The New York Herald Newspaper, December 21, 1862, Page 1

WHOLE NO. 95/55. THE CARQVET CRISIS. RESIGNATION Of SECRETARY SEWARD. The Reyorted Breaking Up of Yae Entire Cabinet. Probable Removal of Geveral HaHeck. Speculations as to the New Cabinet. { Fao Talk, Hopes, Gossip, Fears and Re wors in Washington, | &e., &, | ‘€e. —_— Our Special Washington Despatch. @ROUND BROKEN IN THR CABIN@T—2MK. SEWARD'S AESIGNATION—A NEW OUAPTER IN MR. LINCOLN’S ADMINISTRATION, BTC. Be Wasreorom, Dec. 20, 1802. In view of tho late terrible disester testhe national arms et Fredericksburg, tho public opinion of the indignant ‘North demands a reconstruction of the Cabinet and of the smanaging heads of tho War Offee. The abolition faction ‘mere, quick to take the alarm, procosded to instant action, 04 have broken ground in a quarter where # brea in ‘gue Cabinet was the least desired or expected by the squmservative elements of the country. ‘With the first manifestations of the public contament saqainat the radical wing of the Cabinet and its affi’mtions 4a the tonduct of the war, tho radical majority 67 the Seniate assembled in a cavous upon the subject, and with @heir second sitting they resolved to demand of the President a modification of his Cabinet, meaning tthe hend of whe Secretary of State, as & peace ollering to the people. {informed of these proceeding? and thiz result, Mr:. S¢ward ~@eliberatoly sat down and penned a dignified, decisive ead very suggestive letter of resignation, and sent rt wp tothe President, Hearing of this vu poyemert, Mar. Postmaster Genera) Blair (whose sympathies -wad views strongly incline to the 0 road, con- gervative, atatesmanlike ideas of Mr, Sew ard) callod wpon tho Secretary of State and earnest ly pleaded ‘with him to reconsider the step which he ha | taken, but fm vain. Next the President, in person, int: srposed; but Mr, Seward was infiexible in his resolu jion, and eo ecentinues. ‘What does this portend? An abolition radical at the wend the State Department, and a comp! ete idontifica- fenof the adminiatration with the radic als and their v@meane projects, or a thorough reconst ruction of tho Cabinet, cmbracing 9 saving concersion or two to tho great conservative sentiment of the loy: il States? Tho prevailing opinion here is that Mr. Sewar A’s withdrawal opens a new chapter in the history of this admiuiste- ten, in which the radicals will ruie tho roast, and that motbing but evil consequences wii! foil ow. The excito- qant teralt the polition| ciroies of tho ¢ bpital tc toreuse; ‘bet the prevailing inquiry is, shat, a8 the Secretary of Sia:0 has boon sacrificed on account of tho disaster to the -ermy at Fredericksburg, are the res; onsible ‘misman- agers of the war still to bo retained” in power? Thio fe the great question which remains to bo settled. Mr. Seward, meantime, bas gathered up his private papers in the State Department, ‘and he and bis Ausistant Secretary, Mr. F, W. Seward, who has wlso rosigned, aro only awaiting the appointinent of their cuccossorn. WME RESIGNATION OF SECRETARY BEWARD—«ROLA- BLE ENTIRE REORGANIZATION OF THE -ADMINIB- @MATION—TUB REASONS WHICE LED TO MU. sEW- ABd’S KETIRKMENT--BLAIR AND SMITH TO GO OUT—THIUMEA OF TUR KADICALS—PROBABLE CAST @y THE NEW CABIKNET--VREMONT TO BAVE AN LM- PORTANT COMMAND--GENSRAL MALLECK TO AK RE- eae Wasamuros, Dec. 20, 1662 ‘We are in the midst-ef the movt serious Cabinet crisis hat has ever vecurred {n the history ef this country. Secretary Seward has resigned, Postmaster Goncral Biaie will resign, aud Secretary Safith has been the same ep removed. General Halleck qiii also probably go by «the bostd. The situation, irom present appearances, will \ fesult in a tremendous triumph of the radicals, who here> «efter will have everythicg their own way tn the Cabinet amd in tho field. The Ist of January will see the emanci- gation isened, owr privcipsl aririos com- -manied by Fremont und men of thet ik, and oor Cabinet \-mander the direct inspiration of Sumner, Lovejoy, Crevioy end their followers. | To understand the position of affxirs it becomes neses. mary to recal a portion of the bietery of the adurinisra, ~alen vince Mr. Lincoln came imto power Tho present Cabinet—<r rathor the past Cabinet; for it is now athiog of the pant—was the result of a coxtpromise. Mr. Lin. -@nln announced, when taking the reins ef power, that he was toguvern thecountry in the imterast of the repmbii- can party, He theretore nelectet fer, his “constiqutions advisors” all 1 bis principal competitors at the Chicago Couwention, who were Mr. Soward, Mr. Mates, Mr Chaso und Mr. Cameron. 2% might £2 expetod. there faas boon an “irrepressible conilict” sn the Cabinet ever ince {was organized. Seward, Bates mith, and come. times Blair, formed the Couser vative ing of the admin. dstration; while Chace, Weltes and Stanton, and. previeus to dim, Cameron, formed the radical wing. Cp teiwe passage of the Confiscation acis Mr. Reward’s influence was paramount ix the Cabinet. The war was conduciod wg nearly as possible according to his suggeetions and Afean. Not altogether, bewever. The commanda given to Fremont and the eucouragemont given to the radicals wore Mr, Lincoln's own acte to ooncilinte that faction, ‘The passage of the Confisea:ion vete by Congress. and the tremendors pressure breught w bear apon the Ire nd 40 carty (hom out, produced the iret morked ruptave in the Cabinet. The Hexauy's statement nt thie’ time of Me. deward's intention to resign was snbstantiuly correct. Me foresaw nothing but disuater from the throatened en goteement of the Confiscation and Rananeiuation acts of Gongress, and protested always eurvertly against ae fetal measures, Ho argued ‘lint, vabile it wae poseibie 0 @it down an armed insurrection, it was utterly “hini: of making War on a popua'ion of eine in g@eoplo to tuke swoy from shem their propert, Y and all iv personal and eivil rigbis, ae the redical menwure: wpassod by Congress proposed to de ‘Sioce the adoption by the Prosidoot of the Views of tw wadionis Mr. Chace bas bad msticre pretty much his owa qray, and tam avenged that Mer. Seward Gas really anxious to retire for sonw bine post, only be had co d out pretext upon whien ude so. Ue warned the Prusi- donut against the removal of Genoral MeCieltan, and has fad no confidence in the recent movements of our armies Mo is, in great