The New York Herald Newspaper, December 10, 1863, Page 2

2 © blockade with vigilance and effect. It ts not known ebel that coast. So ned off Chariestom, in r, the illicit trade at that ne Success, and no vigitance | ent it, With a view of in- ‘ble, of capturing Charies- etfect ¢ piminu long as the bic y pre Av posi seat of insurrection aud of dis: union, prepar made by the department, com menciag more tha ar ago, for the occu, eduction of ad vesse harbor and the tion of the iron the ovorgy the tors, and suc ie were er eilicient vessels as cou be made rdered to the gq to add to ite Hiculties power und efficiency, Delays and 4 intervened, | and it as not until the 7th of April that | a domoostration Was made. On the = afternoon | of that day Rear Adu Dupont, in the companied by seven turreted | tue Monitor class and the gunboat Keokuk, proceeded up the harbor and made a vigorous assault upon Fort Sumior, From some difflenity or defect, the Admiral’s ship was unable to get into action, but the thers proceeded onward to the attack and st terrific concentrated fire from numerous bait ‘Owing t ubmerged obstructious, the which was derstood, It was not d ¥ to attempt a passage up to the city, and after a contest of less tha ) ours, the signal was given to with- | draw the [eet it comparatively slight injury was gustainod by the turreted ye avd oniy one life was lost im this remarkable contest. No hips over becore sustained such a concentrated re, aud the enduring qualities of this class of ves- gels were fully proved. It was sntended to haye renewed the attack ou’ the following day, but this intention was subsequently abandoned, and the vessels were withdrawn from the arbor, under the apprebeusion that they could not withstand the storms o; the season aud the fire of the rebel batteries, But important considerations rea- dered it proper that the forve should remain iuside the bar, and orders were sent to Kear Admiral Dapont to vhat affect, ‘The report of the superintending engineer as to the in juries which the turreted vessels had sustaiued was sat isfactory, und confirmed the government in its determi- nation to close ellectually and completely the port, so a3 to preveut the ingress or egress of a singte vessel, and als» to promote operations against the defences in the harbor. Rear Admiral Dupont haying expressed a y relinquish the position which he had eccupie: teen moaths, Rear Admiral Andrew H. Foote was to relieve hin, That brave add distinguishe pared with great alacrity and promptitude p when on bis way to his Command was seized with itlnesa and died in New York, His associate and second in command, Rear Admiral John A. Dabigren, proceeded immediately to vort Royal, aud on the 6th day wssumed command of the squadron. A combined oper: tion of naval aud army forces—the latter under General Gilimoro—was instituted for the occupation and posses. sion of Morris Isiand, ou the south side of tho entrauce to Charleston harbor. After a long and severe struggle, thear- my operating upon land with the efficient co-operation of the Monitora and the lronsides, Morris Island with all its battories was captured. Sumter was soon made a pile of ruius by tho ferce artillery of onr forces, although the rebels contrive to continue a small but powerless force thore under the protection of the surrounding butteries, In the slow operations of this protracted siege o/ over tive months, as well as in the demonstration of the 7th of April, both tho resisting and attacking power of the Moni tors has been illustrated and proven, Sinco the fleet under Admiral Dableren has remained inside the bar, and we have bad possession of Morris Island, the commerce of Charleston bas ceased. Not a single blockade runner has succeeded in reaching the city for montns, snd the trafic which had becu to some extent, aud with large profig, previously carried Ou is extingutebed. As a commercial mart Charleston has po existence, her wealth with her trade has departed. Ina military or strategic view the plac ja of little consequeoeo; and whether the rebels are 4 ingness to more or less is of no importance. Tho most marked and extraordinary conflict within the limits of this squadron, or indeed ia the service during | the year, and ia some respects one of the :ost signit- cant and instructive naval battles of the war, took oo the 17th of June, in Wassaw sound, between the Weehawken, a vessel of (he Monitor class, and the dable armored steamer Atlanta. Like the contest in Hampton fouds, in March, 1862, when the Monitor and the Merrimack were engaged, this battle was between ar mored vessels and ol great disparity in size, ont the result was vastly more speedy and decisive. ihe Atianta was a powerful steamer, bud been tron plated byt rebels and prepared for ‘war parposes at immense e: ange, lu the confidence of certain victory over her comparatively diminutive autagonists, the Weelawken and the Nahant, sie was accompanied by boats loaded with gay parties to witness ber triamph, but the brave ofticers and mea of our turreted vessels knew their power and sought the encounter. This battle was to toat not oly the vessels, but the new fifteen inch ord nance, then for the first timo brought into uavai wariare, and concerning which there bad been, aa well as with respect Lo thy vessels themselves, some variety of opin- iva, The conflict waz go brief and decisive that uly one of the two Monitor vessels, though not witely separated and cach eager for the sight, ‘was able to participate inthe engagement. The Nabaut, having no pilot, followed in the wake of the Weehawken but before she could get into action the contest was over Buch was tho brevity of the fight that the Weebawkeu, in about fifteen minutes, and with only flve shote from ber heavy guns, overpowered and captured her tormidavle antegouist before the Nahant, which was hastening to the work, codid discharge a singlo shot at the Atlauta, Th's remarkable yesuit Was &n additional testimony in favor of the Montior olnsg of veeseis for harbor defence and coast Service ngalus( aby naval yessele that have been or ure likely to be constructed to visit our shores. {t appears also w have extloguished whatever lirgering hopes the rebels might have ad of withstanding cur Daval power by naval me RASIRON OLLE SQUADRON Acting Rear Admiral Batley has continued in command of the Kastern Guif squadron, civeely blockading the blo rida peninsula from Cape Canaveral, on the east, to Pen- sacola, on the west. Ibere having been no impertant military movements within these Limits, a close waich of the coust nud of U9 adjacent waters has been maintained by the navy, resulting in the capture of many prizes, and the almost vative anuibilation of ail ilicit traile, Some important boat expeditions for cutting out vessels and destroying rebel sait works Lave been proectod and exe: cuted with success. Lying adacent to Cuba, aud pot far distant irom Nassau, the coast of Florida presented many availble poiuts for eluding tue diockade, chigily by stnall vessels, which were capable of penetras: ing the shallow herbors and inleta which indent ita shores. [ut tue trade bus not been cari hui craft | captured or de | jeat vessels | the army, with a view to r the Mississippt and expelling | employ many of Lis most service, co operating wi opening (be navigation ¢ hustale forces from ita bur Impressed with the great | importance of this work, and aware of the deter: | mination of the government to promptly and } tirmly roeatebish tho nations! authority. in that quarter, 30 tha the ocean wntiet of tho great central valley of the Union # restriet- od aod wecire, Rear \imiral Farragut the sab- | ject of the coast biockade to others mand, and devoted itis usremittiag persoual o the aner. getic avd vigorous prosecution of tt yest of the rabels, to overcoming and reduciog ther batteries, and to removing every obstacle with which they sought to oppose the navigation of the river, or tw ort 98 of tho Vaio. Soon aiter the 6 ¢ apring Of 1982, and as the natural result of that ) nt, the daval forces formed a junction; aud could the army @t (hat timo bave furnished an sdequaie co operate | tore of New Orleans, } military forces wore contred | with the intention of molesting navi: mational ascendency iu the great contral valley of the Union Rear Adiniral Porter, whose activity, euergy rand rea- diness of resources emimently fitted bim for that com mand, bas extiblied extraordiary vigor in various bayal axpeditions on the Mississippi and ils tributaries, apd iu rgalous co-operation with the army Ww most of its impur- tant operations. The capture of Ariavaas Voat,on the White river, in Jaauary, the destruction of the baitertes at Grand Gull in May, and in co-operation with tuo army the reduction of Vicksburg, which fuatly surreadered on the 4th of | Joly, aro tho most prominent of the remaricable achieve: ments of this squadron, some of which aro marked by incidents of singular and romantic daring, In appendix to this report will be found cor- records of the extraordinary adventures attend- the efforts to get controlof the Yazoo by sweeping from its channel the network of torpedoes, explosive ma- chines and contrivances for submarine warfare, noar ite couilueace with the Mississippi. These ailorts were fol lowed by tho novel aod siugular ‘Yazoo Pass Expedi- tion,” and the expedition of “Steel’s bayou and Deer creek.’’ Ou the right bank of the Mississ»ppi scenes of inte est were aiso cuacted by the hardy sailors and boat- men on the rivers of Arkangas and Northern Louisiana. ‘Ihe Combertand aod the Tennessee have beon actively patrotied by oue vigilant and skuful naval officers, aud the exeittog chase of Morgan by our steamers on the Ohio, over a distance of five hundred miles, intercopting him’ and his band when attempting” to escape, naturally attracted the attentioa of the country, But the great and important exploits of this’ aquad ron werd in the viciaity of Vicksburg, where the main strength of the naval as well as of tho ‘the magnitude of the de fences Of this place, which were intended to repulse apy foree, naval or military, or both combined, which could be brought against them, made tho siege formidable, aud seemed for a time to defy all attempts at their reduction. In overcoming them, thé ynecessarily performed a conspi- cuous and essential part. For forty two days, without intermission, the mortar boats were throwing shells into ail parts of the city, aud even into the works beyond it. Heavy guns, mounted on scows commanded tho important water batteries, and for fourteen days maintained an in- cessaut dro upod them. Thirteen heavy guns were ianded from the vessels, and officers and men (whero they could be spared) were Seat to man them. The gunboats below the city, in co-operation with the army, were continually engaged in shelling the piace. During the siege sixteen thouswnd shells were thrown from the mortars, guaboats, and aval batteries upon the city aud its defences betore they capituiated. ‘Yhe creation and organization of this large squadron, which has done such eilective service oa the Upper Mis- sissippi and its tributaries, extending over a distance of more (han three thousand miies, may be justly considered among the most wonderful events of the times. It is but little over two years since we had not a naval veasol on all these waters, where we now have asquadroa of one hundred vessels, carrying 462 uns, with crows amount. ing in tne aggregate to about 5,500 men, Kentucky, Ton- neasee, and Arkansas, the upper portions of Mississippi and Louisiana, and ‘the southern portions of those States which border on the Ohio river on the uorth, bavo been relieved and liberated through the instrumen tality of the guuboate acting by thomeelves, or in earnest and cordial cv operation with the armies. Roar Admival Porter bas well sustained the renown which the gallant and lamented Foote so notmy earned, and bas carried for- ward to successful results @ larger and moro powerful forco than was ever at tho disposal of that heroic officer fo creating and organizing this squadron, and arming aud apning the vessels, it must not be forgotten that the service labored under mavy and great disadvantages, for the government bad no navy yard or estanlishment of its own on which the departmeut coutd depend. In tho absence of any government yards, shops, storehouses and other necessary facilities and aids for a naval establish ment, and also of mechanics and workmen, it became necessary to collect and send out and receive supplies from some central and secure position. ‘This work has been performed chiefly at Cairo, under the superintend- ence and management of officers who have devoted them- selves to their ieas conspicuous but not less indispensable work with an assiduity and labor uot surpassed even by their more active aasociates who were facing the euemy. POTOMAC FLOTILLA Allured by bigh prices and tue prospect of gain, mer conary adventurers a3 well as rebels and rebel sympa- thizers have continued to carry ou, to somo extoat, illicit and contraband traific betweeo Marylamd and Virginus, dering it necessary to maintain a considerable force on the Potomac. ‘The flotilla, under command of Commo- dore Harwood, bas kept # close watch and guard to in- tercept and prevent, as far ag possible, communication with the rebela, and many captures have been made; but the punishment inflicted on’ those who attempt to deal w.th traitors and furvish them supplies has been so light At these potty contrabandists as well as the more open blockade rusners have carried on their employment with some degree of impunity. [0 oae or two instances armed bodies of men have appeared on the Virginia shore, as it tion, but they have abruptly fled on the approach of a gunooat? To guard against possible contingencies at the time ot the invasion ot Maryland aud Peovsylvauia, which torminated in the battie of Gettysburg, vessels were stationed at what wore deemed available poluts along the upper waters of the Chesapeake to co-operate with the military authoritios. A gunboat was seut up tbe Susquetapna to Havre de Grace, another up the Guopowdor, a third up the Back water, while one was also posted ‘at Auaapolis, and aD- other at Wilmington. PACTHIC: SQUADRON. The force iu tho Pacific remains the samo a3 at tho date of my last annual report, with the addition of the Sagi naw and tne Faraliones, atoreship, at Acapulco. Acting Rear Admiral Charles H. Bell continues in com- mand of the sqoadron, snd bas attended to intorests in that quarter. The vigilance of this officer ‘thos. 0. Selfridge, commandant of tho Navy Island, with the active co operation of the custom house and revenue autborities on our weateru coast. haa inter- copted and supprossed all attempts to fit out rebot pirati- cal cruisers on the Pacific. ‘The schooner J, ©. Chapman was doetocted in tho har. bor of Sin Franc’ in the month of May iast, aud seized by the Sloop-of war Cyano, with mea, armament, and military supplies on board, evidently intended Ww prey upon our commerce. Somo indications of a achome to fit out « rebol cruiser having beea communicated by our Consul at Victoria, Admiral Bell despatched the Saginaw to Washiug- ton Jerritory to ascertain t ots, and, if uecessary, to take prompt measures in regard to them. Although it was ascertained that some proceedings had taken placo sufficient to give rige to reports of a design to fitout a piratical craftunder the rebel tag from British wavers, there were bo substantial grounds to appretend that such Aascheme could be carried into effect, especially in view of the frieadly disposition aad earnest resolve of tho co lonial authorities to discoumteaaoce avd preveat such illegal procoedings. The Sagiaaw, therefore, returned to san Francisco from a sacistactory ‘misa.on to the north- west coaat. The vesse a of thia squadron have during tho year visited the priucipal ports ou the Pacific coast, aud by their presence strengitioned oar diplomatic and com. | salar representatives, aud imparted a fvaling of security to American citizens and American jutecests wherever | they have appeared VRSRHLS IN THE RAST INDIFS. Io tho Fast Todia and Chiva seas the Jamestown and the Wyoming have guarded American interests during the past year, and, with the excoption of a disturbance which it is to be regretted occurred at Japan, ali has re- muived qiiet ia that region. ia the monty of July, whtle the Wyoming was at Vocoharna, toformation wag receiy- ed that the American steamer ’ombroke had been tired upoo by Japanese vessels. Commandos McVougal imme diately proceeded ty the locality of the outrage, where he was dred apon (rom six land vattories, and a maya force, consisting of a steamer, a bark anda brig. An action of one hour .olowed, in which it is stated that tae steamer ©. the enemy was blown up, the bark sunk and the brig made a complete wreck fa fer upper works, while coa- siderable damage was doug to the laud batteries. Tho Wyoming withdrew after thus vindicating the honor of the American Hag, baving sustained a loss of cleven kilied aud wounded THR NAVAL FORCE T bave mentioned in former reports that the naval force at the commencement of this admiuistration coa- sisted of severty six vessels, and of these only forty-two 4 force, the reduction of Vicksburg we | * Stee eouberptoned aod the ceonpat ma aed sont | were in commissioa, The additions which bave since toa of the river easily se | Bat tbe emission | Deen made have clovated the country into a first class to do thid gave the” rebes opportunity to im. | Raval power. In the following table au exhibit is pro. menaaly strengibeu Vicksburg, und also to fortity Port | Feuted of the actual aumber and description of our naval Mudson ang rand Gult in addition. | What, therefore, | veesels at the date of my last report, aud at tho preseat ight have’ been accomplished with comparatively | tune: a ra ee ae re OE TE rey ite | COMPARATIVE RXHUNT OF THB NAVY, DaCKEMER, 1962 4xn 1963. Almoat wereditie labor wnd dt im 1863. It was in- | No. of No. of dispensable that cummanicatic > opened with | Vessels. Guns. Tonnage. Roee Admiral Porter, oi the Mi squadron, aed vy at date of present report. 68% 4,443 467,967 oth of whom were operating against vy at date of last report 437 3 340,036 g. Roar Admiral Farragut, there! 