Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1861-12-13
The American NAVY.

Secretary Welles Report is full and interest
ing. 1t first treats Of the blockade, the neces-
sites of which. coming upon US, as that work
did when there were but a very limited number
of ships and men at command, rendered it nee
essary to employ not only all of the naval force,
but vessels from the commercial marine. Many
vessels were purchased and chartered and ord
ers issued to Immediately put into commission
all the national vessels that were lying disman-
tied at the Navy Yards. The force thus gathered
was put into two squadrons, one of which, de-
nominated the Atlantic blockading squadron,
had for its field of operations the whole coast
from the eastermost line Of Virginia to Cape
Florida, and was under command of ConmO-
dore Stringham. The other or Gulf squadron
operated from Cape Florida westward to the Rio
Grande and was commanded by Commodore
MerviDe. The blockade was rendered as effec-
tive as the peculiar nature of our frontier would
admit. Much of the coast is very shallow, and
also has double coast, outer and inner render
ing it very difficult for our large war vessels to
operate favorably.
1t early became necessary to establish flo
tilla upon the Potomac, which it was extremely
difficult TO do, as it was almost impossible 10
prevent the rebels from erecting batteries upon
the banks so long as they held possession of
them. The hotilla accomplished, however, all
| itcould have been expected to do, and gave Sc
curty TO commerce until the close of October,
when the batteries rendered navigation difficult
| In the discharge of this duty the first comman-
der of the fotilla lost his life.
! 1t was found necessary to divide the Atlantic
squadron into two, which was done, Capt. Colds
borough being appointed Flag officer of the
northern division, and Capt. Dupont of the
southern, Com StringhaIn having previously
! rendered his resignation of his command. Capt.
Mexican succeeded Flag officer Mervine in the
Gulf in September. In order to more effectu-
ally blockade the ports and inlets upon the coast
vessels have been sent out laden with stone to
be sunk in the channels. This has been done
at many minor inlets, and more recently flee
has been sent to thus close the entrances Il
Charleston and Savannah, which viii prove thu
most economical and satisfactory method of in
, tcrdicting commerce at these ports.
Since the institution of the blockade, on,
, hundred and fifty-t vessels have been cap
J tured while attempting to evade the blockade.
Early in the year the subject of the seisure o
some of the Southern ports was considered, anC
board was convened consisting of Captains
Dupont and Davis of the Navy, Maj. Barnard Of
r the Army and Prof Bache of the Coast Sur.
vey, TO whom thorough investigation of South
ern coasts and harbors was committed. Acting
upon these considerations, two expeditions werC
fitted out, to Hatteras and Port Royal. Boil
these were eminently successful. In the latter
Flag Officer Dupont had discretion as to what
point should be secured, within certain limits
The Secretary pays high compliment to Com
mOdore Dupont for the "consummate naval
strategic skill and the most admirable gunnery
which was displayed upon that occasion. Since
that time, Tybee Island, at the mouth of Sa
vannah river, has also been occupied.
All of the rebel priyateers have been captur
ed wrecked, beached or sunk, with the excep
tion of the Sumter, which is still at large AM
which has been received and her wants supplied
D against the remonstrance ofour consuls at port
l,f %, G,r.l.a lae
known.
y Upon the Mason and Slidell capture the Sec
% retary uses the following emphatic language
: "The prompt and decisive action of Captai
0 Wilkes on this occasion nerted and receive
4 the emphatic approval of the Department, an
: if a too generous forbearance was exhibited b
him in not capturing the vessel which had thes
t rebel enemies on board, it may, in view of tn
: special circumstances, and of its patriotic mo
tives be excused; but it must by no means b
. permitted to constitute precedent hereafte
for the treatment of any case of similar infrac
= tiOn of neutral obligations by any foreign yes
@ sells engaged in commerce or the carrying trade.
n On the 4th of March last, the home squadrol
consisted of twelve vessels, of which only tn
. Pawnee, Crusader Mohawk and Supply wer
= in Northern ports and available for SERVICE
Q The Sabine, st. Louis, Brooklyn and WyandC
were at Pensacola, the Macedonian at Yer
Cruz, and the Cumberland, Pocahontas an
/ POwhattan were returning from that station
II The Richmond, Susquehanna and Irequois hav
d returned from the Mediterranean, the Constel
lation, Portsmouth, Mohican, Mystic, Sumte
San Jacinto and Release from the coast of A
'e rica, and the Congress and Seminole from Il
I, coast of Brazil The John Adams Hartford an
ir Dacotah have not arrived from the East Indie
, while the Saratoga will remain upon the Goa
of Africa, the Pulaski upon the coast of Braz
Vi and the Saginaw at the East indies. When Il
le vessels now building and purchased, of eve
Ye class, are armed and equipped and ready for Sc
IN vice, the Navy will consist of the following;
NJ II