The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-12-27

NAVY DEPARTMENT, December l., lS49
SIR have the honor TO present 10 you the annual
report Of the condition and operations OF this de-
partment of the public service
The home squadron, under the command Of
Commodore Parker consists OF the flag ship frigatc
Raritan, Capt. Page; the sloop-ot-war Albany.
Commander Randolph; the sloop -of- war German
town, Commander Lowndes; the steamer Vixen,
Lieutenant Commanding Ward; the steamer Wa
ter-witch, Lieutenant Commanding Totten; and
the schooner Firt, Lieutenant Commanding Far
rand The steamer Allegheny, commanded by
Lieutenant Hunter, temporarily attached to
this squadron, but has been recently withdrawn
and placed in ordinary at the Washington navy
yard The sloop-of-war Saratoga, Commander
Nicholson has also been Withdrawn, and placed in
ordinary at Norfolk.
The vessels of the home squadron have been act
iveiy employed among the West India Islands, in
the Gulf Of Mexico, and along the Atlantic coast
The squadron in the Pacific ocean, under the
command of Commodore Jones, consists OF the
flagship Ohio, Commander Striblng; the frigate
Savannah, Captain Voorhees, the sloop-of-war ST.
Mary's Commander Johnson; the sloop of-war
Warren, Commander Long; the sloop-of war Pre-
ble Commander Glynn; the sloop of-war Fal
mouth, Commander Pettigru the sloop of-war
Yandalia, Commander Gardiner; the sloop of-war
yincennes, Commander Hudson; the store-ship
Frcdonia, Lieutenant Commanding Neville; the
store ship Southampton, Lieutenant Commanding
Handy; and the steamer Massachusetts. The race
Independence, bearing the broad pennant Of Com
lnodore Shubrick returned from ale Pacific ocean
on The Goth of July last after distinguished and i'm
portant service in the war with Mexico. The
sci was taken out of commission The sloop-of- war
Dale Commander Rudd, also returned from the
Pacific; she reached New York on the 23d of Au-
gust and was placed in ordinary. Orders have
been given for the return OF the Ohio, the Preble
.E. -bf han nDtnn in
the expiration of the periods of enlistment of their
crews On the 18th Of January, 1919, Commodore
Jones was ordered TO exchange the Ohio for the Sa
vannah his flag ship; the Ohio was ordered to
proceed under the command OF Captain Voorhees,,
GO China TO relieve Commodore Geisinger in the
command of the East India squadron, and Commo-
dore Geisinger ordered to return To the United
States in the Ohio, by the way OF Bengal. The
terms of service of IA large number of her crew
having expired, it was deemed expedient to revoke
that order and instructions were accordingly sent
TO Commodore Jones, on the 23d OF June, 10 direct
the immediate return of the Ohio by the way of
Cape Horn she sailed from the coast OF California
on the 18th of September, on her passage home.
Captain Voorhees, has proceeded to China IN the
sloop-of-war st. Mary's for the purpose OF rehev-
ing Commodore Geislnger, who Will return 70 the
United States in that vessel but in the event of his
having left the station, under permission granted
by the Department on the 10th February, the 81.
Tary's viii be retained and constitute part OF the
SQUADRON under Commodore voorhees, The Fall
Nav. the yandalia on the 9Th Of September, and
the Vincennes the 18th Of November, with orders
20 ioin the command Of Commodore Jones IN the
Pacific The store-ship supply Lieutenant Com
nlanding Kennedy, Is under ordersI and VIII short
iy sail with supplies and stores for the squadron IN
the Pacific Commodore Jones reports that the
crews Of the vessels under his command have been
greatly reduced by dessrtions, and by the exPira-
ton Of terms Of service % the men; ne states
also that there exists unwiliipgness to reenllst
for the navy The temptations held out by the
prospect of obtaining gold, and the great demand
for seamen, render 1t impossible TO enlist men on
the coast of California for the navy pay ofirom ~
to Sl2 per month, while the merchant service u
paving from Ss5 10 8 lb5 in the same ports. The
evils resulting 10 the naval service from these
causes are severely felt Great efforts have been
made TO remedy them, and every exertion that au-
thority and discipline could enforce has been MADE
with but partial success.
The squadron in the Mediterranean sea, under
the command Of Commodore Morgan, consists Of
the fiag-sbip race Independence, ComInapder
Blake; the frigate Cumberland, Captain LatiIner;
the frigate Constitution, Captain COnover; the
steamer Mississippi. Captain Long; the sio1p-oi-
war Jamestown, Commander Mercer; and the
store-ship Eric, Lieutenant Commanding Porter
The figate st. Lawrence, Captain Paulding, has
also Joined this squadron.
The force now employed in the Mediterranean Is
believed 10 be larger and more efficient than nj any
previous period in our history, with the exception
perhaps, Of the years 1904 and 1905, during the Tn
poltan war.
The steamers Princeton, Commander Engle, and
Allegheny, Lieutenant Commanding Hunter, were
ordered home from the Mediterranean IN consc-
QuenceO Of the reports Of the necessity for extensive
repairs The Princeton has, since her return, un-
dergone strict and careful survey by board Of
competent and skful officers; their report con-
demned her unworthy OF repairs. She was
therefore, broken up, and such portions oi her az
were unseryiceabe for naval purposes were ordered
10 be sold The schooner fancy also returned from
the Mediterranean. This vessel belongs TO the
Treasury Department, and, on her arrival, was
turned over 90 that Department. there being, how
ever, no vessel Of the navy at my command calcu-
lated for the service contemplated by the 20 section
Of the act making appropriations Tor the naval ser
vice. approved March Sd, ls49-viz. for testing new
routes and per1ecng the discoveries made ~ Lieu
tenant Marry, in the coursc OF his Investigations 81
the winds and currents Of the ocean the fancy was
again received and assigned 90 that service Lieu
tenant Walsh, officer well qualified Tor the duty,
was entrusted with the command, detailed lnstruC-
tions we're prepared for HIM, and he proceeded IA
their execution on the 2bth Of October
The deatI Of Commodore Bolton, which occurred
at Genoa on the 22d Of February rendered IL ncces-
sary TO order a senior captain 10 the command OF
the Mediterranean squadron Commodore Morgan
was selected he sailed from the United states ~
the steamer Mississippi tie eth Oi June. I'M
portant considerations made il accessory, IN the
Judgment oi the Department To increr@l the force
in the Mediterranean. By active e1cruohs, i"o
vessels, in addition 90 tlc Mississippi, 1.-THE race
independents and the frigate CumberlandD were
despatched tte former sailed on tie goth OF July
and the latter the 10Th Of August. The store
ship Erie, Lieutenant Commanding McbL@lr, re-
turned from the Mediterranean the / lth Of Jug
and on the 9Th Of September she was again de
spatched under the command o. Lleptcnant Porter
with supplies for the squadron.
BY the death OF Commodore Bolton, the iata Cap
tain Gwinn Whs left the senior officer ia the squad
ron; his reports show that the vessel Of his com
Inand we're actively employed under circumstance
requiring the exercises Of prudence and discretion Z
prevent crnbar rasspIents with beligerent powers
am happy 20 say that commerce has been fully
protected, and friendly intercourse has not been IN
terrupted. Information has reached the Depart
ynento the death Of Captain Gwiun, which occurre'
at Palermo on the 4th Of September, lsfg. The ~
ports from Commodore Morgan, since he tool
Command Of the squadron, arc highly satisfactory
The duty assigned him has been promptly per
formed and the condition of his command reflect
credit upon the ser1ce,