The New York Herald Newspaper, December 29, 1862, Page 1

Ss Phoir Batteries at Port Hudson iaplatat of the Wexican Government Asians ; the ‘British Consul, SNTERESTING ARMY AND- NAVY NEWS, ays ha ‘The United States steamship Roanoke, Capt. Thompson, Now Orleans dates-te December 18, which port she at that date, arrived at this port yesterday morning. Reasidlee was detained twenty-four hours by General a, . Theother steamers, with the troops, came,up after- ating an imposing show. Pieces had been waiting at the foot— i may: rather be called the head—of St. Joseph that the gutters of the city flow towards the 0f towards the river. Tho battery was dark, all hopes of the arrival of the Seon waiting there several Qours, General Bangs and suite then drove to fe St, Charles Hotel, which, as I mentioned to ‘deen reopened. Rodms were econ (peourod, and shortly after General Banks paid a visit to at the new residonco of the last named QQmeral, Corner of St. Charies and Juliu streets. THe was here introduced to Mrs. Butler, Brigadier Goneral Shep- Sey, Admiral Farragut, Captain Palmer, of tho flagship ‘Bartford; Major Deming, Major Bell, Provost Judge; Cap. fain Haggerty, Dr, McCormick, Captain Puifer and Lieute- f : GAN, VOTER TRANSFERRING M18 COMMAND. Yentorday, at tw'elvo O'clock, General Banks proceeded %® , in &rder to receive the formal transfer. ene of tha deyattznons from General But to himseif, was not generally know» that tho was lo take | Aer Jn consequence of there were Ti few people sanembiod in front of the . Ithad been announced no business would be that day; bat in of this there wore crown-grained people, and perhaps, who were not ware of the announce. eens, who insinted op seving Gengxa) Butler. They were » see e “ Promptly, but civilly, retuned admitiance by the sentine). | fable of King Log and 18 was with some difficulty I obtained admittance myself. ‘kn officer oa Genera) Butler’s staff bad promised 10 meet Déta), Capt. Kenee!, Capt. Puffer, Col. Dudiey;'Lieuts- ‘and Martin. ‘BRIGADIER GENERAL GEBAMAN AND @TAPY, conieisting of: the following -—Captain Hottmnan Gibbs. ; i among other distinguished military mem pregent ware ‘| Brigadier Genera} Weitzel, Lieutenant Colonels Bullock COMMANDERS OF POSTS AND CORPS. ° Acting Brigadier Paine, Acting Brigadier Cahill, Colonel Farr, Lieutenant Colone! Fitzgibbon, Lieutenant Colone} Bullock, Lieutenant Colonel Hazeltine, Lieutenant Colonel Whelden, Colonel Clark, Major Whittimore, Lieutenant ‘Cushing, Major Greene (Texas cavalry), ‘BARKS ASSUMES COMMAND OF THR FORCED - Ab Roeu a mejor ‘general's salute was firéd from La- fayette square, announcing the approach of Gen. Banks, who had paida visit to the City Hall, and shortly after the onder of ‘present arms” announced his arrival at headquarters. He was accompanied by the officers com. prising his staff. Proceeding up stairs, General Banke entered General Butler's office, where the command of the department ‘was formally handed over to him. This was followed by ‘nvutual introductions from one General to the other of the members of their respective staffs. This done, the two Generals withdrew, but not before General Butler had addressed the members of bis staff, pronouncing @ warm eulogium on General Banks, stating that bis was a che- racter of which any American could be prend. This generous and man!y exhibition of kind feeling ended the goterview. General Butler has issued the follewing admirable address to the Army of the Gulf:— GN. BUTLER’S FAREWELL €O TRE ARMY. ‘GEWERAL ORDBRS—NO. 106. Heapquartsns, DRPARTMENT OF THE GULP, uw , Dec. 15, 1862. Sovpmes ov THB ARMY oF Tux Go1r—Relieved from farther duties in this de; ent, by direction of they President, under date of November 9, 1862, I take leave ef you by this final order, it being impossible to visit your scattered outposts, covering hundreds of miles of the froutier of a larger territory than eome of the king- doms of Europe. I grees you, my brave comrades, and say farewell. . ‘This word—endeared as you are by a community of privations, hardships , dangers, victories, successee , mil}- bg mony ‘only sorrowfal thought I have. fou have deserved well of your country. Without a p rane wd tener cortege he pen pen ge & sand bar 60 desolate ‘banishment to ft with every care and com‘ort possible has been the most dreaded punishment inflicted upon your bitterest and mds! enemies. ‘You bad £0 little transportion that but a handful could advance to compel submission by the Queen City of the rebellion, whilst others waded breast deep in the which surround St. Philip, aad forced the surrender of a fort deemed irn] Ne to land attack by the most skil- Sarceeesfens te tt ps ng law, quiet and peace 6 tothe olty, ailea ‘witb the bravos of all nations, where, fer the profoundest peace, human Maodiog with e alltary’ chest containing b with a ‘con’ it Seventy- five dollars, from the boards of a rebel ota eat, - Pea geae aon er ie reaban ae hes in ‘which when ‘entered you were ingly told that ay peer pit, faa sropy Fa hae won the com: fidence of ina the staff of the D ‘acoordingly:— Irwin, Assistant Adjutant Gene- |. William S. Abert, Assistant Inspector