part, responsible for the Benks oxpedition, for the veuzon tha! be has despaired of the repablin, hs abject in that expadition wos 10 Seize Texas and the wee ‘dank Of the Missias!ppi, #0 as to Potala all the Torr: Dotweon that river and the PacifO,coast for the Norin division of the tisunited republic. ‘There ts reason to be fieve that be had combinitisns on foot aleo vo porauade Mr. Lineoln to retrace lis steps aud withdraw the eman etpation prociashation and recede (rr Proposod Aisoativn of Southern property, de v ments for these mowues with eater 10 General Bururide occurred, Although tite disaster has condrmed ail his elewe ona yrodiotion», the vadieale reized apn thy eceasion Lo core pol bi to ieave tho Caine. Cagontes of rey. Genators wero held !ast Wodnesday and Thareday. wh do, it fe rumored, tho most wivlent and pov In} néing the w rT we v an —-- ee ‘Methods were ; 70.0201. Yt ia even reported hero that & Proposition was made for a military dictatorship wav the end of the war; end probably @ resolution of Unet character would havo been carried had there been asta gle person who had ability and radicalism enough t sult it views. Unable to find the right man, they a lencth Concluded to compel Mr, Seward and tho other gonserva- tive membors of the Cabinet to vovice, whiok it now seams they have succeeded in doing. Jt is not ¢o be disguised that Mr. Seward is ylad enough to retire from the Cabinet atehis time, He bas no faith in the men who are now ruling Mr. Lineoin, He can claim with truth that he haspreserved the country from ‘the imminent dangers of forcign war during the time he has occupied the office of Secretary of Stato. While near. ty every other department of the government has veen unsuccessful, he has been successtitl. ‘There isatremendovs effort on foot to onnt General Ralleck, whom the radicals never did ‘ike, and in whom the conservatives, stnce his singuler course towards General McClellan bas bosome known, have ne faith. He ‘will really have very few mourners in Waebington should he be relieved frem command. It is reported Sere alse that ‘General Burnside has asked to be rele ced of ts coreramina. As tothe new Cabluet there ar@all-manner of specnia- tions afloat. fr. Samnor is arget to place of Mr. Seward, Mr. Colfax in piece of Air. Smith, and, strange 4s It may seom, Horace Cirecley in plare of Montgomery Blair, Greeley’s fon@noss for writing letters hus doubtless sugs gested this partioulsr position for him. ‘The long end shor? of the whole matter is, that by the 1st of January we ave to have an out-eud-ont black repub™ lican ad@mimetration, Im aecordsuce with the threats given out within the last few days in Forney’s papers, all the of Cemocrats ure throwa overboard, and noae but the moet rabid radicals will be permitted to bold any por sition whatever under the govornment, Mr. Lincoln, when once he gets an idea in hia head, is exceotingly stubborn, He argues that, as the conservative policy, aftor a trial of eighteon months, has failed, he ought at lonst to give the radicals as long a time”to prove the expedioncy of their measures, THE NEW CABINET. Wasmycton, Dec, 20, 1862. ‘Tho polltical ossips-aro busily engaged in forming now Cabinets for Mr. Lincolp. Among thuse montioued are ‘the following: — Secretary of State. 2 Pre Salmon P. Chase, of Obio. Win. P. Feseeuden, of Ma. B. Washbarue, of Tl. ‘Seoretary of the Secrdary of Wer. the Na Florece Greeley. Another rumor bus it that Mr, Fessonden will be the ‘Premier, aud Mr. Chase retain his positon @s Secrotary of whe Troasury. 1! still other quarters‘it- is authoritatively stated that Charles Samuer will be the Secretary of State, and, were it not that ho is certain of election for six years to the Senate, he undoubtedly woul! be. ‘Phere is a probability at present writing of an entirely new Cabinet, All accounts agree in stating that the radi- ais will have everything their ewn way. THE CABINEY. IMBROGLIO—THR FIGHT OF THE RA- DICALS TQ RUTAIN POWER—-MB. ‘SEWARD'S RE- SIGNATION—THE SENATORIAL CAUCUS, RTC. Wasnmoros, Doc. 20, 1862. ‘The city hae been in a ferment all day with rumored resignations and changes in the Cibineteud among mill- tary commanders, It is currently reported that General Burneide has ten- dered bis resignation ag Commander of the Army of the Potomac ; but assurances are given: by intimate and con- fidential friends of the General that he has not resigned, and does not intend to do co, He is satisiied with his own condnct, and convinced that the truc history of the trans- actions on the Rappahannock will completely vindicate Lim and leave him free from any degree of censure. Tn political circles, however; there is great commotion. ‘The fact ie -eecertained that the Secretary and Assistaus Secretary of Staie have tendered thoir resignations to the President. ‘The following circumstances are allege! in connection thorewith:— ‘The reputs!ican Senators held cauenses on Tuesday and | Wednesday last. In the first caucus 4 resolution was presented severely censuring the Secretary of State and , ii formally requesting his removal frgm tho Cabivet, met with much opposition, and was iy medified into @ request to the President to partially remodel bis Cabi- net, without alluding te any particular (ndividual, This was adopted by a vote @f sixteen to 4Birtocn, At the second caueus the modijied resolutign wes unanimously agreed to, those who originally opposed it having taken the ground shat it would be recognizedes a request on the part of the whole body ci republican Senstors that the Cabinet sould be completely reconstructed and new . advisers selected by the Preaident, whe would thas he afforded an opportunity te conform the composition of bis Cabinet to the recent manifestation of public opinion, ‘The resignations of the Mesers. Seward were tendered on Wodnesday, but bave uot been accepted, it is understood that Governor Seward requires 83 8 sine qua non of bis remaining in- the Cabinet that 4 change shal) be made in the head of the War Department. nnd that General Mc- Ciellan shall be substituted for Genera; Halleck as General. in-Chief. . Much commotion has beep produced about the Wate Flouse in conaequence wf this movement. and rumors are vife to«lay that # full reconstruction of the Cabinet bas ‘been determined upon, Ae urwal, various curmises have deen indulged ip, and the wxmes of