Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1861-12-19
Abstract Of the Report OF the Sec.
Rotary OF the Navy.

summer has been threefoltl. To guard the
insurgent ports and a coast line of near
three thousand miles to protect our mari
time commerce and cruise ir pursuit of pi
ratcal vessels sent out by the Confederates
and to take part in combined naval and mil
itary expeditions against North aud Soutl
Carolina, and the ports OF the infected dis
.ricts. The report of the Secretary Of thu
Navy gives detailed information of the man.
ner in which these arduous duties have beer
perpormed.
Vessels have been sunk in Ocracoke Inlet
on the North Carolina coast, and others are
about to be sunk in the harbors of Charles.
ton and Savannah.
One hundred and fifty-thrcc vessels of va.
rious sizes, have been captured since the in,
stitution of the blockade, most Of them i,l
attempting to run 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 seized. The board
consisted of Captains J. F. Dupont and
Charles II. Davis, of the navy; Major John
G. Barnard, of tho army, and Professor Al
exander Bacho, Of the coast survey.
The Secretary reports that Flag Officer A.
H. Foote, Of the navy, had organized an
efficient naval force in the Mississippi, aux
Hilary to the army.
OF privatoers, the report states that "such
Of these cruisers as eluded the blockade and
capture were soon wrecked, beached, or sunk
with the exception Of one, the steamer Sum-
ter, which, by some fatality, was permitted
to pass the Brooklyn, then blockading one
of the passes of the Mississippi, and after
brief and feeble chase by the latter, was al
lowed to proceed on her piratical voyage.
An investigation of this whole occurrence
has been ordered by the Department.
The Secretary fully sustains the act of
Captain Wilkes in capturing Mason and
Sldell. He says admirably.
"The prompt and decisive action Of Cap
tain Wilkes on this occasion mcrted and re-
ceived the emphatic approval Of the De-
partment and if a too generous forbearance
was exhibited by him in not capturing the
vessel which had these rebel cmissaries on
board, it may, in view of the special circum-
stances, and Of its patriotic motives, be OK.
used. But it must by no means be per-
nitted to constitute precedent hereafter |
Tor the treatment of any case of similar III
fraction of neutral obligation by foreign YES
'els engaged in commerce or the carrying
rade."
There were, on the 4th Of March last. in |
commission and at the service of the Secre.
AIRY Of the Navy, only IL vessels, carrying
'55 guns, and 1900 men. There are, to-
lay, in commission, 264 vessels, carrying
1857 guns, and over $4,000 men This is
N immense work to do In little more than
light months. Besides this, there will be
eady, very shortly, ifty-two new steamers,
peculiarly adapted to coast-guard duty"
hree of which are iron-clad.
The Secretary advises the creation Of
nore grades in the naval service, as likely to
id to the efficiency of the work, by making
he rewards more frequent. Also he REQ
DIS rule that officers be retired with
sufficient allowance, after forty-fve years
ervice. Twenty-Five acting lieutenants,
our hundred and thirty-three acting mas
ers, and two hundred and nine masters
,ates have been appointed. in order to have
Ulcers enough for the so largely increased
avy. There have also been acting engin-
ers and surveyors appointed.
The Secretary asks Congress to foster the
laval School to such degree that at least
ouble the usual number of cadets may be
On the slavery question the Secretary
ays hothing, but the following, "on the en-
loyment of fugitivcs," will show that he
roposes to protect loyal men, ard arrest in
lrgents, without asking if they are black
r white. He says:
ain the coastwse and blockadirg duties of
he navy it has not been unfrequent that
nsitircs from insurrectionary places have