Gene- lorman Lieber, Judge Advocate. do-Cai i FE i i : g ‘8. Clark, Aid mp. i g aut ii H oe H ol. Samuel B. Holabird, Chief a Cupt. J. W. McClure, Assistant Quartermaster. Coi. Edward G. Beckwith, Chief Commissary. Surgeon Richard H. Alexander, Medical Director. Major David C, Houston, Chief Engineer. Capt. Henry L. Abbott, Chief of ropograpbical Engi- ‘neerr. Firet Lieut, Richard M. Hill, Chief of Ordnance. Capt. Richard Arnold, Chief of Co aN : Capt. Wm. W. Rowley, Chief signal a N. P. BANKS, Major General. Among the officers who wil! leave with General Butler are Major Bell (ex-Provost Judge), Colonel Shaffer (Chief Quartermaster) and Colonel J. W. Turner (Chief Commis- The two following orders seem to be worthy a piace in this communication :— SALE OF CONFISCATED PROPERTY SUNPEN! GENERAL ORDERS—NO. 108. Heanquarrens, Dar akTucxt oy mux Guiry, ‘New Onutans, lec. 10, 1862. Ali military and civil ofears of this department who ‘ere engaged in the endence of public works of ve assumed to direct and control any character, or who bmi other persons engaged ith direction of such hq "he roperty private or public on such works or o ont] forthwi works, five number of persons em- held, and i io or General BANKS. Rienard B. Inwin, Liettontnt Oo so8h Assistant Adja- GERAL. ORUARS—HO, \'09, Huangv. erntah. OF Tm Oris, 9.16, 1862, AN pablic wales of ‘on accouy's of the Un! By oomi of \ral BANKS. teareee ts Iawix, tania eee oes Adga- ‘Thin last order has given huge satisfaction \o the neces- sioniats. They seem to think that “thore’s a 700d timo coming” for them, aud they actually believe iat Gen, together, there are of course diversities of opinion. mo think 18 will bo for tho better, some believe it wi'l! ‘be for the worse, and cite the advice of the young Iaraclites in the time of Rehoboam—with which all the readers of the Hanatp are, of course, fami\\ar—ae a speci- meen of what may be expected. Others quote the old NEW YORK, MONDAY, DECEMBER 29, 1862. Emperor Stork, immorialieed by that prince of statiriate, Dr. Woleott (Peter Pindar), fer” Butler to be anything tike the log mentioned by old eop, and woven into immortal muse by Pmdar the Becond. ‘Other some’’--to use a biblical phrase—atteot to Delieve that 1t doer not mater @ pin’s point who rules here, ‘as Jeng as the damned Yankee extate tm Washington.” Excuso the expletive; it ie not mine, and 1 se it under protest ‘GENERAL BUTLER’S MODE OF YREDING THB POOR. But another order has been issued which, though Jengtby, is worthy of a place io your columns, Her® it it id and it is both fit and. for the present state support. 4 ‘Therefore, rie Ja, A tmtixe gumia, and for the same po and will make pay' hey his office at these headquarters, on or before. M '» December 16, 1862, yy, of i ‘al BUTLER. Gxo, C. srnona, A. A. Genefal and Chief of &taff, Gent peohet ise BOS satin! nes ment amounts to about $350,000. It wii be remembered that some time in August or September a similar order was issued from headquarterr, directing the parties designated to contribute for the re- Net of the poor of Néw Orleans just one-half of what they bad given for the cause of rebellidb. 10 seems that that amount is exhausted, and General Butler issues hia order for a further contributiod” of .one-quarter ‘of what ‘wan given to ald treason: ‘This is strict, poetical justice. ‘The vieages of the gentlemen thus peremptorily called on to comply with the singular motto of the Marquis of Conyngham—'‘Over, fork over’—may be imagined, but they cannot be described. There is something vague In such phrases as these:— As long as the moral law,’ “A- Jong ag your arm,” ‘As long as a cart whip,” ‘As elon gated as the maintop bowline.” This sort of language cannot d@cribe adequately the countenances of the geu- temen whoare thus called on to ‘stand and deliver.’ All that can be eaid of them is that they look bad. (CAPT, POPPER APPOINTED DEPUTY PROVOST MARSHAL. But there is another order issued, which bas given general satisfaction, from the respect that is fclt through, out the community for the gentleman who is the subject of it. 16 is as follows:— Ommces or Paovosr Mananat, Generar or Lovisiana, ‘New Onrxans, Deo. 13, 1862. Capt. A. F. Puffer, A.D. C., Provost Marshal for the parich of Orieaps. He wil obeyed and respected ——. Office, No. 177 Canal atroot. 2ONAS H. FRENCH, Provost Maughal Genera) Louisiana, ‘There are reasons, which the editor of the Hxnato will appreciate, that prevent me from doing that full justice to Capt. Puffer which bis eminent merits deserve. Suffice !t te say that, while he is an uncompromising Union man, he has not made a single known ,encmy in New Orleans. a AN BXPRDITION GONR UP THE RIVER, Part of the army corps under the command of Genera} ‘Banks went up the river yesterday moruing. 