The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-12-26
THE ATLANTIC BLocKADINe SQUADRON.
OUR NAVAL CORRESPONDENCE.


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OUR NAVAL CORRESPONDENCE.
UNITED STATES STEAM FRIoA1g RoAsoEE,
HAMPTON RoAps Dec. Is, 1861. !
Officers and Ceap Tired Of Iaciicy-A Fe,o Fhcs About
The Blockade at Charsom-7ae Desc, ftion of Boats Ne
cary to Enforce R-Tae Thomas Freedom and the John
r. Jacksonville Cannon Re,sored from the Norfolk
Nary Yard-War Prices at Nerfolk-7he Merrimdc, dc
Since arrival here from the blockade of Charleston
our life has been Of comparative inactivity Withour
anchor down endeavor TO relieve the monotony Of
position by specializing at what period orders will reach
that We may proceed North repair our machinery
which at present is in very dlapidated condition Our
continued ideness is in direct opposition to the feelings
of our loyal officers and patriotic They and
ALL burning with a desire to have brush with tho
rebels, and it is hoped that such opportunities will
speedily be given US, that may partially regain the
putaton seem to have lost in biockadng career
II the people at large rightly understood precise
situation whilst endeavoring to perform our duty upon
the Southern coast much OF the dissatisfaction that has
been expressed regarding would be recalled Our ex-
cessvo draught Of prevented from approaching
within four and hreequarer miles Of the only chanre,
off the harbor Of Charleston, and whatever emergency
arose. 1t perfectly absurd hope for greater speed
than avo knots, under and sail combined from our
vessel Through this channel the swift sailing smuggling
their Illegal traffic with impunity. our miserable
condition rendered powerlcss interfere suppress
The countless inland that exist along the entire
range OF the Southern the rendezvous for the
greater portion Of the pirates that carry their
rous business for tho benefit Of the Southern
and these rat holes cannot be approached much
entered by such pondorous and nnwicdy ours
The only which the death Of this smuggling
business be accomplished is by the aid an crsctivo
feet Of gunboats drawing but little Such
dartwith and rapdty in the hiding places
alluded to without fear of getting aground and then
being blown pieces by tho merccss gales that frequent
those localities II the Navy Department would place at the
disposal OF able and energetic commanders goody
Der Of such gunboats the Thomas Freeborn John p
jackson and others alike to he drawing not six
feet Of water, ali efficiently armed with tho most i'm
proved armament and manned by experienced seamcu,
they could Immediately take possession and assume
troll Of the waters that boil the priyatccrs with
their contraband cargoes Of valuable goods glide so
swiftly over them in perfect security repeat it, such
vessels as vaess to impede the progress OF the
smuggiers In question, and there even now many
Instances similar TO our where vessels biockaiug
cannot come within miles OF the channels inles
where the enemy are existing
To show to you how efficient and suitable such gun
boats the Thomas Freebon and John r. Jackson al.
mded to above, would be for the humiliation Of these
privatecrng and smuggling scoundreis append full
ana correct particulars Of their huls and machinery
which have been enabled 10 gather after considerable
trouble and numerous inquiries
THE THOMAS FREEBoRs.
Length deck, 143 feet length load line 40 feet
breadth of beam noulded) at midship section twenty
Eve feet depth of hold to spar deck nine feet draft
of water at load line, six feet Of immersed
section at this draft, 127 square feet tonnage,
sos tons. Her hull Is of the best white oak chestnut
aud rs fastened with "copper" iron and trcenails and
strapped with diagonal and double laid iron braces
boring her very staunch and The floors are
moulded Ia inches, sided inches, and the frames
inches apart at the centres She Supplied with vertical
beam engine with cylinder 40 inches in diameter and
stroke Of piston of feet. Tho maximum pressure OF
steam used Is 80 pounes and the cut on
half stroke. She IL also fitted with ue bser
the dimensions OF which as folowsLcngth, % feet;
breadth, 10 feet inches; height exclusive Of steam
chimney, feet. The boiler codtans furnaces tho
breadth Of each being feet achcs length crate bars
in furnaces feet number Of Hucs above in the boiler
49, number below TO- internal diameter Of dues above
9z inches internal diameter Of those below two Of 10
inches four OF IL inches and four Of 10 inches; length
those above Is feet inches length Of those below
feet Tie tosal crate surface the boiler is equal 62
square feet the total heating surface is equal 45
square feet. The smtke pipe Is Al feet high,
and 4 feet diameter The water wheels 20
| feet in diameter boards, and the wheel
The hull Of this vessel was built III 1860 By Messrs Law
| renee a. Foulks, Williamsburg, l.. Tho machinery
constructed by the Aliaire Iron Works. New York
! city.
THE JOHN p. JACKSON.
Length deck 30 feet leng al load line 210 feet;
breadth Of beam (mouldcdl, at mdship section 90 feet
depth of hold IL feet depth OF hold TO spar deck 10
inches draft Of water at load line, fore aft feet
inches immersed section this draft 1a0 square
feet tonnage, $50 TONS The hull Of this VESSELS con-
sructcd Of white oak, hacmetac and chestnut and is
very securely fastened with copper and treaDas Her
| floors moulded IA inches, sided inches, aud the
frames II inches apart at contres The keel has
depth OF II inches. she is supplied with vertical beam
engine, the cylinder being IS inches in diameter Tho
piston has stroke Of ii feet, and the engine Is fitted
with mechanical arrangement that cuts the oil Al;
shell drop tue boiler Length Of boiler 90 feet besd.S
10 feet; height exclusive OF steam chimney 10 feet II
contains two furnaces the breadth OF each being
inches cng.h O CRATE bars, feet number Of fues
above six of Is inches diameter In centre six Of Is
inches, and below there are two or % inches
and two OK IA inches in diameter The lengths
Of the respective fues follows: Above Is feet:
in centre fifteen feet ten inches below
ten inches Tho smoke pipe is four feet six inches in
diameter and its height Is forty eight feet The water
wheels twenty ono feet in diameter over boards.
length Of wheel blades nine feet dcpth twelve inches
number eighteen. The hull q this vessel was bpjt in
the latter part OF 1860, BY Deyine Burtis Rcd Hook L. r
The machinery constructed by William Birkbeck
Jersey City, n.
such are Tho full and particulars OF two or ,bo
bes toughest, staunchest and fastest craft of their
class that ever left New York harhor This has been de-
telnt1ed by experimental trrH. and wish no better
gunb than these would make in placing an cnactua,
check the smuggling business CT the pirates who infect
| The Southern coast.
Recent intelligence received through private source
that the MAJOR portion Of The that were
stored the Navy Yard at Norfolk have been removed
but TO Whit places haya been unable to ascertain
Norfolk very well defended there are some Is 600
men in arms there. Along either side e the town are
batter r neayy armament extending Tor three or four
mes Mast If Hic troops have gone into winter quar-
tors having puilt themselves wooden hits Ter that prr-
pose collin ~ every description vas held at eyGrbi.
iani prices con,pon back lrcns selling for Sl3
So and black rcc coats from so S4s Coffee fty-
i've 10 sixty cchts pcr pound and the oommones. sugar
readily brings eighteen ssns per pound; lard, thirty