prominent poltticians threnghout the North ‘are industriouely conned over to find gresi. men: for the new Cabinet. Tho slate which de inet generally agrosd upon aa the oue likeiy storms 10 These yiwors-are without any otis! feundatian, al- thougd it is knows that Mr, Chase will cortalniy be olected tothe United Siaies Benate irem Otvo, aud that he is anxions to be relieved (rom the arduons cuties of bis present position. Ae has not beca mixed up ia thy excit. ag Cabioet imbrogiie, and the repnied reconstruction of ihe Cabinet is more the result of wishes tien a statement © fact. It will Garmont that the facts are sisaply these:— My. Seward and Me. Piair, convinced Uxat tue resnoval of Genoral McClellan (rom-tle position of Genoral-n-Chief and auxious to repsix the wrong thus done, further disasters to the federal arms, have insisted thet there sla!) be a change in the War Pepart- mut, and tit MeCletion shall be restored to the position of Generaiin-Chiof, Tue comtost ts eiunply between Mr. Soward nnd Mr. Blair op one side, aad Mr. Stanton and Gon. Hallock. uu the otker, 3t is pro vat Mr. Biair, a, offered nit resignation; but up te dark ning these Pesiguativis had pot been secepted, and to be belteved by thore who are shrewdest ra that some arrangement wil! be anade by will be condeeted tn the Cabines without hough many believe tat the iseue hug ande so directly and pontodiy that either Mr, ud Mr. Bair ov Mr, Stantow aud General Hatieck seward saust reth ing to-aay, was busily engaged tu fay j a imanger ns to give wo iudication of any pmotation of leaving the Cabi Newspaper Accomn from the Waahington Star, 1 THE RUMORED CILANGRS LN We have obtained additional and interesting in- formation eomnccted with the subject uittor of the re- sivnation of Secretary Seward. It seme that the republican party af the Senate met in caucud on the instant, when the original resolu taut virteally re log tue President. t tho corvices of Mr, Heward as Secret introduced phd digonssed, doveloping the AL upon it abuot “ixtecs for to thirteon against ny, 1¢ {apowstble to Obtain Any LUny approseling to unanimity of action npon it, of om either of the sitious as R Babstitute for it bo which its introdne- Lion gave Tigo, they adj@uraed over until tte next day. Uv again moeting, the substitude for it, recommen’ the Ident to" srtinlty remodel bie Cabmet, was tn A to, the eynaorvat delleving Wat it ral repubiycan party e o the whole Cabiuee to resign ean. tog the Peciten to clect wo Should hereagior be hs official adviters, And thnb tho geag@ result -woutd urely ho te jadacg him 40 9egopt What dey consdgrat to be the recent vbynistakable maniiestalions of popular pontimnent om bia evide to tho heceseary reconetenctwn, Af the recalativn finally Adored by tho caucus darc uly axoludes any abusiop ( acy partiovot member of the | @abinet, it oermg to De universally tokvo for geam@pd here i AE NEW YORK, SUNDAY, a Wo learn eeceer. tors—six ro, Tt was doubtloes 80 composed by the military events it attracted less — ven to Buch movements, @nd the secret of its ings was kept with an unusual secresy. Nota whisper was heard until this morning, wheu it was sud- denly announced that Secretary Seward had peremptorily and @otinitely resigned the portfolio of the state Depart- ment, uskingto bu relieved at the earliest moment. It then avpearéd that at the caucus held on bight a resolNtion Was: Benn’ Gute ‘Sumner is credited with the authorship of it) declaring, or rather intimating, that the Senators lacked confidence in Be and in doticate yet delinite terms requesting the President to disvense with bis services. The res intion was digcussed and severe! amendments proposed, but no decisive yote taken. It appeared from this discussion that the caucus was nearly equally divided, though on a test vote it was probable the reyolution would have had a majority of one or two votes in ita favor. come degree of unanimity bemg desirable, no decision was reached ;and the meeting adjourned to Thuraday. Ab the second meeting a substitute for the original resolution was unanimously adopted, recommending the President to remodel bis Cabinet. A committee was charged with the presentation of tho resolution to the President. The exact elect which this recommendation is desigzed vo have is tho point at which opinions diverge. The radicss aver it is an invitation to purge his Cabinet of the con- servative republican clement. and to ili the places of the withdrawing members with men of their own ex- tremo siaimp, The conservatives contoud that, ag the reso- lution sedulonsly excludes ull reverence to avy particular embers, it 13 an invitation or hint for them all w sign, thus leaving the President free to entirely remodel is Cabinet, which they hope will bo done voder the in- uence of public sentiment and in wise deiorence to the vious needs of the country, which demand an adminis- ‘tration more national in tong and Jess pledgod to extreme party measures. Mr. Seward hus set the example in giving this interpre- tation to the resolution, and it remains to be seo whether his radical colleagues will have tho manliness to follow his lead. His resignation wus-placed before the President at the Cabinet meeting today. It is, as 1 have already Stated, a dofinite declination of tho duties of the Stato Department. Mr. Seward, it has been known hore for gome timo, hag been anxious to be relioved,and his friends have predicted bis resignation a3 a very probable vent, Asthe chwf adviser of the President, his post- tion has not been a pleasant one, though his perronal re- tions with Mr. Lincoln are of the most cordial kind. jo has, however, been pursued with bitter animosity the Greeley and Sumner faction. beer hel responsible for measures which he ‘was powerless to vent. oe ilation is of course rife as to tho composition of the new Cabinet, should there bea general resignation. ‘The radicals of course desire that only cortain members should retire, and speak of Sumner for the State Department, with gome equally radical succeesor in the Interior De- partment, already vacant -by tho appointmont of Mr, Smith to @ District Judgesbip. ‘The conservatives hope that the President will’ rise to sho full responsibility of the hagaed, pra and constitute his Cabinet on o national basis, thus seek t aguin render the loyal States the unit they wero immediately after tho attack om Fort Samter, In auch an event the names of Judge Holt, of Kentucky, Génoral Dix and other national men of that ctamp are spoken of. If General Bastks wore pot absent ‘he would be, perhaps, the most popular nominee for the War Department—that is if Mr. Slanton will resign, a happy event which very few posple seem to expect. ‘There is, however, 0 obvious ® propriety that, the Presi+ ‘dent sbouid be afforded an we untrammelied oppor- tunity of whully reconstructing bis Cabinet that it is hoped Mr. Stanton’s senso of duty will overcome his well -understood rondyeas for tke power and importance of the ‘War Department. [Correspondence of the Philadelphia Inquirer.