1 never heard a word of it till late at night; and, indeed, your correspondent with the expedition was about as wise as myself. In consequence of the secresy observed, I am unable to ascertain the number of troops sent up, the gundeats accompanying them or the ultimate destination of the expedition; and if 1 did ascertain, it would be im proper to divulge such an ‘portant matter. On the whole, the admirable secresy manifested by the War De- partment in regard to the destivation of this expedition merits every encomium you have seen fit to bestow on ‘the managers of it in your paper of the 6th. THE AFPROAGHING HOLIDAYS, ‘We are baving brilliant weather, with just eold eneugh to be pleasant. The young urchins here have commenced to lay in a stoek of crackers and other eombustibles for Christmas consumption, an@ they are making night, aad ‘even day, hidcous by trying what eort of noise their fire- ‘works will make. Strange that the ‘Festival of Peace”’ | should be. ushered im by sounds denoting war. Going along 8t. Charles atreet to-day I saw a cartload of cedaraand other evergreens standing before a door, denoting that ome person or other bad been ‘‘bringing bome Christ- mag,’? a8 it is called to the old country, ‘TERATRICALS, Of theatrical matters we have more than we expected ‘Dut less than ugual. The Varieties theatre is crowded ‘with persons, whe flock there to see such pieces as To- Din’s ‘Honey Moon,’? Sheridan Knowles’ “Hunchback,” Bulwer’s “Lady of Lyons,” and other pieces far inferior. On the same nights Messrs. Duprez and Green, at the ‘Academy of Music, do all they can to amuse the audience in the way of negro minstrelsy; and very well they do it, too. The'fireman’s song and rescue of a child, by the gallant Mose, was excellent; so was ‘Tho Haunted House;” #0 was ‘'The African Giant; eo was ‘‘The Row Among the Italian Singers.” Tam trying to get two or three young alligatore tocend to the Hanaro. , 1862. reby appointed Deputy yy appoi 4 INKS’ FLAGSHIP, on Board the North Star. Opn the afternoon of Thursday, December 4, at two ‘o'clock, the North Star, which had been selected as the flagship of the great and mysterious expedition, swung out info the stream from the wharf at tho foot of Eleventh street, East river. A little before dark she steamed down opposite the Battery, when General Banks came on Doard from a Custom House steamboat, which was laden with his friends, Mutual cheers, greetings and adieus wore exchanged. The buzzas of tho soldierson our ves- sel wore answored with huzzas not less vehement from the steamtug, where tne passengers, though fewer in univer, were not by any means to be outdone in enthu- siasm. At seven o'clock in the evening wo started off on our journey, leaving behind the magnificent har. bor, clothed in the calm moonlight, aud won, dering within ourselves whither we were bound; for we wore as ignorant of our destination as were the good people whom wo have left behind us—as ignorant as were Ulysses and his companions of their destiny, when, passing the pillars of Hercules, they pushed ‘up upon the unknown waters beyond. The General knew: of course, and, possibly, twoor three others; but the rest had nothing om which to found an intelligible theory: CURIONTY AS TO THE DESTINATION OF THE TLKET. On tho hurricane deck were boxes marked ‘Hon. A. J- Hamilton, Miltary Commandant, Texas.’ Fut it was said that this was an ingen ous device to blind the public, as ‘was also the presence of Governor Hamilton himself and staff; and not a few stoutly maintained the doctrine: generally credited in New York at the time of our de” parture, that we were bound for the peninsula, oither up the James or the York river, t Whatever else might be uncortain, on ene point there was nota doubt among the uninitiated. If everything @lso was obscure it was as clear as the sun that we were to stop at Fortress Manrooe, where the organization of the expedition was to be completed and the varjous transporte with @ convoy were to join us. Many were the little plans by which it was proposed to kill the dull week oF ten days which were to bo spent at that point; but when the time came for approaching Uld Point Comfort we were Still at sea, both in and in theory—wo were atill steaming on Over the wide path of the ocean, headed for the warm lands of the far South; and on Monday morning, December 8, the soft, delicious breezes told ua, unmistaka- bly, that we had left the cold regions far behind us. ‘The vessel was heavily Iden. Woe had on board Colonel Chickering’s Forty-first Massachusetts regiment, @ bat- tory, 4 large quantity of ammunition and baggage, and a far greater number of passengers than hail been expectod ‘er could be suitably provided for. ‘There were about one hundred and sixty cabin passen, | gore; but nevertheless, through the constant exertions of the officers of the ship, all were made as comfortable as Ppossibic, and none had occasion to complain. There was, as might be expegted, & great rush for Tooma, and Captain J. W. McClure, of the Quartermas- tor’s Department, to whom wae easigned the task of | stowing away this muititude, was pulled and hauled and followed hither and yon by many anxious men for many hovrs. The captain, in fact, was subjected to @ martyr. \dom Dy no means to be envied. He is, however, entitieg the credit of having maintained bis good temper ~~} % THE NEW YORK. throughout, and of having done hie best to please every ‘one. ‘WHO WAS 03 BOARD—GER. BARES. Of Gonrse the most important persen en beard our Yeosel was the Commander-in-Chief of the