01 u — — Ma eteoat force trom Hatem Rouse’ in March. wisndivy | Wcreaso,exciusiveotthoselas 161 LATS 127,031 to pasa the batteries at Yort Hudsou, but oniy Viste OF THE NAVY LOST SINO® DEORMIKR, 1902 flagship, the Hartford, aud were No of — No. of n tal, With these ho siiccoad roaching V | In Whar Manner Lost, Vesels. Qvne onnage. and ia commun esting with Rear Admiral Porter « » | Captured... ope A 48 bet peninsula. This galinut act of Rear Admiral F | Destroyed to preveu all }? = f being efwcted, the navy bad command of ike ing tato haads of rebels ‘ twoen Vicksburg and Port Hudsen, and was enabled to ic in battle or by torpedoes 4 ns 2201 ortabliah a bt od river. and thus intercept the ipw'k fire aad collision, 1 ot 4804 auppliog from for the rebel armies, The = na wd Tasargonte most eerions and Tota! . 166, 15/085 fatal bows the year, and from | VRSKIS TRUCTION SINGER DRORMHRR, 1863. the offects of it they Lave never recovered. I | Tons Na. of No. of ‘tom plished. the Admira) ieft bis flag ebip, the |, Description cach. Vessels. Guns. nage. and roturaing b way of the Atchafalaya, lie re. | Doable eud iron steamers....1,030 7 84 7,210 sumed Operations for a tinal oeevulton Port Hudson. To | Single turret iron olads 614 20 @ 12,230 meet the requirements of th sion aforce was kept | Double turret iron-clads,.....3,130 4 16 12,520 always re the an smove. | Clipper screw stoops, 22000 «12 98 24,400 ments. an bavy & continaens she. | Screw siops, spar dock 2200 8 = «160 1T,600 ing of vom Tortar Vowls, vessels, and a | Sorew sloops of great speed..3.200 6 49 16,000 naval shore, mannet by veut wis | Screw sloope of groatspeod..3,009 2 16 6,000 maintained, & ng the army. Nearly turee usaud _ — thirteen inch shells were thrown into the works by the | Total 63 «452 «(98,010 mortar vous and the naval battery fF HINe hoo | GENERAL BEART OF THE NAVY WHEN THE VRRIG UNUER COW 608, used as a breaching ¥. performed good ver. | SERCUEION AK® COMPLETED. | Vico.” In consequence of the capture of Vicksb ire, on ty vo. of No. of din of July, tbe recuetion of Part Hadgon became inevita. Fesels. Guns. Tonnage. vie, aad son finally surrendered, on of | 1ro0-clait steamers, coast servion, 46 199 62 O18 july. to General Nauks, who for some weeks bad besicgod | Iton clad steamers, inlandaervice 29 1o2 20,784 the pl ride whoel steamers.....6 +205 1840 126,517 The river being now opened to peaceful comme Serow steamers . 198 «1578187 892 pursuits, Rear Admiral Farragut turned over to Sailing vessels 1a Bas 10,266 Admiral Porter t mir t { the Weet om — Above New Orleans, and depart ° Total a 5884443 487,967 Hoorming Unat be | There have been added tw the wavy during the past f moat lis wutit! ld. | Year, by purchase, some thirty tugs, over fifty steamers eration, the doparta 1 t i he | for bleckating aod supply pur s, and over twenty accepted, a v cor in } other vess ve Lon ters aud storesbips. At least twouty Fak, was apy 1 to command t yuad is | OF the steamers wore captured in endeavoring to violate abaeuce | the blockade. The blockade of t t cient IMPROVEMENIG IN NAVAL ViRweens, aad succe hovg Upon the ytion that the United States aro Tass 0 ed id to occupy ® leading position among maritime on foreign wh 1 y ner «© tions, a primary object with tho government neutral “ 4 Vising nevtra ’ must be the aiuteoance of @ aval force the Ifo Grand UY trad © | adequate for noe against all foreign aggres. ole th brs kK t 8 Tho thorough tra mation which has takea wonundary W ¢ \ " ace ja the character of naval warfare is the result of @ fo the waviga change not leas complete in the charactor aud structure moro t as av ised echetues w t 1 consequences t tot " 5 and tho o t ¥ ind pot & Bal torm t comnmerca Of Matamoros, wl ant mi spew The M juadron nnclively on Rucensstu: oF The aailing ships-of-war, whoxs con \ bad bee brought almost to perfection, were sipereetod frst by paddie wheel steamers, and they in place to voasala propelled by submerged ew . however, aro liable to disaster im bat Uo from which sailing vessols A singlo clanoe shot may totaly disable the most powerfi Steamer, sod this exposure, reudering vessels of Qo8Hfe and dangerms, tay led to precautions and Aafoguards for ther protectim in the form @ iroa armature, by hoa first cles ot war made javuinsrabie W the ord vmod ja naval warfare, Hut this now tevenoo | Bas developed with it @ correspon toe the form and force of attack, and thus the proper navai armament of the present day, conawting of ordnance of @ calibre, roach and power heretofore rogarded as impos- Bible, bas become as novel And Experimental aa tho vow haval structures and dofeaces which it ts intended to as sail. Those successive changes, Introducing into aaval war yossols powerful machinery to inaure speed, arma- ture for its protection, aud beavy orduanco for assault, have ted to a necessary constant increase in the size of our abips, until the attaiumont of sufficient dimensions fora drat rate man-of-war steamor, properly armored, and with suitable armament aud room for supplies, re- quires proportions which at first view seem enormous. Yet without such greatly augmented sizo, the essentials of invulnerability, speed, heavy armament and space (or (the necessary supplies of Cruising Operations, canal all be secured. In the responsible task of applying to naval vyoasels and naval armameut the principles which modern invention and improvement have devel the department has been compelled to pursue a path hithorto, to a grout ox tent, unexplored. The Movitor class of armored shipa, with revolving turrets and few guns of heavy calibra, has proved itself to be well adapted for harbor defence and coast service, and in some gmergencies these vosseis, from their great powers of eadfirance, have shown them- solves to be efficient and serviceable in offensive opera tions. This form and description of veasei, which originated tn the inventive genius of Captain Joho Ericsson, will perform not oaly all that should be expected of them to make our harbors secure, but, whea of enlarged capacity, may supersede ships of higher pretensions, To maintain our rightful marttime position, and for predominance upon the ocoan, vessels of greater size than avy turreted vease! yet completed may be essential. Not only must they carry gung of a heavier callbre than have heretofore been used at sea, but in order to make long cruises and to cope successfully with any force, these vessels must have all possible strength, endurauce aod speed, Their structure must, therefore, afford space enough for full sailing power, and for the most poworful steam machinery, and tho large supplies of fuel needful to keep it at work. Botng, unlike the other great maritime nations, without distant colonies, where coal depots can be established on the shore of almost overy sea, we must conform to the necessities of our condition, and build ships with capaity enough to take ou board fuel suflicient tor a long cruise. The space for other supplies, for munitions of war, and for the accom modation of officers aud crews, should also be ample, and, in addition to this, each of these vessels must, in order to accomplish its work, preasnt in its construction, armor, armament and propulsion, all the power that the re- sources of modern invention and mechanical science and artcan furnish for attack, resistance and pursuit. A vessel of this description must, of course, cost a large prico. But thea a wise statesmanship will not fail to perceive that the possession of even a very few such unconquerable ships must, while vastly aug menting the torco aud renown of our navy, af. ford us, at the samo time, an inestimable guarautes of peace with foreign nations; nor, in counting the cost of such floating structures, can we forget that, large ag that coat may be, it yet stuks into insignificance in coutrast with the expenditures aud sacrifices of a single year, or even a month of foreign war. Io order that we may have at our command a navy which snail fulfll these unexampiod and exacting condi- tions of efficiency, a commensurate public ostablishmout: for its construction and preparation is indispensable. A avy yard on @ large scale, and, in many respects, of a new plaa, ampiy furnished with’ all the proper facilities and aids for its operations, where machinery for steamers can be manufactured, iron’ veasela constructed, iron ar- mature made and tested, aod repairs of every description executed, 13 an absolute necessity. [on view of these facts, I had the honor, on successive occasions, to urge this matter upon the attention of tho last Congress; and the omission of that boy to take even the prelimioary measures towards the pro. curement and formation of such an establishment is a misfortune which the country is now made to feel. ‘The nature of the service to which our naval veasols have been subjected by long and continuous blockade, their exposure during all weathers and seasons, the ne- cessity of keoping thom under constant steam or their tires banked ready for any emergency, have put them to severe tests Of course atl vessels must at times be withdrawn for repair and roiitment, and steamers subject to such bard usage must often be serious ly damaged. Woeks and sometimes months have been required for the revovation or restoration of their engines and machinery. Such delay bas been stil! further protracted by the inability of our public yards and shops to execute the work, and tne department, do- pending