The principal naval recruiting in New York, at present, is for Commodore Porter’s mortar fleet. The two rendezvous are thronged with brawny sailors of all nations, but chiefly Americans. Applicants seems to be attracted, rather than repelled, by the prospect of hazardous service. Every kind of sea-going talent is wanted for this expedition, and a sailor can obtain the position of master’s mate, gunner’s mate, seamen or ordinary seamen, just according to his qualifications.
The recruiting is conducted with the more care and deliberation because of the delay to which the expedition is subjected by the non-arrival of the great mortars from Pittsburg. Less than half-a-dozen of them have yet been delivered; and the whole number wanted is about twenty-five. The mortars weigh 17,000 pounds each, independent of the bed plates, on which they will rest, and will throw shells of 220 pounds. They are made expressly for the expedition, and their production and delivery are necessarily a slow work. Besides one of these gigantic engines of death, each vessel will carry two enormous smooth-bore guns, for battering service, which will be supplied by government from its largo stores of that species of ordnance. The schooners and brigs composing the sailing part of the expedition, are now nearly fitted in shipyards about New York harbor.
Vermont Phoenix, Brattleboro, VT