expgdition, General Nathaniel Prentiss Banks, a quiet, modest gen- tleman, who had a pleasant smile and a kind word for everyone who appreaehed him. The General's career, ‘doth as a etasesman and a seldier, i# too familiar with the public to require extended notice here. The son Of am overseer im a cotton factory, he wae bora at Waltham, Massachusetts, in 1616, and ap soon as he ‘was old enough was put to work in the factory himeelf, | Bubeequently he became a machinist, and when, in 1649, he wap frat elected to the Massachusetts House of Re- presentatives, his name was entered on the roll of mem- ders sam ‘‘machinist.”” Thus in early life he waa throw, upon bis own resources, and he is one of the many self- tmade mep who have exercised such large iufuence in di- Teoting the affairs of tho nation. In 1850 General Banks. entered upon the profesmon of the law, in theoffice of Robers Rantoul, of Bostom. In 1851 he was elected ‘Speaker of the Massachusetts House cf Representatives, asoneof the mosteble and promiyent advocates of the Coalition between tho free soflers and domocrate, by which the whig party was beaten, He was first elected to Con- grees in 1852, by the eame coalition, and in 1863 he was a Member of the convention called to revise the constitu: tion of Massachnsette, The cuntest,in the winter of 1855-6, By which ho wag elected Speaker of the House of Representatives, was memorable fer the length and determination exbibited on both sides. Such is a brief outline of the civil carcer of General Banks—a career in which we see him rise, by the strength of his own character and by his inherout qualities, from an obscurefactory boy to one of the highest and most honorable positions in the government. Self-reliance is stamped. upon every act of his life, and is apparent in the smallest as wellas the greatest and most important. Rasy, polite and grateful in his manners, he ia singularly free from all offensive airs and false dignity. Early in the war he tendered his services to the government, and in the position of @ major general of volunteers conducted the celebrated retreat of his army through the Shenan- doab valley in the face of a greatly superior force, placing both bis men and his baggage trains acriges the river ia eafety, in spite of the impetuous pursuit of Stonewall Jackson. Attho battle of Cedar Meuntain be showed himself vo be @ man of great personal courage, and was highly complimented by the Commandor-in- Chief. BRIGADIER GENERAL HAMILTON. Neat toGeneral Banks in importance, among all our many passcngers, perhaps, wag Brigadier Gencral A. J. Hamilton, Military Governor of Texas, by appotntment of the President. Governor Hamilton’s speeches in Now York and elsewhere, on the great contest now raging in this country, have given him a wide colebrity. in the North, and bis position as a fugitive Union man from a State which early went over to the Southern confederacy insured him a ready hearing. Governor Hamilton 16 ®bout forty-five yearsof age, nearly six feet high, and phyeicatly well built and_symmetrical. He is of dark complexion, with prominent and strongly marked fea- tures, and a nan whose appearance would. anywhere at- tract attention. He is a native of Alabama, but about Seventeen yearn since emigrated to Austin, Texas, whero he soon gained a wide popularity, and a high reputation fo the practice of the law. He was the most popular man among the people in that part of the State, and wns especially so with the. non-slavchold- ing class, who looked. upon him as their representative, He was elecied to the Thirty-sixth Congress on an inde- Pendent nomination, having denounced the attempt to revive the African radein the Congressional Con- vention of the democratic party, to which he wasa dele. gate. Tho candidate nominated by this regular oonven- tion was in favor of the revival of the slave trade, and Hamilton took the field against him om that issue. The Congressional district wasa vory large one, embracing more than a bundred and eight thousand square milos of territory and thirty-seven thousand voters, and was in the babit of giving @ democratic: majority of eight thou- sand, Such, however, was Hamilton’s persona) popularity that he beat. his opponent, and waa returned to Congrese ‘by the handeome majority of sixteen hundred. Near the close of his Congressional career Governoy ‘Hamilton made a strong and eloquent Unien speech. At the end of the session he roturned to Austin, and was elected a delegate te the State Convention, which dragged Texas out of the Union. In that Convention he was the champion of the Union caus, alld desounced jn ‘bold and fearless words the schemes .of the secessionists: He declared that as soon as he could learn bow to commit high treagon against the Southera confederacy he would commit it; that inne possible way or manner would he recognize any such govermment; that he wasa citizen of the United States, and was loyal to bis government first, last and always. And this defiant position he upheld to he last, in evil report and in good report, against all opposition. Taxes were levied upon his property by the Confederate government; but he would