in agreat degree on private industry, has bean io a constant strugglo to despatch tho steamers sont in for repairs. The limite facilities for mavufacturing and repairing steam machinery at the pubiic navy yards render them totally ioatequate to most a moiety of the demands made upon them — Evea with the aid of private establishments, no iweunsiderable portion of our naval force is waiting, unemployed, and detained from active service, to the ftnjury of the country. As an io- stance of the delay attendivg the repair of our ships aad the iasulciency of our public works to meet our wants, it may he mentioned that the steam frigate Niagara, Ordered to ioston for re pair and tefitment, was detained fourteen months for its compiotion. [ again, therefore, most carnestly invoke the attention of Congress to the manifest and inauspicious fact that our government his made no suiliciant provision in its public establisu:nents for tho oxisting requiremeuts of naval warfare, So loug as our ships-of war were to be built of wood and propelled by sails, our favilitics for thelr coastruction were ample and compiete. At former periods, the government, iu view of its then present and prospective wants for naval purposes, incurred large ex- pense io establiehing Seok yards and otherwise providing for the service, but new defences and armament, veasels of iron, vew motive power aud different matertal tu their stroctare, require new dockyards and workshops; tho totroduction of steam, the submerged propeller, the iron vessel, the armored ship, call for a differeut description of artisans, as ‘well as dit- erent) materials aud workmanship. Our country is botter prepared for this change than almost any other maritime vation, for we have but fow sailing ves sols of the large clags, and these fow to which steam can- not ba applied may be used to advant tor other than fighting purposes, One of them—the Vermont—has been fitted and used ax a storeship, and the New Hampshire, iormerly the Alabama, a ship-of-the line, is being pre- jared for a similar purpose. They are each availabie and usetul for this object, and ad: to it in every respect, and can be made yoy doience against attack, But for cruising and the objects heid in view in their con ction, these maxnificeat specimens of the old naval architecture and of the skill of our mechanics, altbough in their day they elevated the naval diznity and attested the power of the republic. have wow become comparatively useless, ‘Ye atrength and durabitity of wooden vessels are in ome respects taferior to those male of irou, aad conse- quently they are lesa capable of sustaiwing the heaviest armament, aod when they are piated witn {roo the dis. parity is tnoreaged, Consequently large ships of-war, by which maritime supremacy 13 t9 v0 achieved and main- tated, will, im all probability, be ullimutely constructed chiefly of iron, The comparatiy ivantages and disad- vantages of irom aod wood 46 the material to be used in the constriction Of vessels are obvivus and practic: Among the considerations in ‘avor of ironclad vessels with bulls of wood are the rapidity with which they cam be bailt, the abundance of maternal oa our whole coast, and the facility with which workmen be cured. Such vessels, more r, cao ed, and thereby retain their sper for a longer period They will bo less atfectod by a ar id abot below the arma- ture or plating, and the frastor made vy the shot can be more easily mended. ‘The disadvantages of wooden ves sels aro want of strength, a8 compared with those of iron structure, and the more rapid decay of the material, par rly When covered with iron plating the action of the immersed iron armor oa the copper sheathing near it, causing tho copper to become foul and the immersed ar mor plates to waste: the dillculty of keeping the vessels tight under the armor piates,aod the probably greater damage to which they are exposed from shells. On the other hand, the greater strength of irom permits the construction of ships of greater aizo and finer lives; and having greater internal capacity, they can be at any time taspected ja all thew parts, are safe from fire, and are better ected irom great leaks, as they ¢an bavo watertight compartments, their ropairs cau gonerally be more eastly made, and, (rom their great durability, they are probably in the end not more costly. An irou vessel, moreover, cao be taken from the water aad placed on land for preservation, which caunot ye doae with wooden vosecls. The disadvantages of tron vessels are the serious loca! weakness of the tia plates composing the bottom of ou {roa ship; the danger that would rosult from getting on rocks of submerged ob- structiona; their liability to rapidiy become foul in salt wator, whereby theit speed becomes groatiy impair thas requirtog to be frequently docked for cleaning: tae grout from & shot striking below tue armor ptating ag they roll, the iajury cissed by the sphuter of iron when the yas are brokea or smashed by shot; the corrosion inside from diigo water; tho dtMeulty in makiag temporary repairs of sot Loles, aad the limited number of artisans yet to be procured having skill in this doseription of employment {t should also be borne ia miod that, while we have sevoral navy yards for build. ing wooden vessels, the government possesses not a sin- le yard avd establishment for coustrncting those of iron, not even for making plates aa) shaftiag While the principal atteation of the department has, io thia crisis of uc affairs, been neces. sarily given t present and more pressing neces. sities, it bas, oevertheos, kept ia view the important end Of establisuiag vus oaval power ona permanent basis. Proposals were issued for a iron clea ship of the largest claas (under the authority contained im the yation bills), but the cost, as shown by the propositions received for a ship of the necessary magnitude, was so great that \( was deemed advisable to enter iato 00 contract involving so large an expoaditure, oxcept by the express sanction of Congress. In order, however, that justice should, ju some degree, ve done to the naval branch of the public service, and that it might be able to austain its rightrul position upoa the ocean ia the event of a foreign war, the parties com. peting for the large steamers were invited to make pro. posals for one Of about half the proposed tonnage, One offer made under this invitation, at the most reasonable that could be obtainod, which it was deemed tho interest of the government yot to exceed, was, wih some modifications, accepted There are no parties in this country fully prepared to build iron vessels of the magnitude and description proposed, and tho present high prices of material and Ia. bor unavoidably enbance the oost. The government it- self is unprepared to execute any such work, having no suitable yard and establishment, and is consequently wholly in the hands of private parties, to demand what they think proper, and prescribe their own terms, On former and repestod cocasions, and eleowhere in thia re port, the department lias fully expressed its opiaion of this policy and the necessity why the government ahould be propared to build irom vessels, aud the necessary ma chinory, of the largest class. Bosides tho turroted yoasoia for coast defence and larg armored ships for uaval couttict, we need and ahould have steamers of high speed constructed of wood, with which 0 swoop the oovan, aod chase and hunt down the vessels of an cuginy. Fortunately§ we are able to supply Ourselves with vesaois of this doscripion, and @ competent and healthfu! competition exists for thotr construction. A large portion of the establishments Adapted to the construction of aaatical engines have beoa cultstad by the departmest in the manafacture of ste maoninery for voasola uliding at tho navy yards and at private establiahnents NAVY YARD AND RSTACLIWIMENT FoR MACHINERY Tn consequence of the omiamion of Congres to take any ncton on the subject of ontargiog the present circum serited Navy Yard at Phivadoipnis, of 0 sigaiy ite ac eaptance oF Fayseton OF baaeus Island wntored Wo iho TRON VERA AND N&UW YORK HBRALD, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1863.