A correspondent of the Chicago
Times says that an expedition for opening the navigation of the
Mississippi river is being organized on a gigantic rate
Columbus, Ky., being the rendezvous.
The expedition is to be under the command of
Major.
General McClernand, who is now at that point, giving his personal superintendence to the armament and equipment of the forces, and taking all the February stope to insure his success.
This corresponded states that the expedition will be ready to move by the 10th of December, and adds that the
corps d'armes of
McClernand ‘"will consist entirely of Western and Northwestern regiments.
It will embrace ten regiments from
Indiana, twelve regiments from
Illinois, for regiments from
Iowa, four regiments from
Wisconsin, two regiments from and some ten thousand troops, infantry cavalry, and artillery, from the army now in
Kentucky probably a portion of
Gen. G. W. Morgan's command, and a portion of the late command of
Gen. Granger.
The cavalry and artillery force will be ample for any and every emergency."’
In addition to this facts, the gunboat fleet under
Commodore Porter will co-operate with the exception.
The fleet of
Commodore Porter consists of the following vessels:
Benton, (flagship,)
Captain Gwinndel & guns;
Eastport,
Capt. Phelps, 13 guns; Carendelet
Captain Wallacs, 13 guns;
Cincinnati;
Capt Stemble 13 guns;
Cairo,
Capt,
Bryant, 13 guns,
Mound City,
Capt. Wilson, 13 guns;
Louisville,
Capt. Meade, 13 guns;
Baron DeKalb, (formerly
St. Louis,)
Capt. Winslow, 13 guns;
Essex,
Capt Horter, 7 guns,
Lexington,
Capt. Stark, 7 guns making a total of ten gunboats and one hundred and twenty one guns.
The first great obstacle for the expedition to overcome will be the formidable fortifications at
Vicksburg.
But when it is remembered that
Commodore Farragut, with his fleet of gunboats and mortar boats, is below these works, and can easily co-operate with the fleet from above, it will be seen what an overpowering force will be brought to bear for the reduction of the rebel stronghold at
Vicksburg.
The canal dug by order of
Gen. Butler, last summer will, be of no advantage to us in an attack. --Gentleman who have lately been with the transports carrying rebel prisoners to
Vicksburg, say that since the abandonment of the work by our troops the enemy have erected very formidable batteries there, commanding the debouche of the canal and had taken all the precautions of filling up the channel, so as to prevent the washing out of the canal when the river rises.
And even should the water rise sufficiently to wash out the channel, the guns of the enemy would still command the canal.
The attack upon
Vicksburg last summer failed for want of a co-operating land force on our part.
McClernand's expedition will obviate this want in the future, and when
Vicksburg is again attacked it will be taken by storm by
McClernand's troops.
The city captured, and the way is comparatively near to New Orleans.