not recognize that pretended government so much ae to pay them and his property was sold. He was cited to appear Defore a Confederate court; Dut he refused—he knew no such court. Thus, of course, he wag placed in a position of deadly bostility with the agents and up- holders of the new and pretended government. But the Union sentiment of Austin was very strong, and @ powerful organization of Union men was formed for mo" tual defence and provection, Hamilton, as their recog- nized leader apd champion, was, an espectal mark for secession hatred, and it was determined to put him down atevery hazard. But he held his ground with the groat- est portiniacity, aud him friends stood by Rim manfally. More than once rebel office holders were warned that if Hamilton fell, by whatever meang his fall was accomplished, they would be held accountable, and would fall with him. ‘This state of things continued for awhole year, until a last a brigade of rebel soldiers was sent to Austin, with inetrnotions to crueh Hamilton and bis friends. Hamilton discovered that the houses of the most prominent Union men were under guard, and finally he was notided by a friend holding rank im tho rebel servico that aa order had been fesued for his arrest, and would be enforced in a fow hours. There was no alternative but flight, and that night be started on a fleet horse for the mountains. Ie rode three hundred miles on herseback, and escaped into Mexico, where he was befriended by the Mexican leaders, and safely reached the free States. He left behind him an jpteresting fav mily, consisting of a wife and five children. Since his departure he has received no intelligence from them, and is quite ignorant of their fate. Governor Hamiiton expects 80 far as this @xpedi- tion shall operate in Texas, it will result in a peaceful popular revolution rather than in any Drilltant military operations. He believes most confidently that we sball be welcomed, not with bloody hands to hospitable graves: but ne friends and doliverers. It is to be hoped, cer- tainly, that bis sanguine expectations will be realized. Governor Hamilton is accompanied by his staff, as follows:— Assistant AMjutant General—Captain J. K. Herbert. Aid-de-Camp—Major Wm. L. Burt, Private Seereary—Charles P, Shaw. Mr. Shaw will be remembered by the legal profession of New York in counestion with the Texas land fraud con- piracy, which involved the impeachment of Judge Wat, rous, United States District Judge of Toxas, and also the Ltle to Rrownsville and the site of Fort Brown, now very valuable. ‘We had on board algo two othor genorals—Major Gone- ral C. 0. Augur, revently promoted,and Brigadier Gene- ral C, Grover. General Augur led the advance upon Frede- rickabarg last spring, when that place was first taken possession of by our troops, and was severely wounded, General Grover served with distinction on the peninsula, ‘We had also Colonel Samuel B, Holabird, an officer of great experience, and Chief of the Quartermaster’s De. partment. Tho Colonel and Captain McClure are the only officers as yet connected with this department, although others aro expected. In addition ,to these, wo had on board twenty civilians connected with the department aa clerks and teamsters, PRRSONAL APPBARARCE OF GENRRAL WANKS AND 108 OFFICERS, Judging by outward appearances, one would say that the civilians quite outnumbered the military among the cabin Passengers. The Topographical engineers, under Captain Heory L, Abbot, chief, numbered thirteen, and were aly dressed in citizens’ clothes. Thin organization is very Jarge and is capable of doing an immense amount of work in the way of furnishing maps. If we may judge of the designs of the expedition by the strength of this corpay we shall come to the conclusion that we expect to acquire * Avery large tract of territory. Home of the military geatiemen on board, Including Genera) Augur, also dressed { eitizens’ dress, and Goneral Banks wore no other portion of bis uniform than his bat, during the greater part of the voyage, What with these, the civilians of the Quir. termaster’s Department, the Topograpical engineers and the representatives of iho press, the civil op peared to prevail over the military tn the main @abin- Bouton the decks tho military prevailed. And sf the Due coats and pantaloons of the Forty-firet Massachusetts ‘soldiers, and the brass guns on deck, had not been salt. cient to remind us constantly that our errand was one of war, the deficiency was supplied by the Duglers, whose “tattoo” and “taps” rang out upon the moonlit waters as regularly as though wo had been in the tented field. ‘TRE VORTY-PIRET MAGRACHUEETR REGINENT, ‘eight companies of which werd on board the North Star, fe a three fare regiment, and was principally raised in Boston. Colonel Chickering has been counected with the Maseachusetts militia for many years, The following te & list of the officers of the regiment: Colonel, Thomas. Ke Chickering, ‘Lieweoant Colone? Angel Ds Wausss Major, Lorenso'D, Sargent; adjutant, Heary S. Adums; Quartermaster, Oharles B. Stoddard; Surgeon, Albert If. Hianchard: First Assistant Surgeon, Daniel &. Allen: Second Ageiatant Surgeon, Danie) F. Leavitt; Chaplain, Henry F. Lane. mS: ny A.