The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-12-08
PUBLIC DOCUMENT.

Navy DEPARTMENT,

| December 5. 1882.
| SIR have TIE honor 10 present the usual annual
report tom the Navy Department. exhibiting the cond-
nson 10 the operaoas OF the several sQuadrons during
the past year have yentured also to suggest for
sideraon certain views touching the increase Of the
val ofce, te reorg anzaon OF the navy, and the m0di
ncaton OF The laws and regulations Tor it's government
from conviction that many practical reforms may be in
uoduced pIomoge OF discipline and efficiency.
saUADaoNs.
| The home squadron Commodore Newton, consists OF
The flag sbir the irgale Columbia Commander Pender
gras; the soops- war Albany. Commander Gerry. and
Cyane, Commander Hollins the Fulton. Lieu
tenant Watson, and Vixen. lately commanded by Lieu.
tenant Swariwout. This latter vessel despatched
in The monih OF May Tampco especial duty, and
on her return TO Pensacola was put out OF commission
on account q o. as aPpeanee Of yellow lever eve On oossd
many excellent officers and faithful men, So soon
she shall be thoroughly dlsnfected and pronounced 10
safe condition, she win be gain put in commission, and
continue attached to the home squadron
In January last the Fulton. under the temporary COM
mand OF Lieutenant Alexander Murray was placed al the
pose Of conveying him Havana tor the restoration OF
his health; after performing which service, and after
having her machinery repaired, she again joined the
squadron
The steamer Saranac Captain ] c. Long detailed for
duty in the home sqiadron after having conveyed the
chevaller de Sodre, lae Brazilian charge dafa'res to
the seat OF his government joined the squadron In Feb
ruaTy and remained attached TO II uhtl july whea re-
qnrng repairs, she Withdrawn and put out OF com
mission.
The vessels attached this squadron have been crais
ing chiefly in the Gulf OF Mexico and among The West
Ind "a Islands Disturbances at San Juan or Greyown
threatening The properly and rights OF American citizens:
that port The presence OF his ship had the desed ef-
feet The conduct Of Commander Holns evineed
gailaniry and judgment which entitled him 70 the COM
mendaton of ihe department The Albany relieved the
Cyane, and remained at San Juan un her services were
deemed no longer necessary.
The Brazil squadron Commodore Salter, consists OF
the flags Savannah, Commander Mercer, which sailed
from Norfolk for her destination The i4h OF Sepem-
ber and the sloop-o war Jamestown, Captain Downing
The brig Bainhrdye, Lieutenant Charles @. Hunter,
sailed from New York The 4ih November last 10 joia
this squadron, and her arriva! out the jamestown
will return home by which time she will have been ab-
sent from The United States nearly three years.
The Germantown, Commander Lynch, also sailed from
Boston on the I'd December JOIN this squadron. The
slore.shp Relief, Lieutenant Hitchcock, returned from
Rio the 18Th, Of April last. entering the pon OF New
York, and on The 25i of July following again sent
out with for the squadron, under the command OF
Lieutenant A. b. Fairfax, and temporarily forms part
of it.
The steamer Water Which, Lieutenant Thomas J.
Page which left Norfolk the sth OF February, though
attached this squadron, considered OF the
available vessels belonging 10 thaving, after decree
of the provisional director Of the Argentine cOnfedera
ton, throwing open TO navigation the tributaries OF the
La Plata been detailed for the survey OF the rivers Uru
quay and parana She arrived out at Buenos Ayres
the 25h OF May but detained from the execution OF
her immediate duties by the state of civil existing
anhappy between the different provinces OF the Afgen.
tine conederaton requiring her presence for the pfotec-
lion OF the interests OF American citizens engaged tn COM
resident in that region. When last heard irom
the Goth OF August Leu,enaat Page was expecting to
set out immediately on the appointed exposition. .
Commander AlcKeever was in command OF the brszn
squadron the earlier part OF the year and having COM
pleted cruise OF three years active and eficieOt ser
vice, he returned in his flagship the Congress-, Con-
Peason 10 The United States the ooh OF july
The records Of The Navy and State Departments furnish
satisfactory evidence thai portion OF this squsdron did
good service in promoting the interests o The government
and protecting therights OF American citizens.
The African squadron, Commodore Mayo, consists OF
bis flag ship, The Constitution, Commander Rudd; the
soop Marion Comm Purvance and the brig Perry.
Lieutenant L. Page. The Dile Commander Whule,
sailed from Boston 10 JON this squadron on ne I'm Oc
tober.
Commodore Lavalet,e returned from the command Of
this squadron in his the soopo war German
town, Commander Nicholas, on the 30th oil March, The
John Adams, Commander Barron, and the brig Balm
bridge. Commander John Manning, having been de-
tached from this squadon reached the United States
The former The 3d CT July and the latter the 26h
Of August.
Commander Lynch was temporarily attached by my
predecessor TO this squadron for reconnaissance OF the
OF Africa, for the purpose OF asceaining the
localities afordng The greatest facilities for penetrating
the interior OF the county He returned TO the United
States in May last His communication TO The DEPART
men detailing the ressis OF his reconnaissance accom-
ranles this report.
The opinion has heretofore been frequently expressed,
that there necessity Tor squadron OF so many guns
The OF Africa, and that notice should be given
Great Britain, under the terms OF the treaty in regard
TO suppression of the slave trade 10 be relieved
OF late increased greatly and American ships
trading in that region have multiplied much, that am
satisfied tsa the squadron is needed and is very elective
in protecting our citizens, as well as suppresnnK the
slave trade.
The Mediterranean squalron Commodore Srngham,
consists OF The hag-ship the tgsc Cumberland, Com
mandcr Harwood the sIoops.of-war 81. Louis, Com
mander fngraham; and Levant Commander Turner to
which vessel he transferred from the Cumberland.
upon the return Of Commander todsborough TO the Un
ted States 10 take command of the Naval Academy.
The steamer San Jacinlo Captain Crsbbe, formed one
OF the squadron but consequence OF the imperecuon
OF her machinery her entirely useless az
ordered home, and arrived at Philadei
phia on the 5h OF July Her engines have been con-
with which 1t is confidently expected she will prove an
efficient cruising steamer. .xu
The steamer Saranac, Captain J. C. Long. LETT Norfolk
on the l0th oil November, conveying the hon Cerroh
Spence our newly appointed minister resident at Con-
stantinopIe 10 hs station After having completed tnm
duty, she will Join the Mediterranean squadron
Hrhe vessels OF this squadron have been actively CO.
operating with our representatives in that regon-more
especially with the Hon Mr. Marsh, IN bis Efforts 10 ex-
act iusce from the government OF Greece to the Amevi
can missionary, Mr. King In calling 10 your attention
the movements OF this squadron. cannot omit an espe-
cia reference to the conduct Of Commander Ingfnhs,
while in command OF the ST. Louis, at smyrna. An
ocean OF thousands OF miles separated him from his
try and his small ship alone in bearing bis couutus
flag Violence committed the personal liberty Of
man entitled the protection Of that flag The perpetrators
OF the offence outnumbercd him in vessels, Guns, and
Il was moment OF peril, involving honor ana
life. With prudence and discretion, yet with pfomptness
and spirit and marked determination. Commander ingra
ham gave the p1oiecon, and the man is free Sucn con-
10 the most significant evidence OF his governments
proyal