} -CRCRETARY SEWARD RESIGNS—PROBABLE RESIGNA- ‘TION OF SECRETARY BLAIR AND REMOVAL OF GEN, HALLECK, Wasemxcton, Dee. 19, 1862. Since the late dieaster at. Fredericksburg the feeling hag grown strong, almost universal, that there must be @ change in tho Cbivet and policy before tho war can be provecuied furthor. it @ually tock sbape by a number of republican Senators waiting upon tho President last night and orging the reconstruction of his Capinet. * On being informed of the intention of the Senators, Secretary Seward and his son, tho Ascfstant Secretary, tendered their resi ions. They haye not yet been acoepted; but it is highly probable they will, and that Secrotary Blair will follow suit, end General Halleck will be ro- moved. Secretary Stanton still retains the confidence of the President. Ere. NEWS FROM THE SOUTHWES Movements ef the Rebels--Deserters from the Enemy—Their Disgust with the Campaigu—The Shooting of Rebels hy General McNeil, .dic., dice St. Loum, Dec. 19, 1962. General Curtis tas received a despatch from General «Herron to the following ¢fiect:—~ ft is believed that General Hindman haa crossed the Arkansas river with his infantry, while General Marma- duke is on the north side with his cavalry. Hundreds of men from General Kindman’s army are daily joining that of Geverel Herron. Many of them are Missourians, who express the greatest disgust with the rebel campaign in the Weet, and avow as their conviction that its further prorecuticn {¢ hopelese, General Curtis yesterday received a written communt- cation from General Holmes, commanding the trane-Mis- stasippi Department of the rebels, forwarded by direction -on Jefferson Davis. “The communication taeu inquiry for the facts relative to the hooting of ten reve! citizens, by order of Geserat MoNeil. * Raclored with (he cammunpuation iso printed sitp om ‘Aho Grenada Appeal, coptaining 9 passage credited40 8s Paumyra (Ml0,) Courier. @encrai Holives aud the governmen: Gasire tokenew it dhe pacsagy in the Palmyra Cvurier is eubsantiaily oor. rect. Tao pply of General Curtiz wil! probably be poblished, ‘and it4slooked for wit much interest. The War in New Mexico. G@RDRRS OF GENKRAL CARLTON--7HK NAVAIO®, £8- DIANS—SIX THOUSAND TRXANS AEPONTED TO “He MARCEING OX BARTS FF, ETC. Kawaas Crrv, Bec. 20, 1862. ‘The Sumnta Fe mail, with daterto tho Leth instunt, he arrived. Orders have been issued by General Cariton thas all persons arriving at Santa Fe shall report themselves w the Provort Marshal. Strangers must exhibit the writ- ten authority undor which thoy travel, and give satisfac- tory evidence of their loyalty to the government Efforts ars being made to quiet the Navajoo Indians. ‘Their chiefsave made peaceful promise. it ig rumored that six thousand Texans, with twelve pioge guns, are marching on Santa Fe via Tos Vigos and Fi Paso. The exans are said to be uader the command of Brigadier General Bayler. The rumor is unconfirmed, Saws from San Frauciseo, San Francisco, Dec, 20, 1982. arrived ship Franklin, from New York. ‘The steatgor Sonora sailed thie afternoon for Panama, with thirty passengers and $650,000 in treasure for Now Youk and $775,000 for Foglaud. The steamer Herman sailed on Monday. The markets geperally are doll, Largo sales of pure epirite are being macerat 37 sc. a S80, per gellon. ‘Tho Joeophine vronglt fifty bales of raw silka from Japan for reshipment via Panama tw New York. It is etated that if fretchts are reascambie, end there areno un- mocestary delays on the bithnias, & large freighting buasi- pees will be done on this line, ‘The steamer Oregon has arrived from Mavatian, Wring- ing $73,000 in treasure and eighty eucks of silver ore from ‘various mines in Sopora and Cinaloa for tenting. Personal Intell e. Capt. 4. Whitney, of Calliornia; Way. 1, Nobles, of St, Vaui; Jno, H. Rowland, of Kentue Piladelnbia; Agmes Mi, Sait, of baidegere; Bajor L. A. By Plant, of St. Casts, ae Row yland, W. Piper, of the Dnifhd Stages Army, are etopping at the Metropolitan Hotel. Hoa, A, Goodrich, of &t. Pant; Hons I. A. Risley. cf Doakirk; De, J, Hactehorn and M, ¥. Potter , of Providonce; ©, W. Hack, of Chomuag: Homer ieunsdell, of Newburg ; Alassuder i. Rive and @, W. Ford, of Boston; 0. dy. Bw JM wie UL COOL Sth | Revere review; C. P. Ralf, of Phitadelpbue, JL. B. Goode | year. of New Haven; ©. ® Rymes, of Chrricston; 1, Heino wor New Medford, and). 1, Maier; , of Counee- | tient, ave etopping at the Astor House, Jeb, of Baltimore; Capt Fy 268 TP a PRP rr 9- 4 epee ee re ese cgee-camer seer < sons DECEMBER 21, 1862. YORK HERALD. “THE BANKS EXPEDITION. Its Movements, Probable Destination and lutentions. ae Sketches of the Principal Officers of the Expedition. The Disasters to Some of the Vessels and Their Rottenness. IMPORTANCE OF THE EXPEDITION, dey ao, a. ‘We have up to the present time refrained from giving any publicity to tho facta well known to us relative to the composition and destination of the Banks expedition, Dut aa tho reoent diaus:ete, &c., have plainly pointed out im what direction the vessels are eailing, and that ere thig many of them have arrived at’ their destination, we now procecd to give our-readers a few detaila in connec- tion with this oxpedition. Jt waz announced previous to the departure of the fleet that the expedition was destined for Texas, to commence from that base a sertes of military operations importaut in a political us well ag military point of view. Itisnow perfectly proper to state that the expedition is destined for certain operations in the Gulf, and that it will ren dotyoug at Ship Island, although General Banks? head. quyriers will beat New Orleans, where he will rolievo General Butler in the