—TRIPLE SHEET. goverpment for aval purposes by the city of Philadelphia, or im conformity with my sugges. tous to initiate means for ostabiishing a sultable yard, workshops and docks for an irou navy and the machinery and armature which modora improyementa render uc- cessary , 80 progress has been possible during the year oa that Important subject. The government is destitute of 4 suitable ostablishmont for tho coustruction or repair of iroa vessels, their machinery or armature, nor bag it auy place (or preserving them when laid up in ordinary. Some proper and suitable accommodations for vessels of this description are necessary where there is fresh water, aud, a3 stated in my communica tions to the last Coa- gress, it baa appeared to me that no place combines so many advantages as are to be found on tho Deiaware, in tho viemity of Philadelphia. A commission of uaval and scientific gentiomen was appointed under the au- thority of Congress to examine League Ialand, and also © “make @ survey and examination @ the harbors of New London, Connecticut, and ita surround- ings, with reference to its capacity and fliness for a naval depet and navy yard, anc¢ whether the public toterest will aot be promoted by establishing a naval dopot aod navy yard in or near harbor of New London instead of League Island, and that may also mako the tnvestiga- tion in regard to’ the waters of Narr: Bay.” majority of this board recommended tho ostablishment of au additional navy yardat New London. On that sub- ject it ig unnecossary that the department should express an opinion. It is a question for Congress, which insti- tuted the inquiry, to decide whether av additional navy yard on the old plan ts wanted at New Jondon and should it be in tho attirmative it will be the duty of this Gapernegeny to carry that decision, when made, iuto effect. But aside from and fudependent of the question of an ditional vavy yard, is that of moreexteuded accommo- dations and more ample facilities on the Delaware than wo now have iv the narrow and wholly insuflicient limits of the Navy Yard at Philadelphia. Those limits, as stated by the chief of the Bureau of Yurde and Docks in his able and practical report, can be enlarged to about double the present area by purchase at an expense of about $300,000; but with that addition the yard would stili be wholly inadejuate to the public necessities, and too small for such an extensive establishmont as the wants of the government require, It would undoubt edly be the part. of wisdom and true economy to procure ground with ample water front for such aa establishment as the increasing public wants demand, in the vicinity of Philadelphia, and 30 soon as it can be made available to dispose of the present grounds and apply tho proceeds towards improving the uew location. ‘The hief of the Bureau of Yards aad}Docks, whose ex- perience and judgment entitle his opinions to considera. tion, suggests another locality than League Island, at Marcus Hook, a few miles below Philadelphia, on the right bank of the Delaware, which he supposes may, perbaps, be procured at a reasonable rate. From the ex- amivation which | have been enabled to give this subject, 1am not prepared to say that the advantages are, to my mind, auch as to counterbalance those attainable at League Jstand, which has been tendered to the government for its acceptance, nor 1s there assurance that land near Marcus: Hook can be procured at any price. Either place, how evor, might, [ apprehend, be satisfactory, and, as 1 have already stated to Congres;, there is no doubt that for the purposes of a pavy yard, aud establishment for au tron navy and its wants, tbe banks of the Delaware preseut advantages that are not to gbe found elsewhere in the United States. Prompt and Vidicious action by the legis Jative braoch of the government upon this subject is, 10 my judgment, urgently veoded, and will, when it shall have been had. be carried into effect by this departmeat with all possible activity. NAVAL DEPOT ON THE Mi8st99irrt 1 deem it proper to agaia allude to the expediency of establishing at no distant day a naval depot, yard aod foundry at some accessible and suitable point on one of the rivers in the valley of the Mississippi ‘Yo gelection of au appropriate location for this purpose, where vessels can be constructed and repaired, is a ques tou of national Importavce. The United States have at this time one hugdred pava! vessels on (be Mississippi apd its tributaries. [ron aud coal, a3 well as wood, wih all the materials {gr ships-o! war, aro abundant, and may be found contiguols to eligible situations Steamors of iroo will eadure for years ia fresh water, and the naval vessels which the government mai on those rivers will be preserved. Should the pro’ water communication connecting the Northera lakes with (ho great iuterior rivers by au oniarged ship canal be carried into ollect, tho Mississippi squadson could be made available for the defence of our Northern frontier whoa circumstances required tt. KDUCATION OF BNGINGRUS, E10. Yo attain and maintain our true’ position as a uayal power, the best talent in the country must be found ‘noug the officers who are to conduct the varied opera tong Of the service, and adequate provision to secure such ability and accomplishment sbould command the xt tention of those who ha: of our oavat affairs. Gur naval school ts produc: 8 of siktil, well edu- cated for their profession, you i our stups and steam machiaery are not at the highest attsinabie point of pee- fection, and the engineers ure not skilful, the education and accomplishment of our officers will be unavailing to give periority we should obtaiu. By the iutroduction of steam into naval operations, a new corps 13 engrafted into the naval service, of men con bimimg science with mechanical skill and genius, whose professional attaiumeuts and practical power demand the fosterivg care of the government, Our naval enginesra, like those of the army, sh uid be thoroughly educated to their profession, for on them the motive powor of our vessels and the elliciency (our steam machinery must hereafter depend. ten engineering should indeed be one of the important studies of all naval officers and should be taught at the Naval Academy. it would ‘be well to encourage such young ten as exhibit apiness for mechanical studies to Cultivate their peculiar talents, whether a vaval constructors or engineers, in that do partmeut iu which they can render the highest public service, Other goveruments Pusiue this course, aud we shall od our advantage to giving similar encouragement to the young mun of our own country. It if @ question, indeed, as sails are subordinate to steam, whether every olticer of the line ougat not to be educated to and capable of performing the duties which devoive upon engineers ‘The means of acquiring practi- cal as well a8 theorotical knowledge of the subject should be furnished by tho government, and it would be well if every midshipaaa were to receive instruction tn this now important branch of his profession. If the public ts not yet prepared to combine what at preseat ara two distinct pur- suits, and make every naval oilicor aa euginoer as well a3 a sailor, [would recommend the formation of a clogs at Naval Academy of youths, giving a preierones to those who may bavoe already evinced mecaanical skill aud apt: 1g, who might be oducated with special profession as engineers. After two yeara’ study they could be received iato the corps by cou- ferriag on them the appointment of third assistant eng? od assigning them to duty. ‘The naval service and try have suflered injury that can scarcely be esti the want of thorough, capable aud weil ed Meany of our most eificient vessels disabled aod crippled ia the midst of imes even ut the very commenc arvies, In Conse quer 9 eaginors, Whereby the © not only of the use ot the ve tomes for months: but the otf coustrained to inactivi st ugenemy, Jd pravent these di jurtons to nua ~y, aud L know of none 89 thorough and complete aa that aid (raitMns Gaginesrs to the sor tant brane x Academy is, very priately, seamanship. eral knowledge of application and use of ste and of pr Mechanics sould ‘ollow, as almost equally Line officers of the navy, of should, moreover, bave ~' the ing Aud pursaing the study of banics, and, deed, every vranca that may tat the Navat Academy, aud it ia reo that arraozements be made for carrying tato ett suggestions. Having recommended the enlistment and traiuing of boys for the vavy, | deem it scarcely less im portant to suggest the policy of giving employment to our seamen in tithe Of peace. Gur commercial marine and fisheries bave deca and are valuable nurseries (or sailors, ou which the goverameat must reiy in time of war for a cruise view esseatial steam, m such additiogs a4 may be aecessary to its force of the rougbbred naval seam Bet to build up and sustain a Davy that shall bec of agserting and maintaining ne rights and honor of tho country, the government a peace as well a¥ in war, must foster that hardy and adventurous class who in every conflict, at home and abroad, bave always gallaptty upheld the tag. A formi dabie navy at the commencement of our present di tical. tis wou'd bave caused foreiga nations to abstain (rom aiding the rebels and brought the war to @ speedy con clusion, Why might not the goverament, in tme of peace, employ its own fast steamers {or ocean mail ser- vice, and. perlaps, other important transportation, such ag currying spec'e and packages of small bul but’ high value’ A slight armament of «few guns on national ves. sels would. be sufficient to exercise tue men and to give chatucter and security to the ship. Frontiug as our country doca on the two great ocesns, this system would insure to us, first, vessels built and ready, at all times, tor fighting purposes. second, an organization of abie and @ificient on'cers, with well trained and educated seamen, Actively employed and always ready for naval service thied, rapid Mati Communication with different parts of U world, the whole furnishing a nucleus for the navy, whore both its officers and better class of seamen would be constantly Improving aod ‘tting themselves for the Ligh- est public usefulness. No better school of traiging could be instituted for modern naval warfare, when seamanship {9 80 much tp advance of