New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-12-04
of the sentinel ships whose special duty was TO In
terdict commerce with the insurgents.

of the sentinel ships whose special duty it was to in
terdict commerce with the insurgents.
THE POTOMAC FLoTILLA.
II became necessary at an early period to place 9
fotila on the lower Potomac. A variety Of circum
stances combined to render this Of the most EN-
barrussing duties on the whole nlsurgent frontier
and it was early foreseen by the Department that
without the active cooperation OF the army il would
BE impossible to prevent the navigation OF the river
from being obstructed by batteries the Virginia
side. Foi several months. however, the navy, with
out aid, succeeded more ehectually than could have
been expected in keeping the ryerOpeu for CONNER
cial PURPOSES and restricting, TO great extent COM
limitation between the opposite shores. In the he
rOc discharge OF this duty the first commander OF the
fola losg bic lie, but the navy continued to cap
ture every rebel vessel which showed iself on the
Potomac and TO give security and protection to the
commerce OF loyal citizens, until the cose OF October,
when the insurgents erected batteries at sundry
points on the Virginia shore, thereby rendering pas
rage on lhe river dangerous.
THE soUADRONs.
The duty Of guarding the coast and enforcing the
blockade has been one Of great labor as well as
eeaselesj vigilance and responsibility. With the
steadily increasing force that added to the susdrons,
the efforts OF the insurgents to erde our ships were
also increased in order to supply the pressing neces-
sites that afflicted the whole Of the rebel States.
The duties imposed upon the hsg-ofcers became
respondiDgy arduous and eventually more extensive
In their operation and detail than could be well exc
cuted by one commander. While the subject Of a
division OF the squadrons was under consideration,
Flag-O officer Stringham unaware of the fact made a
proposition TO relnguish his command, which was
acceded 10, and two squadrons were organized on
the Atlantic Coast. Capt. Louis M. Godsborough
was appointed TO guard the shores OF virginia ana
North Carolina, and raised bis flag on the Minnesota
on the 23d of September The residue OF the South
ern Atlantic Coast commencing al the line which
ser rQe s la Two extending
Florida, was intrusted TO CAPT Samuel i. Du Pont,
whose flag raised on the Wabash, on the 18th OF
October.
Flag Officer William Mervine was relieved from
the command of the Gulf Squadron in September by
Capt. William W. Mexican. The necessity OF
dividing this squadron, well that on the Allan
tic seatofrd in order that the coast should be more
rgidly guarded, was felt; but the was post
poned until larger force could be sent around the
peninsula. vigilant watch has been maintained al
the passes OF the Nissi'sppi, by which the commerce
of New Orleans has been successfully interdcted.
The task Of blockadDg the coast is unattractive
and devoid OF adventure. Those who have engaged
in this rebellion have neither commerce nor o navy
TO reward or stimulate TO exortion.
SINKING VESSELS.
One method OF blockadng the ports OF the insur-
gent States, and nterdctiDg communication, IA well
TO prevent tie egress OF privateers which sought
to depredae commerce, has been that of sink
ing in the channels vessels laden with stone. The
first movement in this direction was on the North
Carolina coast, where there are numerous inles TO
Albemare and Pamlieo Sounds and other interior
waters, which afforded facilities for GLIDING the
blockade and aIao to the nrivnteers. For this Dur.
nose class of small vessels were nurchssed in BaI-
timore some of which have been niaced in Ocracoks
inlet.
Another and larger description Of vessels were
bought in the eastern market, most Of them such
were formerly employed in the whale fisheries.
These were sent 10 obsruct the channels of Charles
ton barbor and the Savanna river, and tbis II ef.
fectually done will prove the most economical and
satisfactory method Of nte,dctinr commerce at those
noin,s
VESSELS CAPTURED.
Since the institution Of the blockade 1888 vessels
have been capture sailing under various flags most
Of which were attempting 10 violate the blockade.
With few exceptions, these vessels in such
diton, when seized M TO authorize their being cent
at once 10 the courts for adudicaton and condemna
ton a. prizes Appended 10 this report is list Of
the vessels which have been captured.
s,,.,,,,. m, ,,,,,r,,,,,, uo,rs
sS"I VI 'Uo inins I'm, a..
SEIZURE oi some vi t.e hnpo''ans poi.s on 'ne
coast commanded 'he carry ana eaines' A''sn,ion VI
ths department. was Ioupu 'nas naNaI s,a'ol'
ana haro9IS OF refuge ouiinR we ,enpcs'uous sea'
sois "oIiu w iurP ~ n"rs'uee VIZ W nc
eohlih1eo, hha we stations thus sruuiea oouio a'so
oe nlue .nc pvin's VI in,a! olela''o ..
Snol'y N.Y. w. III ~, ',,o I -.
uiH"n W 'niS supJoo, poniu wac wi" oneu u,ue
the auspices % the navy I1"sIsB ..
Iap's' oainnei r. Dupoh, ana tnaIies IL pa'h .,
tne nav siaor 9onn ". paihaiu VI eno Amy, a.u
fFoi' AleAander Dacne OF 'hs eIas, survey 70 %hon
thofoueh ihSes'saloh % we eoi,. ai' S.
tneir ac.ess anu ueienSes, VIZ ia,
tGGaG anu r~, A., ,hs ~ odvsu,soea
~ -; dg ains, go. &C.,
81 - -, ara ,bs as,,i, - Ia a.,
D'e pU1' ~ isv ,'' "'' WIZ
80 ~ a. ,h,. ,o,,oa ,,o combined
G ', NJ. u,'. ,;i;nns 49,, ",,aod1 hasn
nasni mn n ~, 800 ST. nav" 'eara,;cyn ana
ans put ., - o. n,IIa
~ oi i.d;L,. ,h',I ~ NJ
sersre Ms,e nun pensaoi lol, ,uoas" 'ne "sS
niono nisnt assi anu oale'o ~ I'm
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