the deck OF our tow-the
Mahop pac-the spray every now and then dash
ing up and over her turret, but, like duck, she
lifts and throws the water from her, howinga
good de gree Of buoyancy.
III we have favorable weather we expect to
reachBeaufort by to. morrow Wednesday, eve-
ming.
Perilous Condition Of the Mahopac.
ORE CARE HATTKRAs, Wednesday, daJligh
We are having g. rough sea under the inf iu-
ente of a southwest wind. Our little monitor,
which had hitherto got along we'll, is nov Ia
boring heavily, and Captain Glisson is getting
ANXIOUS on her behalf. The sea is boiling and
foaming around her, breaking over the deck
and sending the spray over her turret.
Ten a. -Manopac has just hoisted signals.
Eagerly the signal book is consulted. I'VE are
leaking, pumping and baiIing." Sad an
Douncemtnt. With what intense soicitude
the ca ptain and his officers watch his charge.
Tie engines are ordered to be slowed sull
more, and the ans wering signal is made, s'Can
you keep her free!' to which the Mahopae re-
plies, s'F-ar our men will not hold out" .,
how we ielt for the poor fellows in their iron
The Copain signalied to know the nature
OF the leak. to which the answer came,
making water round the turret and at top OF
turret."
II was supposed that the force OF the waves
had washed the packing from the base of the
tsrIet. The tUrret was covered by heavy
canvas awning, and the space between the
awning aHd turret was also covered in with
canvass except 8 small opening in front of the
wheel, just sufficient to enable the man at the
wheel 10 see how to steer. Through this open
ing and the srertures in the awning no doubt
large quantity Of the water must have en-
hold.
Encourseirg signals were given to the Ma.
bopsc. by Captain G. that If they could keep
her tree for two hours or so. he would get into
smoother sea We had now doubled the cape,
and the Captains experience Of the coast as.
sured him that under the lee Of Cape Lookout
We should have 1t smoother.
Soon the Mabopac signaled that her main
pump was out OF order, but they were holding
their own" This last announcement cheered
US much.
Thus the day wore on in much anxiety; but,
as our Captain antici pated, by two o'clock we
were In a smoother sea. The sun had come out
orightasd pleasant and we were well under
the lee OF Cape Lookout. Even now, however,
me sea was boiling round the turret of the
manopac, and her deck could only occasional.
~ he seen But the water had been gotten
under, and the prospect of her getting safely
thIouen the coming night was more hopeful
Jus. n*iofe St sunset Captain Giisson again
her present condition, and give instructions for
any emergency during the coming hours of
darkness BY request OF the Mahopac, the
spt' d o; our eng.Hts was still further redu uced,
and every pIecantion that pI uden ce aud exps.
!lencf q seamanship could suggest was adopted
70 sarry the monitor safely through the re.
fioLidehtiailY we were favored with an
o.ner nne moonlight night and fayoring wind.
Gnu no'nhg more than the usual sea was ex-
ptrNbeeo IN dcobiipg Cape Lookout, which
Mas done In the course Of the night.
Safe at Anchsr.
THURSDAY. December IA, n a m-wa hexa
just cast our tow loose, and nave dronnsd g.
obor on Beaufort, about three miies nn,sid.
the barber. Another bright and chesrSnI do1
shines down upon Us. A pleasant breeza 4.
blowing from the porth Invest, but we have
smooth SEA under the protection Of Cane Ee.r
I he other monitors have all arrived and CON:
inside, aed the Mabopae Is preparing to fol.
iow. so far as known at present. the entire
NEE hes escaped meeting any disaster
soall clote mp this letter here, and try to
eet a. on via Beaufort. Just as close, the
IToesides 10 announced coming in. Thus the
iron clad fleet II all right. -se
Yours, A. T.
-----------r-
0Hens. b. T. Wade and d. w. Gooch, Of
the CCpgIessional Committee on the Conduct
of The War, in boston 10 yestg ating the
construction OF the light draught iron -clads, In