Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1861-09-13
The United States Navy.

certain class Of persons are constantly COM
planning Of the ineficiency Of the naTy and point
ing to the escape of vessels from the blockading
squadron as evidences OF want OF energy on the
part OF the Administration. These croakers cannot
have carefuls examined the operations of the Navy
Department or watched the gigantic efforts which
are now being made to increase our navy.
When the Administration came into power on
the 4Eh Of March, oar fleets had been purpcsely
scattered over foreign by the traitors Of
the defunct Administration our Cuff Sqaldron
existed 6nt In name, and the work of creating
navy and recalling ships of necessarily devol-
we'd upon the new government.
The Secretary of the Navy Immediately pro-
ceeded to order home all vessels within reach, and
to strsngthea the service by the purchase of ves-
sells which could be fttef out with the least ex-
pense aud the greatest despatch.
The result Of nearly six months of unre9itting
labor is that We have original navy at home,
with the exception OF twenty-five vessels. OF
these latter three steam soops, one steam frigate,
two sloops aud two store ships, are on the Pacific
coast; one steamer and one sloop are foreign
stations; and four steam sloopS, two screw steam
ers. three soOps and two stoTeshps are on their
way home.
OF the regular vessels of the hayy now engaged
in blockade service are four frigates OF so guns
each; five screw frigates, four carrying A, and
one II guns; ten sloops Of war arryIng from Il
TO "A guns; two steam sloops carrying Is guns
each two screw sloops carrying guns each; two
sidewheel stugners of II guns each one brig Of 8
guns. and one sde-yheel steamer of 5 guns
Thirfy-one vessels, Iangug in class from the steam
tug carrying one gdn To the propeller gun-boat Of
nine guns, Lave be- purchased aud are active
IL engaged on blockade service. This force has an
a. tgreglte asmameHt of 697 guns, ana carries g.,
2l2 men.
On ths Potomac river we have, of the regular
navy, four vessels. Twenty one haveg been pur-
chased, under charter for this department Of
the service
Ernrnvrrred S,v tha reoent acts NJ Cap0resS fha
Navy Department has ordered the construction OF
eight steam sle5ps-ofwar, all OF which under
way, and four viii be launched within 3 short
time; twenty -tlree gun boais, five of which have
already been launched, and al OF whl. are ca
pected 10 BE- reaGy hg the hrs, 81 0rtohcr aud
twelve side-wheel steamers. i've u wlIcl " II be
built at navy yards, 'aia se'ea by private eon-
tract.
In addition To this the Cove rnment have pur-
chased fifty vessels, t5tty sevca OF which now
being converted into guH0ais or siOre-ships.-
These vessels comprise al ls,s es, from the steam
tug to the steamship, and rosh lis schooner 10 the
ship.
Eiaeseep haIks have also been purchased, which
VIII oe sunk nets the Soatiisr coast. The pri-
ees psid for tAe vessels purchased ihe Government
have led from $l.250 10 $2O1,0JO. This does
not include, however, the cost OF the hulks, OF
( which no statement has Yet been mate. Six
Steamers enumerated above the bl0ckading
or Potomac sqpadTons, are uutrr charter at from
81 600 to SS O,0 per meath, and four steaIa tugs
have been chartered for immediate service at from
$50 20 $40 dollars per day.
That the Government has net been idle can be
plainly seen, and that the vessels service have
not been unprOftably cruising will appear from the
following
There have been CAPTURED by our blockade and
Potomac fleets thirteen ships, bsrks, four bligS
fOrty-fse schobnsrs, t,iee stoups, fJar tHg boats
and two priyatsers, besides number OF Other
yessels