The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-07-09

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Pacic the steamer Fulton seized Pensacola and
one gate two sloops and one brig were burned at Nor
folk These vessels carried l72 guns The other
destroyed at Norfolk considered worthless and are
not included in the list of available vessels
These losses lett at the disposal of the department 62
vessels, carrying l74 guns all of which now
Will be, in commission, with the exception of the
Vermont, shipofthe line ............... 81
Brandywne, frgate. ate..................., SO
Decatur, sloop, at San Francisco. .......,, l6
D. hancock, steam tender, San Francisco 8
There have been recently added to the navy by pur
chase, y steamers CARRYING from to guns each and
three SAILING vessels There have been chartered nine
steamers, carrying from to guns each By these ad
dions the naval force in commission has increased
10 o. vessels carrying upwards of l00 guns and with
marine complement of about l3 900 exclusive of off.
GERS and marines. There also several and
other small craft which temporarily in the ice of
the department " "
Purchases of sailing ships have been made for trans
porting the steamers that are performing dnt~ S
sentnels before the principal harbors. would be mex
pedient. and attended with much loss of time as well as
great additional expense to compel the when
short of fuel to leave their the
nearest depot distant in most cases several hundred
miles to obtain supply In the absence of anx nrone
or suitable stations buildings for storing coal huks
have been provided to be anchored at some convenient
place for the use of the squadron
The squadron on the Atlantic coast, under the com
mand of Flag officer s. H. Stringham consists of ~ YES
sells. 296 guns, and 800 men,
The squadron in the Gulf, under the OF Flag
and $500 men.
Additions have been made to each of the souadrons of
TWO or three small vessels that have been captured and
taken into the rvce The steamers Pawnee and Poca-
hantas and the otila under the late Commadner Ward
with several steamboats, in charge of naval officers
been employed on the Potomac river to prevent
ncation with that portion of Virginia which is in
fecon Great service has been rendered by this armed
force, which has been vigant in nterceptng supplies
and In protecting transports and suppyvessels in their
passage up and down the Potomac
The hola, the 9th uit. met with serious ard
sad loss in the death of its gallant commander
ward who died at his post while covering the retreat
his men from the assault of an overpowerng number OF
rebel enemies In the death of Commander Ward the
navy has lost brave officer who has by
itary and scientific contributions served it faithfully in
varied Spheres aud promised much for it in future
The squadron in the Pacific under the command of Flag
officer John B. Montgomery, consists of vessels, 50
guns and LOCO men.
TheWest India squadron is under the command of Flag
officer g. j. Pendergrast, who has been temporarily
duty with his ag ship the Cumberland at Norfolk and
Hampton Roads since the 23d of March He will at an
early day, trans fer his flag the steam gate Roanoke
aud proceed southwark having charge interests
the Mexican and Central American coasts and in the
West India islands.
The East India Mediterranean, Brazil and African
squadrons excepting vessel of each Of the latter
have been recalled
The of these vessels will add to the force for SER
vice in the Gulf and on the Atlantic about 200 guns
and 250O men.
Since the 4th of March hundred and fifty nine
of the have resigned their commissions been
dismissed from the service This dminuou of officers,
at time when the force greatly enlarged and when
the whole naval armament of the country put in
QUESTION, has compelled the department send of
public vessels to without full complement
rcers. To extent this deficiency has supplied
by gentlemen formerly connected with the navy who had
retired to civil pursuits in peaceabe times but who. in
the spirit of true patriotism, promptly forward in
the hour their country's peril and made voluntary ten
der Of their services to sustain the flag country
The department gladly avaed itself of the tender thus
patroticaly made and received these gentlemen into the
service in the capacity of acting eutenant The
rity with which they presented themselves for duty in
any position the government might assign them. when
others who had been the trusted and honored recipen
of government favors were deserving the standard,
less honorable to them than to the profession which
| they adorned and the country which they loved.
Tie authorized increase OF enlistment and the imme
diae establishment OF naval rendezvous at all the prn
cpal seapors with abbreviaon of the enlist
ment, enabled the department to recruit sufficient
number of to vessels added the
with almost much rapidy as they could be prepared
armed and equipped Only one or two ships have expe
rienced any detention for the want of crew, and
beyond two or three days At period of history
has the force had great and rapid an increase
and never have seamen ard with NOR
alacriy and zeal to serve the country.
The Naval School and public property at Annapoli
attracted the attention of the dsloyal and dsafecte
about the period when the conspiracy eliminated Som
demonstrations made towards seizng the property
also the rgate Constitution which had been place
at Annapolis IN connection with the school, Tor the bent
tit of the youths who being educated for the publ
service. Prompt rescued tha rigate and go
ernment properly from desecraon and punder, and Il
young men, under the superintendent and guidance
Captain Blake contributed in small degree the
suit. As it was impossible in the then existing coud
ton of affairs in Annapolis and in Maryland, continu
the school at that point and the valuable pubic pro
in jeopardy, it became necessary til
institution elsewhere Newport, Rhode Island, presene
many advantages and the War Department tendere
Fort Adams for the temporary occupation OF the student
s@iee accepted, and the school, with tn
uei l4tsDiiS l,.055S-.,-, we're removed ththe
-l-o SchUoi Ieduced by I'll
resignation arIy every student from the insure
tonary REGION and call of the elder classes to actiy
professional duty younger classes thai remain for
nucleus to re establish and give vitality
tuition.