command of that department, The Naval Pert of the Expedition, THE DEPARTURE OF THE PUEKT. Although a good aized float of vesse's sailed from this porton the 4th of December, another fleot also sailed from Hampton Roads on the saine day, at about eleven o'clock in the forenoon. Tho last fleet consisted of the following fourteen vessels, under the conyoy of the United Staves gunboat Augusta:— Sea, Line. Steamship Baltic, flagship. Propeller Matauzas. Propeller Georgo Gree! Steamahio SR. Spaulding. Propeller City of Bath. Steamship Arago. Propeller Pocahontas. Shore Line. Propeller Thames. Provelier United States. Propeller Curiew. Steamship €ric+eon. Propeller Thorn. Gunboat Augesta, Iw all fourteen transports and the convoy, ‘Thero were in this part of tho expedition about ten thou. sand troupe, Tho Atlantic was to lead, and tho transports in her lino to keep about two cablos apart, tho Baltic and. hor line to keep one-third of a mile ous. ‘This section of the expedition kept in sight of each other until Friday morning, tho 5th inat.; but about noon a great change in the weather took place, bringing ef fog and a beaviness of the atmésphore, and under this cloud the vessels parted company. All the vessols sailed under sealed orders, not to be opened unless out of sight of the flagship for several hours; but {t ia now knows that the rondozvous was Ship Island, Misrissippi Sound. Among those which left this port we have the Steamship Atlantic. Propeller Key West. Stesmsbip North Star, fag- Steamship Chas. Osgoed. rbip. Steamship Shetucket, Steamship Haze. Steamship Albany, ‘Steamship Northern Light. Steamship cri ff Bluo, ‘Steamship Eastern Queen. = Steamehip New wick. Steamship Quincy. Steamship Moses Taylor, Steamship Suwanee. Steameh!p M. Sandford, Btearn:hip Niagare. Steamship Decatur. Steamship Saxon. Ail laden with troope sud subsistence stores. General Danks was ou board the North Star, the flag- ship of the feet, WHAT RAVE. WE REALSY HEARD OF THR FLEET? Of course when an expedition of much magnitude as this one sails under sealed ordero,and upon secret service, rumors of all kinds will soon get afloat. The floct was nen here, there and overywhoro at the same time. Somo porrone positively asserted that it had been sven entering Cape Fear river, Pamlico Sound, snd numerous other waters of North Carolina, without for © moment consider- ing whether these inlets or harbers were shellow or nut. ‘Several of the veescls were, however, passed by various Consting craft, and were reported as gailing duo eouth, heading aa if about to enter the Gulf. but the most pos!- tivo information arose from the arrival of six vessels at Hilton Head, some of witich put into that port in distress, end come for coaling purposes. ‘Te ROTTEN yrseRs. Among those that put into Port Royal in distress was the Thames, which was in such an unseawortby condition that she had to becondemnod at once. Tho steamship Ericarom towed ber into pert in a fearfully disabled condition. She had en board at the time four hunared mon of the One Hundred and Fourteonth rogiment of New ‘York Voluntecrs, who eailed from Fortress Monroe ou the 4th inst. The next day, the 6th, the Thames’ hoisted o signal of distress. As it was blowing & gale, it was ex- pected. the vessel would founder or go to pieces, aud would doudtiess have Come se had it not been for the gallantry of Harry Barctay, of the Ericason, who, at the risk of his own life, conveyed hawser to tho Thames, aud so couneeted her with the Fricseon, The risking of the lives of four hundred men in steamer like the Thames was an outrage which calls for the leudest condemastien. A board of survey, appointed ‘by General Brannan, tasde an cmnmmination-ef the-vessel and reported her to be uiterly unssaworthy, Her aides are constructed of pino,an’ co. frail as to be positively ansafe. Ske was built eeber for service in emooth water, oT, What Ip more Uxkely to ring money inte the peokets other owners by her gale-to the government, Another dis;cectfal efeir war that of the Niarara, which pat into Philadelpiis on the 15th inst. in a leaky evniition, See tudrajled (rom New York with five cem- panics of tho Fitticth regiment of Massachusetts Volun. teers.on board, aud it is reported that the troaps oom peliod the chief swiling bitiose to ran the vessel into Phili- delphia, as they would not. endanger their lives on beard of ber. ‘go steamer wae eaid to be carefully imepocted by competent mval vtheers appolnted by the authorities a») Woanington inepect all.vessis for this expedition, vod bo delestivencss was visibleywnd must have been tod. vessel was reported.to the ive trope. anda Steamship Minvia. Steamship J. 8. Greon, Stoamship Salvor, an net tench teen Qarked by General Andre dor to insure swore room and comfert Wo those remainiig. She salle! fer South, and tho fret day’a experiences, with a smooth sea, gave evidence (by the ripping up of deck plankings, showing rotten cook timbers) of her waseawortuinces, added t which, it is teportea that the mare and pilots together with the s@@faring men in the rogimoat, pro” nounced ber as untli-do safely transport troops on the ocean. Bat what ard the other facts of the case? aud they must or should haye been known to the inspectors of the veesels. The old steamboat Ningara was an old lake Ontario condembed steamer, built eighteen yoara ago, She war purchased for nine thousand dollare in the early part of Inst summer, and placed on the route between this cliy and Orient, Long Irland; but asabe was com@idered unsate to navigate the Soundevan iu the summer, and being hardly able, as the term is, ‘to got out of ber own way,’ she was not patronized, even ag © market beat, to avy great extent, aod was hauled of. Her average epoed was oot over five miles an honr, and sho would not have beea considered safe to go to the Pishing Baaks. Sho bad been ouce driven ashere on the lake, aud Isid high and dry for nix weeks before she was got off, and, although repaired, was subsequently laid upfor two years off Charlotte, ia the Genesee river, where her New York purchasers found her, The Rochester Union and Advertiser of the 17th gives the following particulars concerning this veesel, which will be interesting to thore who weula know what kind of vouwole are churtered to the government :— ‘Poe Niagara \s 80 old jake steamboat, built in 284d eighieon