The Daily Dispatch: March 16, 1861., [Electronic resource]

The U. S. Fleet for the South.

‘ The Empire City is a hired steamer, of 1,751 tons burthen. She has taken out clearance papers for Indianola, Texas, and is to bring back the troops of the U. S. Division recently disorganized there.

’ The Star of the West is well known for her unsuccessful trip to Charleston and rapid retreat. Her clearance is for Brazos Santiago, Texas, and her duty is to bring back U. S. troops--a duty similar to that of the Star of the West. Her supply of stores, doubtless intended for provisioning the men during their passage to the North, consists of about two hundred barrels of meat (beef and pork,) three hundred barrels of bread, two hundred barrels of flour, several barrels of sugar, beans, whiskey, and such like stores, a few large bags of potatoes, supplies of coffee, tea, &c. Yesterday her tanks were filled with water, and fresh provisions for the cabin table shipped. In addition to the foregoing, several hundred feet of scantling and planks, for the purpose of erecting berths for the soldiers, were placed on the two upper decks. There was a small supply of coal on the lower deck and in the hold, but apparently not more than would have been required by the steamer for her own use during an ordinary passage from this city to Indianola and back. She is no better prepared now to stand a raking fire of cannon than at the time she received the unpleasant salute tendered her from the masked batteries of Morris' Island. She is a lighter vessel than the Empire City, being 1,172 tons burthen, and drawing twelve feet of water.

The Crusader is a screw propeller of the third class. She is rated as being of 549 tons burthen, and on the present trip has a full complement of one hundred and ten men(including officers.) Her armament has been increased to ten guns (nine thirty-two pounders and one brass twenty-four pounder) and ammunition to match. She has on board a full cargo, consisting of stores, powder and other ammunition, coal, &c., which was taken on at the Brooklyn Navy-Yard. She was expected to sail this morning for Charleston to bring away the soldiers from Fort Sumter, and the following is a list of the names of the officers: Lieutenant Commanding, T. A. M. Craven; Lieutenants, James M. Duncan, J. M. Breese and A. E. R. Benham; Master, R. R. Wallace; Surgeon, J. W. B. Greenhow. The Crusader —— formerly the Cromwell — arrived last month at this station from the West Indian waters, where she had, like the Mohawk and Wyandot, acted as one of the Cuban coast fleet, whose duty it is to intercept slavers. She was not put out of commission, but underwent some needed repairs of an unimportant nature.

The Mohawk is also a third class screw propeller. She is rated at 464 tons burthen, and is expected to have as full a complement of men as the Crusader — viz: one hundred and ten Her armament has also been increased, she now having eight guns--six thirty-two pounders, one twenty-four and one twelve. She has been nearly ready for sea for some few days, having on board the greater part of her cargo, consisting of stores, ammunition and meal, and only requiring a small supply of officers' provision and water. She was engaged yesterday taking on board the remaining portion of her coal; and the general bustle of getting ready for sea was to be observed, although actual orders had not been received. The following is a list of the officers for the present trip: Lieut. Commanding, J. H. Strong; Lieutenants, J. M. Arnold, C. C. Carpenter, C. Hatfield; Master, not yet on board; Surgeon, Delaven Bloodgood.

The Harriet Lane has recently been placed in perfect order for active service. Her original armament consisted of four twenty-five pound Dahlgren guns and one thirty-two pounder. Recently she received an addition to her powerful batteries in the shape of three long thirty-two pounders. The larger guns are placed in the ports about the paddle boxes; the twenty-four pounders are fixed aft. Her complement of small arms are very strong and of the best kind. It consists of Minnie rifled muskets, Sharpe's improved pistols, Colt's navy revolvers, navy boarding pistols and the improved navy cutlass. There is also on board a twelve pound boat howitzer, fitted for the launch. This piece of ordinance has a field carriage attached, so that the gun can be removed from the launch and instantly fitted on to the carriage, to be used for land service. The following is a list of her officers: John Faunce, Commander; D. B. Constable, First Lieutenant; D. D. Thompkins, Second Lieutenant; H. O. Porter, Second Lieutenant; Thomas M. Duncan, Third Lieutenant; J. M. Thatcher, Third Lieutenant; Horace Gamble, Third Lieutenant.

The Supply has been in commission for some few days past, and, having all her cargo on board, is expected to sail upon very short warning. It is not expected that Commander Walke will take charge of her during the intended trip.

The Coatzacoalcos has been chartered by the Government, and is now coaling. This vessel is rated as A2, 1,953 tons burthen, eight feet draught, has two decks; is built of oak, copper and iron fastened; has a walking beam of engine, with a stroke of twelve feet, and a seventy-inch cylinder; was built in Niagara City in 1854 for the lake trade, and was then known by the name of the America.--She was brought down the rapids of the St. Lawrence with the Canada, another vessel of the same line, and was then, after great alteration, fitted out for the Havana trade.

The Philadelphia has also been chartered by the Government, and will shortly be gotten ready for service.

The destination of the foregoing vessels is supposed to be Fort Sumter, but we should not be at all surprised to find that they are every one to be sent to the Gulf of Mexico for the purpose of reinforcing Fort Pickens and the other forts along the Florida coast.