The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-12-08
NAVAL DEFENcEs OF THE UNITED STATES.
Annual Report OF the Secretary OF the Navy,
Tor 1854.
NAVY DEPARTMENT, December 1, 1852

uess would beg leave also say that the many vslu-
able for the Improvement of the service made
by my predecessors In previous reports which yet remain
epon the delitersion and disposal Of Congrcn maze
in my opinion lost nothing Of their interest snd that
refer to them now a. most appropriate subjects for COM
endation the favor CT the national Legislature II
have presented other views the sxue topics or pro-
posed different method for improving the organization
Of apv branch NJ the service hope these VIII be received
s contributions to the common effort which TINS Depart
mept has ever felt duty TO make towards the perec'
zion Of o,r naval system and that they may be weighed
An the deliberations CT Congress with full appreciation
f what deservey due to the experience Of those who
lave heretofore conducted the affairs Of this Department
DISTRIBUTION sQuADRoNs.
During the wear now about to close the vessels OF the
navy in commission have been assigned to the various
deemed necessary for the protection of
pormerce according to the system OF distribution here
toore adopted found convenient to the exgen
cies Of the service.
This distribution has been made in provision for six
rqusdrons each Of which required to serve on cruise
OF three years with the exception Of that allotted to the
coast Of Africa where from consideration Of the pecu
liar character Of the service 1t is limited to two years
The dur alton Of the cruise IL subject only to
ona prolongaon when the public interests may render
It necessary Suitable provision is made in the enlist
nents for this Incident, when 1t may occur.
The six fqusdrons are assigned to
The Pacific ocean,
The coast of Africa,
The coast of Brazil
The Mediterranean, and
The coast Of the United States.
In addition to these steamship is appropriated to the
lakes upon northern border and few vessels ara
Kept for detached service.
The East India squsdIon has continued during the past
year under the command otCommodore John IL Aulick,
and has consisted Of the steam gae Susquehspns being
the flag ship OF the squadron the sloops Of war Ports
mouth. Commander Kelly Saratoga, Commander Walker,
and Marion, Commander Glendy. This vessel lthe
Msrion) has recsny returned to the United States and
is assigned to the African squadron; and, icing
ready for SEA- win very proceed her destination
The fquadron has been lstely orgsnaed and placed
under the command OF Commodore NJ. @. Perry; ana
Commodore Aulick only waits the arrival in
Ir dies Of officer to- command the susquehsnna to
turn to the United States which he viii do in advance Of
Lis ship
Commodore perry's command viii consis. Of the line.
ofbste bip Vermont which Is now in coarse OF rapid
preparation service aud 1t lie expected will be ready to
sail sbou, the first of March The Commodore himself
has just sailed from the port Of Norfolk in his flag ship
the steam frigste Mississippi He viii be followed in
few days by the steam frgste Powhatan, Captain Me-
Quincy which vessel has been recently added TO the
detsS.d for it but which from some impsrfection dis
covered in her machinery after she had underson
This mperfction have reason to hope will prove t" be
lss serious than az first apprehended aud that she
may be in condition for seryics when she will be
giRneG 10 other employ ment
In addition to these two ships csrvstt. Macedonian
Captain Abbot, the sloop-efwar Vsndaia, Commander
Pope, and the steiner Allegheny, Commander Sands
constitute the remaining force assigned TO Commodore
Perry The two first these the Macedonian and the
vsnosia nearly ready for and may be
ptcted take their departure during the month Of Ds
csmber The Allegheny is waiting only for the comsls-
ton OF her engine and will be despatched as
finished
The store ships Supply Lieut. Sinclair and southamp-
ton Lieut. Boyle attached TO tbs squadron and
already their way to their appointed station.