years ayo), at Clayton,on the. st. Lawrence river, for the American steam! Company, ond tirst ran fm the Ontario aud Sé Lawrence tine, c@/ting at Rochester. Sbe is enly four hundred tons burthen. jn April, 1448, ehe lost ber rudder in & gale, a few sities from Jwobester, ond theo ber ehimpey wee © rried away, ond she was driven rahore two miles west of the Genesee river, where Mmained for sik ween LefoRe Ehe Gould be removed, ident serwously injored her ; but she was repaired het pivce ou the Lake Ontario rout boats enporsoded her, and for at nto, Rosheater av the | | length she was laid ep for good im the Geneseo a'ter ax. ben yours of bard service. She laid ab the “barlotto lock two years, when last spring & ‘came from New York and purch cd her for abont nino nt dotiars, with (he avewed purpose of using he ae market boat in the waters about New York, Tho Niagara was taken down the St, Lawrenco and round the coast, and showed hor } weckness on that voyage. Many predicted that she would | . bever re.oh her dvetination. The next wo heard of the Niagara et to the government for ton thousand do and her uel found, to be used as & trans] me she has been under pay ever since. Her owners ave made a “big thing” by the charter, but bavo done bo better than hundreds of others ‘ip the ring.”” Tile wholesale rovbery of the government is bad a ha; but language eannot express the contempt we feol for men who would be parties to sonding ® regiment of soldiers or other human beings on an ocaan voyage in euch acraftas the Niagara. She was a common lake passenger boat when new, bas been over eighteen years Jn the water. and has probably run more than fivo hun- dred thousand miles, She took on board five hundred men of the Massachuseti« Fiftieth at New York (by far oo largea number at any time), and started fur a vovage beyond Hatteras. It was fortunate that she did not founder before reaching the Delaware. Another evidence of the iucompetoncy of the Inepector Of Vesgels is embraced in the recent wreck of the M. Sandford, full particulars of wirich will be found at the end of this article, and again in the case of the Albany, which, our correspondent at Hilton Head informs us, bad to undergo repairs that detatued hor for sevoral days. tg the vesvol had beon sound at starting this would hardly | have buen the caso, Wo invert tho following ummunica- tion in regard to this veesel:-— 10 TAB KDITOR OF Th ALD. No, 207 Wasr Pery-yem Dee, 20, 1862. In your article of this dato in the Yorn Heran against the steamers of the Banks ex: Dy you ay that tho propeller Albany put into Port Rayal for foar of sinking, This I know to be false, and have evidence trom hor captain that he pnt into Fort Royal for ¢ al only, and that his vessel was in good order and in no way ‘isabled or disqualtfied to do her duty or to perform her journey awoly. Respectfully, yours, C. W. KENWORTHY. The Military Part of the Expedition, ‘Tho chiof of tho troops of this expedition, It is woll knwwn, is Major Goneral Nathaniel P, Banks. The follow- ing officors compose his staff on this oceasion:— Assan! Adjutant General... Liout. Col, Richard B. Irwin ‘Acsiaant Inspector General .. Lieut. Col. Win, 8. Abert. Judge Advocate... Major G, Norman Lieber. Aid vol, Jobo 8. Clark, . Capt. FIVE Cant. Robt. T. Duanam. PRICE FOUR CENTS Mountain, whero, while behaving with consnicnous gal- lantry, be was severely wounded, Before be had woll recovered from hie wound he reported for duty, anc wae detailed to serve on the cominission appointed to invest!- wate the surrender of Rarper’s Forry, When General Ranks was placed at the hgad of his expedition he applied or Genoa! Angur, whose military capacity he was folly imarle aware of in the sanguinary confiict at Cedar Mourn fain. Altix ordered already to report to General Reynolds, whem General Banks wanted him he was ab once provoted to a major generalabip of volurteora, and roneived instractions to proceed to New York and agaist General Banks \n Otting ont the expedition SKECH OF PRGADTRR GENERAL GROVER. Brigadier General Cuvier Grover was born in the Stato of Maine, and entered the West Voint Mi itiry Academy ae cadet in 2846, On the 30th of June, 1850, he graduated, standing number four in a large class, Anmoog nis cians mates were Frederick K. Prime, now — captain in the Corps of Engiweers ; Gouvernour K. Warren, captain in the ‘Topographical Engineers and brigadier goveral of yolnn- teers; Bilas Crispin, captain of ordnance; Genoral Pagene A. Carr, Major Sleromer, hero of Fort Pickens, and hers. ‘On the Ist of July , 1850, he was appointed brevet weevud ioutenant in the Fourth artillery, and continned in this regiment until March, 1856, when he was trapsferre:) tothe Tenth infantry, then organizing, Under ordinary circumstances Cenoral Grover would have been appomted into one of the superior corps of the army—viz., either the Corps of Enginesrs, Corps of Topographisal Engineers or Ordnance Department; but at the type he graduated thesecorps were full,and he ae eco to be at- tached to the artillery. In the official Army Register for 1862 hig name appears as captain in tho Tench iofantey, with additional rank of lieutenant coledel of vouutoors, hit | commission in formor grade being dated September 17, | 1868. He now stands in lineal rank nambe: «ix'von on a Neh of over three hundred officers; ao that he will soon bo fall major. In Aprilof the present year he was appointed brigudier genoral of volunteers, and is vow attached w erat Ranks? expedition, COUINEL HAMILTON, OF TEXAS. : Col. A. J. Rumiton, of Texas, has been quite recently appointed Miltary Governor of that State. He is one of the members of Congress from ‘Texas, and about the only one from that section who refieod to join the conspirators who lett Washington during the last days of she Buch. Ist Lieut. Chas, A Hartwoll. 2d Lie it, Saml M. Whiteside. Capt. W. Sturgis Hooper. Yst Fiout. Chas, 8. urgent, Co}, Sam), B. Holabird Edward G. Bock Rieb'd H. Chaef Commissary... Medical Direciar... 2 Surge Medical Purveyor. ‘Asst. Suryoou Wm, C,Spencer Chief Enyinesr.. M Chief of Top. Engineer: Capt. Henr, Chief of Ordna Jat Lieut. Richard’M. Hill. v Capt. Richard Arnold, Catef Signal Oficer. 