The weekly pioneer and Democrat., 1861-12-13
VOL. XIII.--NO. 26
ABSTRACTS OF
DEPARTMENT REPORTS.


The duties OF the navy during the past
summer have been threet0id 10 guard the
insurgents ports and coast line of nearly
three thousand miles to protect our mar
itime commerce and cruise 10 pursuit OF
piratica vessels sent out by the cOneder-
ates and to take part IN combined naval
and military expeditions against \ orth and
south Carolina, and the ports OF the inject
cd districts. The report of the Secretary
of the Navy gives detailed information OF
the manner in which these arduou6 duties
have been performed.
Vessels have been sunk in Ocrac0He IN.
Lex. or the \ C1th Carolina coast, and Others
are about to be sunk in the haroors of
Charleston anu Savannah.
One hundred and fifty three vessels, OF va
rious sizes, have been captured since tn
institution OF the blockade.
The naval expeditions were, it seems
planned after receiving the reports OF a
board OF officers, who deliberated On the
best points to be attacked and siezed. This
board consisted of Captains j +. Dupont
and Charles Il. Davis, OF the navy Major
J onn o. Barnard, Of the army and Protes
sor Alexander Bache, OF the coast survey:
The Secretary reports that hag-otficer
\ II. .FoOte of the Navy, has organized
81 efficient naval force in tae Mississippi,
auxiliary to the army.
OF privateers the report states that "auch
OF these cruisers as eluded the blockade and
capture were soon wrecked, beached or sunk,
with the exception of one, the steamer Sump-
ter, which By some fatality was permitted
TO BASS ihe Brook yn, then block ding one
OF the passes of the Mississippi, and after
bciei ami feeble chase by the latter was al
Owed 10 proceed On her piratical voyage.
Al Investigation o! the whole occurrence
mas been ordered by the departm mt
The Secretary fully sustains the act of
Captain Wilkes in capturing Mason anu
Slidell. He says admirably:
Ihe prompt aud decisive action of
captain Wilkes Oh this occasion nierited
and received the emphatic approval OF the
department, ana il a TOO generous lorbear-
ance was exhibited by him in no. capturing
the vessel which had these rebe! emissa-
-ies on board, it may, IL view of the special
circumstances, and OF its patriotic motives
Oe excused but II must by 10 means De
permitted 10 constitute Il precedent hereai-
III lOr the treatment 2t any case OF similar
lotractioa oi leG.c4i obligations By foreign
vessels engaged IL commerce Or carrying
trade"
There were, on the 4th 0. Mach last, 10
commission AMI at the service OF the Secy5
tary Of the Navy, Cnly ~ vessels, carrying
55j guns, and 800 men. There are to-
day IN commission, 264 vessels, carrying
2557 guns, ani over % coo meu This
is al immense wCgk 10 DO in a little more
,lau eight months. Besides this, theye will
/ be ready very shortly, iiisy-two new steam
+ ess. d" peculiarly adapted 10 coast guard
daty > three OF which are Ir0G clad.
Tie Secretary advises the creation OF
more grades n me naval service, as likely
to aQj % The efficiency OF the work, by
making the rewards more frequent. Also.
+ le recommends : rule that officers 0e e
tired vita q sulici ut allowance, after forty
tya year, service. Twenty FIVE acting
..IU.enant5, 0UT hundred aud thirty three
ac,.Ng mast.rs. 4nd two auailed ana niue
masters mates, nave b5eu appointed, in
order 10 ha,e 5.noeyB enough ior the 30
largely increased aavy. There have also
oecL acting engineers and Surveyors ap,
POINTED
rs SECRETARY AXIS Congress % foster
ne NA7a 3cGOoi 10 such degree that at
.Jas, d0uo,a Tie usual lumbeg 0i cadets
+ may oe Instructed.
On t1e slavery question The 5ecsstary
says nothing oct the following, "oa the
! employment ot iugitives," will show that
be proposes 10 protect loyal aien, and arrest
/ insurgents without asking /, taey pc 9iack
/ or white. lie says;
{. IN tu4 -.,,.t sui-, ,,d
/ O. The navy Il has been not unfrequent that
idsitvts from insuneciiouary places nave
sought our ships tor refuge aud protection
and our naval commanders have applied 10
me Tor instruction az to the proper dispOs.
. uon Wnicn should he made OF such refugees
Ny answer h4s been that if Insurgents they
J should be handed over to the custody OF the
government: but H. on the contrary. ,hev
were Tree from any voluntary participation
il the rebellion, and sought the shelter and
! protection Of our tl4g, then they sho.Id be
cared for and employed in some useful
! manner, and might be enisted to serve on
our puolc vessels Or III our navy Yards.
receiving wages for their labor L! such
employment could not be furnished to all
by the navy they might be referred 10 the
army, and it no employment could be found
for them il the public service they should
be allowed to proceed tr=eiy and peaceaoly
without restraint, to seek livelihood in any
l0ya! portion OF the country. This | have
considered to oe the whole required duty 10
the premises, of our naval officers
The naval estimates for the year ending
June 30, 1868, amount to $44 ,625 665
and besides This, the Secretary reports a de.