—Captain, Joho F, Vinal; 3 ggg) rvey; Second Liontenant , R. H. Captain, Kaward I. Noyes; | Firat Lieu. tenant, C. T, Batchelder; Second Lieutenant, Chas. Stove, W. A, Gove: Tet , pany F—Captain, G. Frank Stevens; First Leuten- "Company GacOntainy W. Tt Soan Lieuten- pany G. " Seama ant, D. P. ; Second Lieutenant, J. A. Comerford, H.—Camain, F.E. Boyd; First Lieutenant, ©. W. C Second Lio sdeo; yntenant, Jobu C. Gray, Jr. Coiaganies I and K—Were not ov board Lieutenant Colonel Wauss was formerly a captain in the ‘Twentioth Magsachusetts, General Dana’s brigade, and served through the peningular campaign. rave OFVICERS. Wo had on board the staffe of Gen, Banke, Gen. Augur and Gea. Grover. GENERAL AUGUR’S BTAFF. Gen. ©. ©. Augur is the second in command of the expe dition. His staff is as follows:-~ Major Geo. B. Halsted, Assistant Adjutant General, Capt. J. Hodge, Quartermaster. Capt. H. Woodruff, Commissary. Capt. W. Cutting, Aid-de-Camp. Capt. J. Benkard, Ald-de-Camp. Capt. G. 8. Shaw, Aid-de-Camp. Capt. M. Ritchie, Aid-de-Camp. Major John Rauch, Surgeon. GENERAL GROVER’S STAFP, Capt. Josoph Hibbard, Assistant Adjutant General, Capt. T. W. Perkins, Asistant Quartermoaster. Tick; Brown, sia de-camp Capt. T. B. Reed, Surgeon. Lieut. Col. Irwin, Assistant Adjutamt General to Gen- Banks, was formerly attached to the staff of Major Gen, Mel |. He is an officer of the regul Major Hara} Robinson, Volunteer Aid- Banks’ staff, has devoted much time and stu@y to the cavalry cervice, and was for some time attached to the French army. His life has been one of adventure, Bnd he hae taken a prominent part in two revolutions in South America, in one of which he commanded ariver fleet, Ho is well seer saps and on the ‘Textn borders; abd has'aVvely admiration for the akill of the Mexicans in horsemanship. He ways they are braye men, if they were properly officered and .disci- plined, and that on the Texas borders are the materials for the finest cayairy in tho world. A year ago he re, turned from Sonth Amoriea, and proposed to our govern. mont to revolutionize Southwestern Texas, alone, il the government would furnish certain material and menor. He now expects to raise a regiment of gayalry in that mction of country, and bis long study and groat experi enee jn this arm of the cervice, not less than bis tho- rough acquaintance with the habits and manners of the poople there, eminently &t him for a Driiliant leader in such an enterprise. Dr. D; L. Rogers, Medical Inapecter of the expedition, comes to put into practical operation a plan for the or” ganization of an ambulance corps, which was submitted to. the proper authorities in Washington, and approved by ther. Thé details of the plan have not yet been fully settled; but the general purpore of it ie to establish an independent corps, which will carry the wounded from the field, in battle, without the ‘assistance of the men in the ranks. Certain improve ments are also to be tried by which itis believed that ‘all cases requiring amputation ¢an be attended to en the first day, when the chances of recovery are much greater than on the second or third day. The Doctor also pro- poses to have his ambulance corps armed with Colt’s rifles and dritled for the defence of the ambulance train in case mi 4 ‘fan attack. But this proposition has not yet bcon aapatie ry Acedgeho The vanious sections are to commanded by a subordinate officer, and the whole are to be subject to the orders of the Superintendeut of the Ambulance Corps. - Among those connected with who came on the flagship is Mr. Charles 3- Bulkley, Military Telegraph Agent, and one of the oldest telegraphic operators in the United States. He puperintended the construction of the entire telegraph line from New Orleans to Washington, which he com. menced in 1947 and completed in 1849. The line is seventcen hundred and sixteen miles {nm extent, and Mr. Bulkley was general superintendent of it for four years after it was built, the expedition Tm Wharume. If auspleous skies and smooth seas are suguries of succean, then indeed can General Banks congratulate him- self that the omens are of the most favorable kind. From the time of our swinging out into the stream in Now York untilour arrival at Ship Island, the wenther, almost without exception, was clear and delight‘ul, and the sen almost as smooth as the North river. On Monday, the 8th, we began to feo! the unmistakable influ- ence of the warm cilmate—soft, balmy, de- licious breezes, The warmth increased, and on Friday, the 12th, the heat became almost casive. It wae diMonlt to realize that in all probabilRy our friends in New York were burrying along the strocts shivering with the cold. Notonly did wo discard our overcoats, but many threw off their vests, and others adopted the demo- cratic inethod of going in their shirt sleeves, OFFICERA OY TH SIP, ‘The North Star, as is well known, belongs to Commo: dore Vanderbilt's rogular Aspinwall line of steamers, The ollowing is a list of her officers: Commander—P. E. Lafevre. Chief officer—J. Borry. Secont Oficer—M. Mykes. Enginecre—Chiot, G. ©. Fowler; First