that which prevailed when only sailing voasels wore known to the navy. Such « system would, besides being 4 out 'y for the navy, contribute to the expansion of our commerce, which it would stimu- late and encourage, and with which it would not come ta competition, Under it the naval aod merchant service would fraternize and bo educated together whea the coun. try is at peace, and in time of war would combine tho power of both for national purpores. Such employment of our national vessels would conduce to the intereste ui peace. ‘These suggestions are jatended to invite the atteation of Congress to the important subject of establiahing some system for the permanent benetit of the navy alter the preseat hostilities havo ceased VOLUNTERE OFFICERS 3, RTC. The important serviee rendered by volunteer ofc ‘and the courage and skill displayed by them, as tweir adaptation to the profession, commends them to the consideration of Congross, While it cannot be oxpected, and would not desirable, to incorpo rate permanentiy into the navy all who hold tempo- ¥ appointments, there are ainong them some whose abilities and worth should not be lost to the service. Those who have served long and faithfully, and by their conduct, veal and ability merit it, should be promoted to voluntesr Keutenant commanders, and a limped number of volunteer officers might be brought into th@ line Tt would doubitess conduce to the beneit of the service were officers of the line to undergo an examipation for Promotion to successive grades alter leaving the my until they attain the rank of commander Such a rega lation would avoid the necessity for retiring boards, sad be an incentive to excellence and & just roward to those who strive to acquire professioval know. edge after graduating from the acalumy, and entering on their caroer of active du Such a rule is established with tho engineer corps and me tical officers, and is productive of beneficial results. A like rule should be established with assistant paymasters, it Hot to be promoted until alter the ordea of an examination Fuitable moans should be takea t9 racet yo, pro 4 train boys (or the naval service For this purpo: eof the old abips of the line, now Gestess Cor cruising, might be stationed at gone suitable piace, perhaps ac (hy Noval Acwlomy, wher boys between the ages of twolve aud Sightoon might be eoliated and Oduciied as seamen Tho 8908 OF RANE and AthOra jn HHO Pubic, aAgAl aod miliary service should be ontitied to consideration for admittauce this schovlship, aud it would be woll ¢o select agnually from those most iout, at least Ave to be transferred to the Naval Agademy as midsbipmen, The same ship might, if judged expediont, algo auawer for such a gua ery practice vessel as has boou frejuoutly recommended by the Bureau of Ordnance. PIRATIOAL ROVRR* ‘Tho recognition of the rebeis as belligeroata by tho pria- ctpal maritime powers at the commencement of hostili- ties, gave strength and character to the insurrection, which it could never have bad but for that recognition A declaration of neutrality between the belligerenta*went abroad from governments with which we wero in amity, carrying with it the sembiance of fairness, but which iv its operation ia most unjust towards this government and country. The United States had an extensive commorce which penetrated every sea, while the rebels were with- out commerce or ae ‘The United States had a navy, and squadrons on it every ocean; the rebels had not a single armed vessel’ at home or abroad. With a full knowledge of these facts, the principal mari- time Powers of Europe hastened to recognize tho rebels as bolligerouts, and to deciare that both the beilig- erents shouldy be treated alike in their ports; that tbe Public armod vessels of neither should remain more than twenty-four bours in their harbors nor receive supplies Or agsistance, except such a8 might be absolutely neves- aary to carry them home, and for three montha thereafter they should not agaiu receive supplies in any of the ports of those goverments. While this proclaimed ueu- trality did not affect @ single slup of the rebels, tor they bad Bot one to be affected, it excluded the naval vessels of the United States from the ports of the princi- pal maritime Powers throughout the world, except under the restrictions euumorated. When the Sumter, a vessel stolea Crom our merchants, made hor eacape and went abroad armod, but without a recognized nationatity, to seize and destroy our merchant- men upon the high seas,she found, unlike the Algerine corsairs, refuge aud protection within the maritime juris- diction of the great Kuropean Powers with whom the United States were in friendship; and fivally, aftor being followed by our cruisers into tho har- bor of Gibraltar, she wag permitted by the autbor- ities to remain vot only twenty-four hours, but more thay twelve months, aud was eventually trans erred to an Koglish purchaser, went to aa English port, waa refitted and leit the Fugiish shores with a coatra- band cargo, and hag since run the blockade, carrying sup- plies to the rebels. The Alabama, the Florida, tho gia, are armod cruisers built ta England, bave an lish armament on board,and are manued by crews who are almost ex- clusively European. Sailiag sometimes under the Kng- liah aud somotimes uader the rebel tlag, these rovers, without a port of their own which they can enter, or wo which they cau send a singte prize for adjudication, have roamed the seas,capturing aud dostroying the commer- ciat ships of a nation at peace with Groat Britain and France; but yet, whea these corsairs have needed repairs or supplies they have experteuced no ditficulty in procur- lug (hem, because it bad been deemed expedient to re- cognize the rebels a3 belligerents, Not one of the many vessels captured by the=e rovers has ever been judicially condemned as a legal capture. Wanton destruction bas been the object and purpose of the captors, who bave burned aud destroyed the property of their merchant victims. ‘This theory of recognizing rebels as belligereats 80 g000 hey litt their arws agatost the government, aad thus declartog them oatitiod to national privileges on tho high seas vod iu the harbors of the world, aitbough without a port or navy of their own, ia the inauguration of a new policy iu the history of natious. Kor a long succession of years it has been an important point iu the progress of Civilization, and particularly amoug the maritime Powers, that the police of the seas should be guarded and maiutainod by the subjection of captures to the ad. judication of tribunals administering the law of nations, which received from the hands of the captor bis prize tv the custody of that law to be disposed of by its ; but the course pursued in fostering and giv- encouragement t» the rebel robbers who, recognized national flag or a port ing without a at their command, or avy means of bringing their oxp- tures to judgment, aro committing their pr is@ restoration of that Alene and Tripolitan system which long alllicted the civilized world, but which, under the lead of one governmest, was extorminated in the early part of the preseat century. ‘rhus far the rovers have escaped capture. While in the West ‘Indies they were protected whenever they atory acts, were enabled to ilee in a noutrat port, or get withia a marine league of the shore of a noutral governinen plivilege that was never io any juarter extended to the Mediterranean corsaira Uufortu nately, most of the colonial authorities, and no incon. sideruble portion of the populition of thie Kuropean de- peudencies, iniluenced by the professed veutrality whick levated insurgeuts and sougut to degrade ths national wuthority to ao equaitty with tem, were in sympathy with (ho predatory covers, aod whi ting them aid and o'tea furnishing them with informatioa, taterposed obstacles and manifested unfriendly ‘eolings to the law ful operations of the aval torces of tha Uaioa Compelted, a4 we lave been, to withdraw toa groat extent our foreign 6 yuadrons in order to establish aud eu sures the blockm 2 columerc@or Lhe United States, spread abevaa every sea, hag been an: upou noyed, and often pluadered and destrayed, by theso inticensed rovers. With nena of the nobler attributes of gatlant and daring qualities which caaracterize uaval warriors, aad partic ‘larly the Americaa sailor, these rob- bers of the gea stu @ paval avtagonist. ‘Iheir prowess exbibita itself ia plundering paac merce, and their victima bave beeu uoarmed marchantmen. Traversing the seas aa they do, witho t a country of thoir own to which they can resort, it has been dificult to trace or saget chem: and thus far they bave, with the shelter aud asaittaace :{ governments which recognize them as boilig- erents and @}4ala, managed to clude our cruisers. ‘Their early operations were in the West ladies, where we have an extended commer 1 where they had condjutors among those foreign Alventucera who wore engaged in illicit trattic, and sympathizers ta a targe poruvion of the colonial authociies. Lo protect our tater. ests im that quarter, and espectaily to guard the treasure ships ia thew transit to aud from Aspinwall, a flying squadron was eatablisbed ia the autuiun ‘or 1862, and cel under the command of Acting Roar: Admiral Wilkes. That oflieer, by Ins eaergy and decision, contributed (> break up ove of the several liaes of illicit traders organized to carcy supplies ty the revels in Blips osteasibly bound to Matamoros, vat with cargoas having acuntingent destiaation to Texas While, however, his digpiaved efficwney in sei7ing that clasa of blockade tun gers, and wasgsuccesstul in b up one of tbe many cunaimgly coutrived arcan, ats, ho failed to capture the piratical rovers iho Nepartment, anticipating that tue Alabama and ber associates would find it necessary to abandon the neigh vorhood of the Antilles, and satisite the direction would t tak Jerod Vanderbut, steamer, on iodevendent Uist yy first im tha West tndies, aod thea onward to the south, The orders to Commander Baldwin, of the Vane orbit, under dave of Jauvary 27, 1s6%, were —- Whoa you are perfectly satisfied that the Alabama tes lott the some other locati y ast of Hraxil to Fernanda Noronho and {to de Janeiro, making mquirtes at such places a8 vou may think advisable From Rie coatique your course to the Capa of Good Hove,” &e., ke In derogativa of tuese special aad explicit orders, Acting Rear-Admiral Wilkes, on fatiing = int with the = Vanderbilt, transterred bis Mag t that vessel, and, attaching her to his syquatro deviiaed bor in bis possession so long as to def. the obbect aod purpose of the department. Ha dit aot release her until the Litt of June, whea Commaater awin proceeded to carry ott bia joatroctions, but he was too late. He arrived at 4th of July, at Pernambues on 3 neivo on the 1th; thence be proceeded, t, to st. Helena, instead of going di pe. The unfortunate detent defea'ad tha plans of the 1) VIC oF the West indies and gone U you will proceed along the a of parimeut (or the of the Alabama, Florida and Georgia ‘They, as auticipaied, arrived ia those latiudes tod those ports im May; but the Vanderbilt, in: stead of being thera tr intended, was linproper! untti afier that period. ve them, aa th epartinent retained in the West fades In addition to th 4t> guard our national interest from time to time been despatched in pursuit of the rovers, ail of which were built in aad have gone abroad eign ports bo prey upon our commerce The details of all the meaaures which have beeu adopted by the department ia this view it 18 not necessary here to disclose, Jot with most of our naval vessels engaged in enforcing the bioe! and witho it a clue to guide our independent cruisers om the trackless ocean, they uave thus far beea uvable to encounter these semi piratical vessela, which always seek to evade & naval antagonist, the probabili Ues grostor than they are,” however, of encountering them, sad were our public naval vessels permitted to entor the ports of the maritime Powers for fuel and other #uppiies wheu io purauit, it would not promote the interests of commerce nor the welfare of the country ts relax the blockade for that obect We lave, however, no OxXcees Of seAMeD, Nor even a sufficient supply for the unme- diate and imperative duties that are pressiag “poo as, and although it would be inexpedieat to make pu i the | means that ave takeo abd cavges that coutrul the activa vernioent, it may ot be improper to state that one of our largest aad fasiest steamers, deatined for for eign Kervice, has been detained months in conse. quence of an inadequate supply of seamen to man hor, Otuer vesse's are also short Of their complement SEAMEN, ‘The operation of the drat detrimental vo the naval service ors or mariners having beea = provided for iu =the =ucts «=f )= the last = Congress, these men, who may be deeme! and are ‘experts, fostered and cherished by all governments, and of wuom no sufficient supply con be obtaiued, are habia ts be with. ment to which they have been e tu. we they vroperly belong, aad compelled to | serve as soltiers. In this reapect not only a hardahip is inilieted on the men, but the navy aod country ara tn jured. It has been the wise policy of the goveramant at | il times to encourage and cherish its supply of seamen. | By express provision of the act of May, 1792, “all | mariners actually employed in the sea service of ay | n, in Some reapects, No exemption of sail zen of merchant within the United Stat were exempted from militia duty. Bountios have beoa paid to the fishermen, and by former laws, not only men of-war, but all marjners. havo besa exempt from inilitia service, it being consideret that tuey performed an equivalent duty, or were liible to be ab soot when a draft took place Loder the recent evact mont, petty officers, acting engineers and others iad spea- sable toa shiy's camploment aud elficiency, have, aa well ae seamen, been subject to the draft while on sh p. board and in naval service, Some of them on distant atations Lave been eurolied, drafted, and put t great io avenienee fu theit efforts to obtain relief unfre quently subsecting their commander and the seamen | themselves to embarrasameut. !t certainly could vot have been intended by Congres# that persvna in actual service adoat should be withdrawn ‘nr navy. where thoy were faithtully discharging ind sand then be oompelted, wader tho penalties of law, to go lute the army In enforcing the draft on any community wh ‘has furnished a large oumber of aniiors, proper deductions ought doubtless to be made trom the ‘quota required { the army. Of the thirty-tour thousand seamen it t val service a large proportion are from the m towns on the seaboard. A committes of the township of Glovoastor, in the Stato of Massachusetts, in addrossiog this departinent on the aubjoot, state that their towoats alone has furoihed to the army over thirteen hundr SOId)OFS, AD ExoeSs Of More than one hundral heyood the number required, yet wader the now aali for volunteers of) Alowance ts ale for soamea who we Oniivicd «AS 8 CoMynuoity they are catilinl bo ——— reliof for tho men that they have the navy, and so with other piaces similarty siluated Unteas these (acts are rightly considered and acted ups, tho existing law will toud lo the prejudice of tho navy, for every community will encourage its men lo go ilo the army at the exponae of the navy, because thore is uo relief or Credit or mitigation of the draft in consequence of euliatmonts tn the naval service. In another the laws are, in thoir effects, made to operate to the pre. judice of the wavy. The high bounties for enlistmonts into the army induce many sailors to onlist aa soldiers, although their services would be vastly more useful tho country on the clement to which they have boow trained and accustomed, The result is that there are many seamen in the army serving as soidiors, who bave been drafted or drawn thither by bounties or other eauses, who desire to be transferred to the bavy, and have frequenly made application t@ that effect, but it t# understood tha: the law dogs not authorize such transfer. Aa it is difficult to peo- cure educated, trained and able seamen in auch oumbors as aro wanted, and skilful and experienced sailors are worth more to the country in the mavy than thoy can be iu tho army, it would be productive of great benetit if the law authorized such transfer to be made. No welt dt- rected ‘forts should be spared to iwerease our naval Strougth, for it is mainly on the ocean that our rightful Position a8 a nation is to be secured and maintained. Tho Sailor i always and everywhere true to his flag Whea, in the oarly days of the rebellion, the recreant oft: cers in numbers deserted the government to which they owed and had sworn allogianco, tl could not shake the loyalty and fidelity of the crows. These remained faithtul to the gov- flag under whose folds they had carried into every Boa and to overy clime the honor and powor of the republic. It bas been the policy of every cominercial country to ox - tend encouragement and give th to the navy which Protects its commerce. Such should be our cloar aud ua- questionable policy. Under the extraordinary expansion of our pavy and the pressing demand for seamen, it ia a public duty not only to permit thoseaoamen who are ia the army to be traneferred, but to encourage such transfers, ‘aud at the same time, in go far as may be posible, to make the inducements to enter the uaval service at all times fully equal to those offered to soldiers on thoir om- listment. No uation, and least of all the United Statoa, cam wisely strengthen its army by weakening its naval power Unfortunately for the country, the disunion element which for some years gave direction to public affairs 8@ Suaped the measure of government as to keep down and cripple our pavy. Aware that it was a branch of tho ser- vice which couid have no sym in & donationalizing or disunion scheme, or be made subject to rebel doatrot; knowing, moreover, that there were no sailors in tho dia. atlected region, these men, in anticipation of (heir insur- rectiouary movements and in their whole policy of ac- tion, wore bostile to the navy, But-the changed condition: Of ailairs, the loyalty of our sailors, the great service which the navy has everywhere reudored in tho cause of the Union, and its importance for our peace and security abroad and at bome, demand it should have ali duo encouragement. ‘Tao number of seamen in service on tho Lat of July last, inciuding the