7. Capt: Win, W. Rowley. Amotg the other chief officers aro Generals Augur, Grover, &c., and Col. Hamilton. AKRICH OF MAJOR GENERAT, RANKS, Mojor General Nathaniel P, Banks is the senior major general in the volunteer service, He was one of the three major gonerais appointed in the volunteer force raised in conformity with the President's proclamation of May 3,1861—tho other two being John A. Dis, of New York, and Benjamin F. Butler, of Massuchusetta, Thoir commissions are datod May 16, 1861, Goneral Banks’ praetical military experience dates only from thecommoncement of the rebellion ; but he was pre- viously connected with the military organization of his State. His antecedents are honorable, and his popularity in his native State so extensive that he wus at once singled out for a prominent military command. So far he has proved himself to be an able general both in thoory and préctice. Genera! Banks was born of poor pareuta, at Waltham, Maseachusetts, on tho 20th of January, 1816, and is consequently not quite forty-seven years of ayo. He bad very limited opportunities of obtaining an educa- tion at the common school, and had, at an early age, to takehhis place in the factory, where, with his parents, he worked and earned his own livelihood, Me is heid up to boye as a mode! of persoverance im@ neat little juvenile work entitled the “Bobbin Bey.” His mind, however, wag one of thogo which must have knowledge, no maticr what obstacies may stand in the way, Evon whiloa factory operative he helped to establish a debating society , and aleo contributed to the columns of the joca) peper, which he subscquently edited. in 182, aud the following five years, he was brought forw:trd as demo- cratic candidate fur Assembly from his native wn. Avy ‘one jess persevering would have been disheartened by six successive defeats; but General Banks tried avain, and the seventh time ho was triumphant, and accordingly took his geat in the Asgembly, of which, in 1850, he was elected Spouker. In 1862 he became a member of Con- gress, and was chosen Speaker of tho House of Represen- tatives after a coatest of more than two months, and a hundred ballotings. The onerous duties of Speaker were performed by him with great skill, firmness aud impar- tiallty. After serving his term in Congress he waz elected Governor of Massachusetts, and was named before the Republican National Convention as a candidate for the Presidency \n 1856, and received several votes. He was afterwards Superintendent of the Illinois Central Ratiroad, jn the room of George B, McClollan, resigned. Tais rail- road has given the country three prominent gezerals— McClellan, Burnside an Banks, He rosigued this po. sition to accept @ major generalship in the volumtcer service, and was assigned to the command of @ division in the Army of the Potomac, and sent to guard the upper fords of the river. After spending many months in drilling and discipliaing his command, he was ordered to cross the Potomac and enter the Slenandoah valley, and placed in charge of the Departmentef the Shenandoah. ‘The disaster at Fromt Royal was n consequonce of tho weakening of his forces; but he, bowever, made a splendid retreat tothe north elde of the Potomac, without fhe Joco of @ cinglo gun, and with aut very fer casualties among fis troops, He was next Lordero’ to the Rappahaannck te join Pope, and the «bravely fongbt the sanguivery engugemen, wt Cedar Mountain whieh followed; and, notwith. etanding the grent dispurity beiweon Ranks’ and Sconewall Javksoa’s army—Banks bad 7,000 to Jack. fon’s 25,000—the latter wat defeated. General Banky was wounded here, and when the battles of Centroy ille and the second Bullrun took place he was not with his corps, which, with Sumner’s, formed the advance of MeCiellan’s grand army into Maryland. ‘On the 6th of Scptenber Geveral Bauks was appointed commander he fortifications around Washington, aud only resign that position to take charge of the present expodition. SSRECH OF MAIR GENERAL ACCOR, Mayor Genera! Christopher Colou Augur, secamd in om: | rosa to € | Banks, igt native of this State; but his | eppetetment is credited trMichigan, from which Staic he eniored the West Point Military Academy as a cadet in 1839, and graduated on the 3th of June, 1849. Ie stood number sixteen in a class of thirty-vino members, and among his classmates we fit the uares of Generals Wil: Nam B. Franklin, bead of the cinss; isanc F, Quimby, John J. ’eck, Ulysses 8. Grant, Charios S$ Hamilton, Frederick Stcole, Josopls J. Reynolds, Rufus Ingalls and Nenry M, Judah, boaides a number in the rebel service. After graduating he was,on the Ist of July, 1813, ap. pointed brevet second lieutenant of the Second United Biates infantry. Ia September, 1845, he waz transferred to the Fourth infantry, and io February, 1847, he waa promoted to the rauk of first lieutenant. During the Mexi- can war be sorved as aid-de-camp, frston the staf of Prigadier General En0s D. Hepping, ant then, after tho death of that geueral—whieh occurred in September, | 1847-on the staff of Brigadier Geueral (ule Curhing. He | feturned to Ris regiment when the wor euccoeded to a captainay on the 12th of » 1862, hia command being Company C, Kourth o.autry. At the head of this company ho served wit! distinction om the frontiers, being honorably mentioned (or bis gallantry in mang severe ovadicts with Indiane swr Rogue ia Oregoo, in 4456. From that time uutil the bombardment of Fort Sumter be commanded the trovps at Fort Husking, Oregon. Whea the army was augmented in May, 1861, Captain Augur was promoted to the majority of the Thir- teenth intantry, and was recalled from ths Department of the Pacific to attend to the organization of tho first bat- talion, whieb, as eenior he was entitled to com- mand. After this he was placed temporarily in command | of the eadets at West Poimt, and then—Novembor 12, | 1861—was made brigadier goneral of volunteers, and | eigned to the command of a brigade in King’s division of | McDowell's army. His brilliant dash upon Statiord Court | House last spring mainly ted to Gon. King’s oveupa: | ton of Fredericksburg. Whon General Sigel a perseded General Fromont, Augur suecoeded to the com- i mand of Sigel's division, whieh he led into battle at Cedar vos over, and | | These became t passion among the younger offi ers non administration, Wigfull and ‘Twombs tried to butly the Colonel into thelr secession views; but bis loyalty was proof against all their arts and throws, Fer noarly twelve months