Assistant, R, Carr; Second Assistant, J, Bogart; Third Assistant, R. Konnedy. Chief Steward-—J. MoHoury. Boatswain—J. Myers. ‘The North Star has four quartermasters and a crew of sixty, all told. Captain Lefovre for five years commanded the steamer Vanderbilt, and made the quickest trip to Enrepe on record—nine days and three hours. Mr. McHenry, tho chief steward, was with bim during the entire time that be commanded the Vanderbilt, INCIDENTS OF THE YOYACB. ‘The voyage, having boon as pleasant aa can be ima- ined, was not characterized by any remarkable or striking incidents, Everybody seemed to enjoy himeeif, ‘except those who were seasick, and the nea was fo smooth that this number was quite small. Nearly every one had a novel toread,and day after day ‘might have been seen’? plunging into the mysteries of some yellow Qovered production. There wero a number who, to escape boing miserable, read “Lee Misorablos”’ of Vietor Hugo, while ‘Orley Farm’ and the great Pickwick” claimed their sbare of attention. Wo had a brass band on board, which daily favored us with music. During the voyage a song was written by one of the parsongers and dedicated to Goneral Banks, and sung by a quartette of poldiers in tho cabin, ABRIVAL AT ORIP ISLAND. On Saturday, December 13, we came to anchor off Ship Island, about ten o’elock in the morning. Two or three of the transports belonging to our expedition had arrived ahead of us, and others followed closely bebind~us, and im a short time after our arrival tho water was filled with our fleet. Boats were lowered and several officers belonging to General Banks’ staff were despatched to the various transports with orders. General Banks went ashore, ac. companied by Genera! Augur, General Grover and several members of his staff, The party was absent about an hour, FMT MMHoTrWYcYY—_--ee 4 PS SE RE SS een ne a ema teunen HERALD. PRICE THREE CENTS Our verse! was visited by sevoral naval officers, whe brought us news of the completion of three rebel irom- clnds at Mobile, and tho extensive preparations t@ rum our blockade with vessels iadeu with cotton from that port. The scone at Ship Island was spirited end magnificent. 48 transport after transport came up, their decks were crowded with soldiora, who checred the flagship; and al! Gazed eagerly upon the long, low island, which stretched away, with its tropical looking trees, or to the northwagd- where the proses | of Missiesippi looked like a dark mtreak along tho horizen. Ab threo o'clock in the afternoon we started off on OUP Journey, closely followed by a number of transports. During the night we arrived OFF TUR xovrN oF THE MINEIUPPI, and got aground, We remainod stuck in the mud for about three hours, when we got the vessel afloat. At feven o’clock in the morning we crossed the bar. ‘The day was incomparably lovely, snd, the scenery of the Lower Mississippi being ontireiy new to a great ma- Jority of those on board, the cabins wero deserted and the decks and paddle boxes crowded with eager spec" tatora. ‘At ten o’clock in the morning the Chaplain of the Forty. first Massachusetts rogiment conducted divine service on the hurricane deck. Soon wo began to nee the sugar plantation#, the orange groves and the gloomy cypress trees inthe backgroun4. Some of these plantations bave been deserted by sheir owners and confecated by the government. Others have not beon deserted by their owners, but their owners have been deserted by their sinvos and thoy have thas been lef, without the,veccssary labor to gather the cane, ln such cases the government has undertaken the work, giving the planters a cortain ahare of the products, Om mest of the plantations a heavy colymn of smoke arieing from the sugar factories showed that Sunday was not regarded ‘by tho suger planters. Among the few whites whom we sow on shore wanone ‘who meant to Jeave us in no doubtas to his sentiments, but persistontly ant violently shook bis fist at us, mueB to the merriment of the soldiers. ARNIVAL AT NEW ORLEANS. At lenguh, long before sunset, the spires of the Creacous: City arose before us, and we auchored a little below the cy. Other transports came up two or three hours after- warda, and the river eoon bore an aspect of animation akin to the palmy days of New Urlwans, before her com" merce was destroyed by the rebellion. Theall but de- serted leveo, however, plainly showed that New Orleans Js not what she was in former daye. After arriving aud anchoring off the city, some of Gon. Tanks’ officers went ashore, and early in the evening the Genera! himself preceeded to the 81, Charles Hotel, as did also Governor Hamilton and staf. On Monday moruing, December 15, the North Star came up alongside the pier, and the baggage of the officers woe discharged. BATON ROUGE RETAKEN. Our Baton Rouge Correspondence. Bazon Roves, La., Dec. 17, 1862. ‘'Tho Banks oxpedition spout no idle days at New Or- Jeans. On ‘Tuesday, December 16, the next day but ono after General Banks arrived at New Orieans, he des- patcned Brigadier General C. Grover, with ® portion of the forces, to take possesion of Batoa Rouge, which city has been held by a rebel force since its evacuation by of General