Mississippi squadron, was about 34,000. The aumber of enlistments from January 1 to October 1 was 19,000, mostly landsmen. From causes, to some of which allusion bas already been mado, he diM- culty of procuring a sufficient number of seamen for the increase of the service hag been great, and at times voa- sels have beea detained and unable to proceed for the waat of crows. ‘The lack of sufficient seamen arises (rom no diminution ia the monthly number of ontistments, but from the increasod wants of the service. During the year 1862 the average namber of eolistmenta waa 1,529 per month. During the present year tho a has been over 2,000 per month. Unfortunately, the policy whieh it has been deemed necessary to purauo is@uch as in its ellect to weaken the navy by offering extraordinary bounties to soldiers, by subjecting marines to tho army draft, without permitting them to enter the navy if they desired to do 69, and by omitting to make any provision to relieve from its operation those communities whic furniat the samen to man our ships. The largo bounties ollerad by the geveral and State governments, and oftea aiso by the loca! municipal aut ities, a8 ioducoments to outer tho land rervice, have bad tho efftct of enticing into that service many professional seamen, who, but for those extraordinary inducements, would have eulistod im tho uavy. ‘Towns on the searoust, whore tho population ls te @greatoxtent of a maritime charactor, aa | have specified it a singlo Instance, have boon obliged to Cur- hh thoir quota for army service, thus largely diminiah- he number from whom naval eolistments would (irally be expected. The proclamation of September tast muat, (rom those caused and tho operation of our laws, still further draw ‘upon the timtted number whose proper held 13 upon che ocean, and who should by every dictate of policy be ea. couragedeby the goverument to eater the navy, wmatead of berg enticed trom it by pecuniary bounties or foretbh vithdrawn by dratt. Hesidea the oxhavating govern. tit iufluenco adverted to, we are compelled to meet the high prices aud active competition of commercial cater) rise ‘Tho present and prospective difficulty of procuring som- men in numbers suiflicieut to man our sbipa t4 such as to 9 action of Congress. Gur loyislation should ita oflects detrimental to that-bravch of the servica which it ia tho policy of avery wise gov- Wore aa largo a bounty to be paid publ Sruinent to promote. to thoso who enlist in the navy ag to those who eater the arty —wore the quota of towns and communities under any call for the increasa of the national forces to be credited with the mea furvished to the vavy, and were seamea who may be drafted pormvsed the choice of en- terig vither the land or naval service, tho navy would bo relieved of serious embarrassmont. Thore i ao draft, and thore can be none, to reinforce the navy as there may be to supply tue army. While every able and sound man of proper ago can be made a soldier and pitt ioto immediate service, there aro compara- tivuly few of our population who cap be omployed as Sulots The latter may be considered exports, aud im- stead of bouaties, allarements or dratts to withdraw Rea- mea ‘rom tho element to which they belong, tho reverse should be the fact. Our marinera bave, given marked aud distinctive superiority to the canae of the Uaion im this contest. The rebels bave some naval oflicora of re- putatioa aad ability, but not sailors. Yet that branch of tue service which in this and iu every war muat give cuatacter aad pattooality to the country bas been, 1 and will be subjected to embarrassments and deprived of @ portion of its legitimate force by the operation of oxist- ing laws. ‘The whole subject, beiug of great Importance in every reapect, is commended to Lhe early and conaide- rate action of Congress AVAIL, ACADEMY ‘The Naval Academy, which at the commoncamnent of tho tos ierectiou was removed from Anuapolis, ts stil con- tioued at Newport, Cougress having taken no moasuros relative to 118 permanent location. ‘The total aumber of midshipmea on the L2th of November was 463. Of these 203, Standing highest in academic rank, arg quartored on shore in buildings reated for the purposo. The residue are on board the sclool ships Santos and Constitetion, the juulor Class being va Lhe latter ship the Macedymian, which has her full battery oa board, is moored pear the school ships. All tho mid- siipmen are stationed at quarters ou board her, and exerciee at stated tres at divisiong and goneral quarters, ta the most thy and careful mauner. the reduction of the aumber of the officers at the period when the avy was expanding, It became unportant tuat the full complement of midship- mea should be appointed. and permits ware therefore ta sued one year ago to supply deficiencies caused by the rebellion. A siniler course bias besa adopted the prosout yoar, in or ler (bat the government shell not be deprived Of its legal quote Of properly educated vaval officers, by reason of the insurrection. For @ period the pressure for trained officers was eo great thal voluateer appointments were conieered om those wrho left the academy aud the regular service, but the example aod iniiuevce were thought to be untavorm- bie, and the practice waa therefore dixcontinued No ap- pomtmeats of this deseription have knowingly been made during the current year. The aunurl Board of Visitors for the Naval Agatone for 1863 convened at Newport, Rhode Island, oa tho 1 of May, and were engaged until the Ist of June in wit. oessing (he examination of the several ciagnes of mid- Sbipmen avd im inspec! ing the police and managemont of the institution. In consideration of the importance of the academy to the public service, and the Laverest natu. raliy felt in it® management, it 18 thought proper associate me gentlemen in civil lite from divereat parte of the country with the oaval oficers upon the Board of Visitors, snd the board was accordingly composed of Rear Admiral L. M. Goldsborowsh, Hoos. Kaward Everett and Chartes umes, Sidoey Brooks, Esy., Commodore H. K. Hoff, C. Ht, Oath- cart and Jacob Butler, bags. and Commodore &. B. Hitce- cock. In their full and carefuily considered report the members of (ne board unanimously expressed a high aod even unanticipated degree of satisfaction with the ac: commodations of the students, both oa shipboard and om shore, with the organization of the commissarist sod SupMy departments, with the s@uitary regulations of the establishment discipline and goverument, aad with the various professional exercises of the m: mea atfoat and ashore. From what they saw in the, field exercises they were convinced that ample ta- structioo i given and adequate ‘oficwacy ae quired at the institution to en: the young officers to tram and command crows of seamen for eificient co-operation wit a military force of infantry or artillery on land, and io the practical departments of pro- feasional education the instruction given to the stv s anithe skill exaibited by them, merited their highest , comme sdation ‘They regard the whole system of superintendence, po- Lice aud discipline under the present management of the Jostitution aa one of its most admirable features, aad @vi- deuce was presented to them showing (he aluodant wi iagness of the authorities of the city of Newport to ce- operate with the governmems of the academy iu the on. desvor to remove the temptations whieh are apt to bewet sigpa of youth, in their personal intercourse Stutents the board say that they wero much veossed by their habitually geutiemaulike manners aad well bred style of demeanor. Ja the removal 0% the academy temporarily to the quar. ters ak Newport, i is the opimion of the Board thore baw desu no perceptible dimiwution of its efficiency or the ort order of its disetplioe. The quartering of the ate dents on shipboard during at leagt the frst year of their attendance ig approved of, and is sid to. possess unquee trouable advantages in the management of the institution. In the gonoral pian and organization of the academy, the; Hoard tame it will compare favorably with the best vaval sells in the world ver al regmnver fons aro made by the Board, an@ 1 for thorough instrvetion both thao ring. Upoo an invite 4 Harbor Island, which bas boon otered by thas city t the government ax a permanent site for the Naval ny. Without expressing aa vpiaion Xs to the cy of navoutly removing the acsdemy from , the Hourd déoined it proper to say that, if the they considered the island ig ap pase indicted. wn of the delivering of dion to the, griduating class, the Hon. baward F a the rejuest of the Saperiptendent and off the Aca demy, and at the instance of bys associttes Moat e pw valodictory discourse to tie assembled classes, Yebich, ta ite comprehensive and statesmanike ayprocta af tho poartiva aud influgnce of the jostiletion, im vatriotic spirit aud ebaracteriatic @loyones, cannot’ bag ave a aaltary tuflvotoe, aad at tho reytord OF the Rowr@ it bas been publanod 4 w om. ‘Tho present condition of Havel Ordnance, as pre Aontoed In the report oF the chiel ad interim of that bu Foau, will ba read WIth tnigrost IL OxhiiKe a gratitying Advance in that departmeat of tha Rervioe the oom mysuormant oF Hao cobolon, aut (urmiskOs Cv loOCe ham