Tho Pacific squadron. under the command OF Commo-
Gore Charles Mciuey bas been composed OF the
feg hip Of the squadron the frigz:e st. Lawrence
Csptain nunny the soops Of war It Marys. Csnman-
xnouth Commrpd.r petigrsw; y.ndsla Caumauaer
Gardner and Vncennes Comusoder Hud,on
The FEimouth. Nandalia Nucennes. aud the tro
store shrs Lexipgtop Southampton also attsched
othe squadron have returned home within tha last too
three months TIE Raritan with Commander Mo
Auiey on board is row also her home Fard veysge,
and may be locked for in the course Of the month OF
January
near tn sand Eich Tapds trom tho Straits OF Fuca
ana Ppgets Sound. In Oregon To Pansms Che North
American oeast ard song the whole line OF South Ans
RIGA on the Pacific It hiss also visited the GapigoS
Islsnds, aud the adjacent seas whilst one or more
of its vessels hsve been kept in constsnt Intercourse
with every port familiar 10 our commerce from California
&c Valparaiso
In the new srrangcm nt Of this squadron 1t will b. put
nnder tbs commsnd Of Cspsia Dulsuy; and the razes
Independence, the floops OF wsr Falmouth and st.
Bsrys viii be desp,tched with no more delay than msy
be necessary their equipment Thestore ship Fredona
bav performed her service IN this squedror hs7 lately
been sent On voyage to California as trsnspor' OF
vsahehso a. valparaiso In charge Of hs public stores AZ
shst pot
nodore LsyaIette whose flag shlp Is the sloep Of
Germantown Commander Nicholas Besides this vessel
il is composed of the oop OF wsr Jo.n Adams, Com
nander Barron and Dale Commander Lartnar, and the
brigs BsinbIiige Lieut.. Manning, aud Perry Lieut.
PAGE
Conriodors Layalette having nearly completed the
period Of bis cruise, will return TO The United States In
the Germantown es he can be relieved by Com
Mayo who viii sail in the month Of DECEMBER in
the ffste Constitution with Commander Rudd in COM
nnsnd The Dale will be replaced by tue Marion, COM
naucer Howard which Is now ready 10 san.
The Vixen win BE- ADDED TO this command for
such rapid eomuupicsion with the coast srd tbs trad
ing pcpts tile rivers the duties assigned 20 the
squadron constantly require
With many incidents to render it from being acceptable t,
those employed upon It constant vigilance and frequent
intercourse with bsrbsrous people tbe coast are
the least Of It's discouf,rts To these added
exposure TO dis ease and The irksome seclusion Of
long voyage whcb finds but small relief in visit, to y
shore without attraction and always dangerous the
stronger Tho health Of our ships on that station an
happy repor has in general been we'll guarded hy tbs
nsful sans,sry dicplIpe which the exSeriepce Of the
has Of late years been sbs ~ fugge and enforce
and hsve longer to complain Of such rasage
by the mfades If Tie climate ~ overlook those who
were In times past consigned 70 this service
The tiue has come perhaps VIII Il may BE prop rly
commended 70 the notice Of to inquire into th
Necessity furher coatioGog the regular employment o.
ssqusdIop his Tbe slave trade ay Do sold TO
bs nov driven into accnparsvey marrow space on the
southern portion Of the coast and confined North AMI
South Gonea vhil- the mas uFes recently edop ed IN
Brazil the hope thai ths infamous traits viii
b. shsrdor I'd u ogetneT few smsn vessel. sod
the Bitzsn squadIsn and directed to cruise in toe
track o. the rave th'P may be found efectus' to sup
pret the tst enors m That ioroddfn commerce against
which he adherence ~ al Christian nations IL awakened
The squadron the coast Of Brazil lie COMMANDED By
Comm doie kekesver and IL composed only Of his dag
ship the fiigse Congress COmmsnder Pesrson an the
sloop Of sueetovn Captain Downing with the store
ship Relief Lieutenant Hitchcock IL has rendered use
full e,iycs 20 the pnbh interests In that quarter and
been found soq 10 al the oemsnds Of varied sod
exfensive slsrcial intercourse there
Commedore McK-ever will return In the spring With
his Rip and bis place will be supplied by Captain Saiser
who has received preparatory orders to the figste S
ssBpah 10 be nvsbded by Commander Mercer
m ftiaE n rim yham has CSmmzpi OF the
hediteIrsnes squadron 10 the figate Cum6flsad Com
napder Turner bir force conssts Of the steamer San
JsciDto Csptan Crabb snd the sloops OF var g. Louis
Commander lpeIaharn and Levsnf. Commander Colds
borough The fqusfron s probably be reinforced bare
after y the Princeton the Ssrsnac IL either
OF there vessels b. from the service at homs
and the San .Iacnto which Ia nndergning ranaira