Butler. Tho strength or dispositious of the énomy in this city were not understood, tho intellt- gence ip regard to them gathered from coutrabanda belng indefinite and conflicting. General Grover ard staff took passage on the North Star, and the Forty-first Masaachu- setts regiment, which had not disembarked at New Or- lenns, also came on that vessol. GTARTING OF THE RIPEDITION. We loft New Orleans about balf-past ten o'clock im the forenoon , accompanied by a number of transports, joaded with troops, The expedition moved yory elowly during theday, @ sharp watch being direeted on the bauks of the river for guerilla parties, which, we heard, had of late become very bold,.and approached withiu afew miles of New Orleans. ‘We were accompanied by ibe sloop-of-war Richmond, which stcamed op ahead of vs. Early in the evening we agrived at Donaldsonville, 2 sthail town about seventy- five miles above New “Orleans. Tt isin our possession, and is occupied by the First regiment of Lovieiana Volun- teers. The soldiers honored our arrival by Drikiing three brilliant vonfires of snore, and by bringing ous their bracs bond, Which played several nirs to celebrate our coming. During the night at differont pointe we were joicd by the gunboats detailed for the expedition, aud our feet comprised the fellowing vessels:— Sloop-of-war Richmond, Captain Alden commanding. Captain Alden was the ranking naval officer and the Hick. mond was the flagship. Gunboat Essex, Captain Caldwell, Gunboat Winona, Liestecant Commanding Weaver. Gunboat Cathardin, Captain Rowe. Gunbont Cayuga, Captain Fairfax. Guaboat Albatrose, Captain Hart. On board the North Star divine service was held in the evening, by the chaplain of the Dorty-first Magsacha selts, in view of the provable battle of the next morning? in which the regiment was expected to take part. The oxercires were opened by the singing of the hymn, Am Ta soldier of the crons, A foliuwor of the lamb? And shall | fear to own bis ca::se, Or blush to speak bie name? The chaplain addrossod bimself to the soldiers a an impressive manner, exhorting them to stand ap to their work like men, and promising to do hie duty , wherever it might call him, ARRIVAL AT BATON ROUGE, Genoral Grover and ataif brevkfasted at half-past four this morning, and soon after proceeded on board the flag: sbjp Richmosd. As daylight dawned, the Asy!um, @ large white building, looming up before us, announced that we bad arrived at the capital of Louisiana. On shore we could ree some life and activity, aud afew re hel pickets were at first visible; but they ded in precipi tate haste, and thea we only saw a few negroe*, with epades on their cheultora We advanced cantiousty, the gunboats carefully cover. ing the transports and bugging the castera bank of the river, all, of course, manned for tm. mediate retion. The treops on the transports wero ali drawn up im line on the decks, with lonted muskete, We soon passed the Asylum and camo abreast of the State House, @ fine structure, om which we looked In vain for a rebel ensign, Indeed, no flag was to be seen tn the city, excopt the tri-colored flag of France, which the French Consul had raised in front of bis residence, A mounted oveer, witha chapeau and & cloak, rode aiong the bank, took @ look at us, and soop after disappeared. We steamed np opposite the United states Arsenal, and the Fanex , otill cloroly bugging the shore and covering the transport steamer United Staten, which was alongside laden with troops, opened fire. A number of shelle were thrown fn the dircetion of the okt Penitentiary buildings, whore the rebel soldiers had been quartered, and into the woeds beyond the city. It was subsequently arcertained that one or two of these ebells fel! #hort and exploded tw the city, frightening the peuple, but doing no damage, LANDING OF THE TROOPS. Failing to awaken any response by the shells of th® Fesox aud the Albatross (which Gred But onée), and the city bearing every appearance of having been desortet by the cnomy, it was detormined to land the troops from: the United States, which transport was alongside the Eenex. ‘The First MetropolMan regiment (One Hundred and ‘Thirty-Airet New York), under Colone) Turvbull, had the honor of first landing. They passed through the Maser ‘and formed a line of battle on shore, clone to the edge o! tho river, One company first moved up the hill to the deserted rebel earthworks, aud was speedily followed by other com” panies, until the whole regimeut gained the summit of the slope. The One Hundred and Thirty-firet was immedi ately followed by others, until all the troops bad disem varked. Pickete wore immediately entablished through the city, an@ strong guards thrown out on every sond leading to the town. ERK, PLAN TO ATTACK THB RESET, The Esvex, that ngly looking irop-clad, with sloping sides, is an object of especial hatred to rebels aod rebe sympathizers in thie quarter, For some time she hae Deen crulsing vp and down the river, and only iaet Sanday sho went up to Port Hodson, a strongly fortified position about twenty miles above here, and while crivising about phere a battory opened vpon her, send!ng one shot throveh