The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-01-03

NAVAL AFFAIRS.
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Annual Report Of the Secretary of tho Navy.
NAVY DEPARTMENT, Dec. 5, 1855.
RI have the honor to submit the report from
this Department exhibiting the duties performed by the
several squadrons my views of the present condition and
uture prospects Of the service suggestions regard
to further legislation required.
souADRoss.
The Home Squadron, commanded by Commodore Hiram
Pauldng, consists of the flagship, the fgats Potomac
Capt L. NJ. Powell; the soopsofwar Saratoga Comman
der E. G. Tton; and Cyane, Commander A. B. Fairfax
and the steamer Fulton, Lieut. Commanding R. L. Thigh
man.
The Columbia, late the flagship Of the squadron hav
ing conveyed from Pensacola to San Juan de Nicaragua
the Minister to Nicaragua and Guatanala, proceeded
from San Juan TO St. Thomas where she arrived the
oh of February. The yellow fever having made It's APP
pearance board she proceeded to Norfolk where she
arrived the 10th of March. Commodore Newton was
detached from the nand Of the squadron and the
vessel put cut OF commission.
No intelligence has been received touching the sloOp
Albany about whose fate at the date of my last port
painful anxiety felt. The steamers Princeton
and Fulton both sent in search Of her. The Prince
ton left Pensacola the 21st November down the
coast of Cuba, examined the islands of Little Caymans
and Csymans BrAc thence to Kingston, (Jamsica) As
pnwsn and Key West The Fulton Lieutenant J.
X. Mitchell, sailed from Norfolk the Both Of De-
cemter, and ran through the Bahama and Car
ibbee Islsnds-along the Spanish main to Aspinwall
thence to San Juan de Nicaragua thence to ia
maica sighting the various Keys the way; thence to
the Bsizs Honduras and along the coast Of Yucatan
Campeachy; thence to Havana and Norfolk, where she
arrived the 5ih Of April, making rapid and search
rg croise evincive of the most ndeatgable and unr
ing Not the slightest informal could be obtain
ed of the missing ship.
The s,oop Falmouth, Commander T. Darrah Shaw, sail
ed from Norfolk the 18th Of December, and proceeded
cruise through the West India Islands, touching
Prince Gopaivas St. Jsgo de Cuba Carhegena and AS
pin and thence to Pensacola where she arrived
the 9th of Nay. The cruise Of the falmouth also
such as would afford an opportunity of obtaining nfor
nation in relation to tie Albany.
n 81 AoI "a I @ @
this squadron In March, intelligence having reached
the COVE that the Spanish fgate Ferroona had
fred at the u s. Mail steamer FL Dorado off the coast
Of Cuba while peaceably pursuing her cruise, it
defined necessary aud proper that sufficient naval
protection the rights and property or citizens and
for the purpose Of commanding due respect to flag
DO aeauey to special duty and to the tenn
porsry command of the home squadron and placed
under him the CyaIe, the Jamestown, the Princeton and
the Fulton. To these vessels added a flag.
ship, the San Jacinto Captain G. K stribling. They
were actively engaged In cruising and watching
1
quarter until early in June The instructions issued to
Commodore NcCau.ey that interesting occasion have
no occasion occurred for collision between the national
vessels of tie two countries Approximations Of unfriend
y interference having ceased to exist, Commodore
Commodore Fauldirg was assigned to the command Of
this sgusaron on the vt Of and has for hi; flagship
having. in company with The CyAne and Saratoga, made
short cruise to the eastward Commodore Pauldng
proceed with his flagship the Of Can
tral q our
and TO that American citizens suffer de'riment
from the ,eyest mary troubles now dissractng Ncara
18th Of Noven Der. The other vessels were actively
cruising
This squadron Commodore William d. Sater, consists
Of the aagsiip the frigats Savannah Captain Samuel
liam F. Ly nch; and the brig Banbri &C. Commander
James =. Rowsn. The storeship Relief, Commander
Stephen Rouap. also attached to this squadron
but returned to New York the 10th of Novemb and
has been put out Of commission. The Savannah and
Germantown will be relieved during the ensuing year.
pally between Rio de Janero and the Rio de la Plata
looking In at st. GATHERINGS, Montevdeo, and Baenos
Ayres The health OF officers and men has been good.
Misun6erss ndings Of very serious nature involving
painful collision having occurred between Consul
and officers of the Water Witch and the President of the
Republic OF Paraguay, 1t was deemed expe6ient by
Commander 7. j. Page, commanding that steamer, on
special service to dscontnue for the present the compile
ton of the survey Of the river Parans in which cons
derable progress had been made. You If
state Of negotiations between the two this
'uJect.
Commander Page has, however, In the meantime, in
small steamer for the purpose oceeded to the
saado, which emres into the Parma at Santa Fe the
principal town OF the province of the name and
Of the Argentine Condensation. Beyond this dis it
lowness Ct the The saado hs before this
been either assembled DESCRIBED 10 this point. The
rIscticablity of its navigation problem unsoved
until tEis exploration. Commander Page, at last dates,
YVES at Santa Fe and would proceed from then to the
hed upper waters OF the Picoego with the hope of
AZ
ed ty others, but never accomplished
AFRICAN SQUADRON.
This squadron Commodore Thomas Cfabbs, consists Of
hi tagship the jamestown. Commander James H. Ward
the soops OF Dale, Commander William McBair aud
Dolphin, Comm aDder Edward R. Thomson.
The flag ship Jsu estowD, in the early part of the
of Cuba, under commodcre McCauley. She sailed
from Key West the OH of June, and arrived Fun
chal roads on the sth of July.
from Philadelphia the 10th OF November to relieve
the Tale On her arrival the coast the Dale will re-
tuIn 10 the United States.
Commodore Isaac Mayo, who recently commended this
to the United States I'd of June entering the port
Of Portsmouth, New Hampshire. When within three
Jour bundled miles of Portsmouth, he received nteli
genee which induced him to alter his and proceed
snd that o, ship Commodore cCauey If requires
The appearsi Of the Constitution opportuIe and
imp essve
The ,loop of-war Marion, Commander Hugh Y. Purvi.
recently belor grg to this squadron having been
demned as unseaworthy, and her time being nearly
returned to the Uni.ed States entering Norfolk
the 10 OF August
The vessels OF this squadron have been regularly
cruising within the limits of their station aording
lief whenever opportunity offered to merchant vessels
and also akng OF the interests OF Americans in
that Dol ton of The world. The Department has recent
vices that the slave trade south OF the equator IL
entirely bro ken up. The health Of the officers
on this station has been good for the past year.
MEDITERRANEAN SQUADRON,
Commando by Commodore Samuel l.. Breese consists
Ct his fsgship, the frgate Cong Commander Tn
r. Craven the steam rigate Saransc Captain John G.
Long; and the sloop aon Captain Charles II.
Bell The store ship Supply, Lieu epant David D. Porter,
for the War Department.
The Congress sailed from New York the 10th Of July
to take the place Of the Cumberland and the Conste
ton saiei from New York the 9th Of August join
this squadron.
Commodore Strireham commanded this squadron in
the early psrt Of the year, but, with his flagship, the
Cumberland, Comm snder Andrew A. HArwood, returned