The St. Louis Evening News notices the presence of a number of naval officers in that city. This and other circumstances, in its opinion, indicate an inland naval expedition on the Mississippi scarcely less inferior in magnitude, and certainly not less inferior in importance to the the successful expedition to Port Royal. The gunboats, seven in number, building at Carondelet and Mound City, are now nearly completed ; so are the twenty-eight mortar-floats being constructed at the Upper Ferry. All these are parts of the Mississippi navy, to be placed under command of Flag-Officer Foote. The gunboats are to carry fifteen guns each—five on each side, three at the bow and two at the stern. The side guns will be Columbiads, the others rifled guns. The mortar-boats are built of pine logs, three-ply thick, and will carry one or two mortars each, to be used for throwing shells only. The whole fleet will carry an armament of probably not less than 200 guns, and will be truly formidable.
Sunday Dispatch, New York, NY