Some legislation will be necessary not only in relao
to what has been done, but with view the
tinued of the school, which has already accom-
plished so much towards the efficiency and elevation
the navy. By the existing law the appon of stu
dents can be made only upon recommendation of til
member of Congress from the district in which app
cant resides and in he omlts to make selection OF
suitable person there no way provided TO Nil the va
cancy. In consequence of hs regulation the school ha
not its authorized number for nearly onethrd fthe dis
rctS neglect refuse to be represented at the Academy
and there is no legal way of supplying this deGcenc
from other districts, although the applications nun
erous
Congress provide this deficit and it is mor
over worthy of consideration whether for a period
least the numbers in the school should be increase
, ! until full complement of officers is supplied.
In the ordnance branch OF the service there has bee
great activity, and the works at the Navy Yard in hi
city have been in constant operation day ana night
meet, far possible the extraordinary demands ths
Washington yard, the I'D of April, d. cned furthe
connection with the government, and was dismissed I'll
service it was believed the true interest of the countr
would promoted by placing the yard and foundry
charge of the efficient and capable officer whose reput;
on in connection with ordinanc. is national If hi
rank did not, according to usage, entitle him to th
position, his mer did. To obviate difficulty, and pac
that branch the service in proper working condition
| would recommend that there be appointed an officer,
be known the Director of Ordnance shall, undt
the dep 4rtment have the immediate supervision of til
manufacture, description and supply of ordnance ft
the navy in all its details
The Observatory for many years under the supernter
dence of officer who had gained distinguished Iepu
tion in connection with the institution was abandoned
. him a very abrupt the 10th of April o
receiving intelligence that lie had without previous ii
tmaton of his intention deserted the post that had bee
= cou fded him, gentleman emnently adapted to II
i place, who had moreover, been early identified VITA
Observatory was at once placed the position 1t Civ
- me pleasure say that in many respects the chans
has been Improvement, while trust that neither Il
country nor the cause of science will experience al
y detrment therefrom.
chan &c modification of the law regulating the
ration to meet the existing condition
things. Nearly the whole of the present naval sreng
of the country is employed on part uar service w
extends along the coast effective force being station
at each of the principal harbos 1t is important that
should remain duty at their stations as long
possible to guard the coast and event illegal commer
That they do this satisfactorily 1t is essential I'll
the have frequent supplies Of fresh provisions a
h other necessares conducive health. The departme
l. has already far innovated to send forward car
of fresh supplies and proposes continue thus
ply the Of the squadron until the nsurreetion
suppressed Provisions and stores will in this manner
oired for the subsistence health of the crews Coz
~ muncaion with each Of the principal stations VIII be
hiished bv these dispatch boats which will carry
receive from the sauadrons letters, convey recruit
"a bring home nvads and while performing these servic
! | will also discharge coast-guard duty.
of the number of surgeons and assistant u
geons also recommended in conformity with the su
gestons the chief of the Bureau OF Medicine aud 81
. | gerry copy of his report is herewith transmitted
The DEFICIENCIES that present exist will doubtless so
be filed the full compile nent allowed by the exis
"A |
! vice.
n The additional number of vessels employed called
q additional pavmasters beyond the number limited BY la
n and the department, under the eNlsung necessity
+ pointed acting paymasters. Where this appointment
been necessary it usually been connected with at
captains clerk who has been required to give bonds
II the money property entrusted to his hands, and
10 confidential relations with his commander have been
10 that it has been deemed further security. would
commend there be increase of the corps of
ters or perhaps may be well to have class Of assists
e paymast.rs compensation and with less respon
hiity. The minor appointment may be made prem
nary step to the mportant Office of pavmaster
id 1t became ecessary to enlarge the marine corps
n order that it should correspond in some degree WIN
general increase Of other branches of the service %
of the authority the act of Congress OF le49 TWO au
tons have been made to this corps, whlGn @ NV e
or inc the Staff remain the same in point of numbers
hen the corps consisted Of but 900 men This NUM-
aItogeber insufficient and it is therefore recommend
- thare be an additional number created, and If
-, session is sufficiently prolonged an entire reofganlza
re | of the corps may be eXpedlent
al There has been, from necessity, large number OF
inc masters and masters mates appointed from the co
N mercia marine to meet the wants of the service IN
officers, generally of great experience ana lhlehiseh
and occupyng the highest position in the merchant
in vice have youHtarily forward and offered the
selves for useful duty board public vessels wh
rt they are contributing to the efficiency of the Navy
ID Much attention has been given, within the last
mt wears to the subject Of floating batteries or iron
,c- steamers. Other governments, and particularly Fra
he and England have made it special object in connex
with naval improvements; and the ingenuity and inv
of tive faculties of countymen have also been st
uaed by towards the construction
AS this class vessels The period is perhaps, one
oc adapted heavy expe ditures by way of experim
in. and the and attention of of those who
petent investigate and form correct conclusions on
art subject, otherwise employed would however
i've commend the appointment of proper and c0mpe
ess board to inquire into and report in regard to
important; and it is for Congress to decide
favorable report, they will order one or NOR itb v
steamers or floating batteries to he ordna
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