preceeding the gd of July inst, Col, Haraiiton resided at Austin, the capiti! of Texas, where, with & large uutaber of Umou men, ho considered himeelf comparatively si'y, as thera were no rebel soldiers in tho immerdsmte vicinity, Ho was elected to the Texan State Senate over a socess aionis® and then zefured to take bia agat with that rebot lious body, saying that he only wanted t) abow them what wae thought by the people in bis divtrict. Ho steadily refused to pay all Confederate taxes, and alg) to give ap accoxnt of property in his possessio’) belonging to Northern men, Wheo the rebels took jossession of Toxas tho Colonel made a vow never to recognize their authority, On the 2d of July, being informed that tho rebel soldiora, who had thea taken possession of Aus- tin, had orders to capture him, he hastily and betook himself to the mountains, wh ive, after a month's delay, he made his way, witha (ew ‘rionds, to tho Rio Grande, and escaped into Mexico On his way down the Mexican side of the Rio Grande t Matamorgs ho had many narrow escapes, but at fengin reached thas placo in safety, and took pavsage to a vessel. But the rebels were aware of bis uioverncnts, and. be o! ded them only by travelling some distance overlamt and taking re- fuge in a schooucr. Alter another very narrow escape from the rebels, who «ent an armed bach after the schooner, he at laat reached New Orleans in the Coited States brig Bohio, He came to this city in Uctober leat, and his accounts of the present conditivn of ‘Texas, and the suileriug of the Union men there, wifl not bo eaaly forgotten. ever ‘ The Wreck of the M. Sanforl—Intcrest- ing Details of the Occarrence. OUR NAVAL CORRESPONDENCE. Unrren States HANK GewmoK, Dec 11, 1862 ‘he M. Sanford Ashore on Coral Reefs—The Work of Bmp- tying Wie Transport—The Troop: Hin Ryvtato Key West~ Conduct of the Menon the Ocecsion—-A Chance for the 11. Gathering f Frosh Coral Bra hes from (lve Seam ‘the Savage Friendship of tha Oceana ‘vriher Mowitents of the it.giment, &e., de. ‘Wore you ever etrauded on coral reefs’ If not, you cannot syinpathize with us. Dut you can Iisten to our story. Acainet the Carysfort Reef there js a large and congpicnous lighthouse ret oat im tho sea, and from it on to tho shore are the white coral reefs, lying benoath elear and beautiful waters. The pechliar green that settles over them is nature's advertiwemeut of the dangors that Hie bo low, which zhowbill of warning can eusity be read on a fair day. We, the officers and ¢oldiers of the One Hundred and Fifty «inth regiment of New York Volunteers, whoon the 2d inst. came on board the M, Sanford to fyrm a pers of Banks’ division, woke up on, Tuesday morning to hear the fact announced that oor ship was firmly bot tomed on tbe coral reefs, The first 1 saw on looking out of the window wore the boxes of bread, muskets auc tent poles going overboard; a white river of beans, also, pouring like a castade into the sea over the lower deck of our stranded veasel. Sova, how- over, it was ascertained that the @rmer she stood on the rocks Une safer the ship wax henceforth to be. There she is to-day, slowly receding from view, @ mile from the lighthouse und on s etraigiit line from the lighthouse to the shore, her etera pointing the region of nafety and her prow directly facimg the reefs and the shore. Tho old wreck still looks courageour, as though she had been arrested in a desperate onset upon am invincible encmy_ Accidentally and yet wisely strande!, fortunate iu our misfortunes, ‘we are Row sailing undef the care of Capt, Cavendy, of tbe uid statos mun-of-war Gomsbok, 28- kisted by the steainet Z'cckstone, whith bas reversed her course to favor us ih ow calamity, We oxpect to-day toreach Koy West. ‘The old pilot, I boijeve, lacks good eyesicht, and we cam) within an ace of breaking t ploves on Onpe Hatteras, ble is under arrest, and will be tried by due course of Taw, Tho men behaved well when the disaster was an pounced, nud were entirely obedient toorders, The skip soon filled with water up to the water's adye, which rev. dered her conditicn more safe, by causing her to be more strongly fastened ¢> her position among the rocks, Noboey seemed to be reuiy afraid, though tt wis not until four o'clock in tho afternoon that assistance carue from the Gewsbok, by the transfer of cur mon & its own deck. One company—Copiain Paxter’s—went ‘with a steamer going to Key West, which eras all that @le could carry, doing alrendy ladon with trany troops. Captain Fdward Caveudy,a Teuton by birth, and hav- ing Veen fifty-three years in tho naval service, ie tne commander of the Getisbok, a sailing ship of guns. sho kag taken several prizes since the war broke ovt, was efficiently nthe battle of Mactn, aud is very” willing at any to meet tho teriibio § Alaba* ma, tho 290," which some Northern imaginations havo exalted to the digulty of an iron-clad, t! th she in only @ wooden cruiser and rather: lightly constructed a tw war vessel The captain thinks he caf conquer her in a fair fight. Oliver Thatcher is the Agty ¢ Master and Executive Ofticer, Thewlore Wathof Acting Master, Thor. j Welsh Acting Assistant Sagenm, Thomas J. Pray Mas- tor’s Mate, &c. The reef op which the Senford now liew js the worst reef on the coast, so sat by sea mostore. Is the Sanford insured? T nnderstand she has not » dol- lar's insurance In overy disaster there it something entertaining. As the ship lay im eight feet of water, and a certain number wore watohing the motion of vemsels lying in the dictange, who, we suppored, had secn oF would eee our flags at half-mast, «there were fishing up the beaatifal toaves of Coral, which, !2 their growth, Mave so glosely imiated the structure of the purely vegetable formution ot fern, with & central ridge of ‘trunk, from which the comerous lesser branches emanite soltiers, who wil! carefully send them to their Vor | frionds, who will keep ther not only ad memantoos of the artistic beauties of the *ea, but -as tae memorials ot the shipwreck of a regiment on the Flotidw loots, About the rst message of the morning was ‘on thes Gemsbok and the lighthouse; then came a wrerkor, 4 mastei & Floridian, a tall, loug aecked, sharp rela vous person, Who tulmmderred bis cerviews fh taking vf to jo blockading squafron of tho Porta dnt sight, for the sum of two hnodéod daliare @ m3 (CONTINUED ON EIGHTH PACT)