New-York daily tribune., 1861-07-07


perform continuous duty OF the harbors in all weathers
They WILL it is believed, answer temporary Purpos
for the Simmer months, but stronger and dlieien
description of vessel is necessary for She Autumn AM
Winter. The Department, beside purchasing, has
Therefore contracted for the building OF Is gunboas
each Of 500 tuns burden; and has made preliminar,
arran gements for several larger and eeter vessels
which shall not only aid in preventing illegal com
merce, but be made particularly servceaole IN sup
pressing depredations that which Is legal Botn o
these casses are of sizes inferior to the soopsofwai
ordered by the last Congress.
The Department, in carrying the order OF the last
session into effect directed the construction OF Two
vessels q. each Of the four yards making eight inseao
of seven to be built In consequence OF the great
activity and heavy demands at all the yards TO equip
and prepare every available vessel for serylee the
construction Of these soops has been retarded but If
now being prosecuted with vgor, and we may expect
they will be completed at the earliest possible period
The authority for these purchases and contracts is to
be found In the necessities and condition OF the country
and the times. The action Of the Department may re-
Quire the sanction Of Congress TO give it validity. II
il shall be asserted that has been committed
in thus providing for the wants Of the service and the
Government much greater error would have been
committed it s believed in the omission TO lave made
such provision under existing uecessiies.
VESSELS IN SERVICE.
OF the 60 vessels carrying 1886 guns, hereinbefore
mentioned az available Tor service on the 4th OF March
last the loop Levan has been given up as lost IN the
Pacific; the steamer Fulton was seized at Pensacola;
and rgate, two sloope, and one brig were burned
at Norfolk. These vessels carried l72 guns The other
vessels destroyed ut Norfolk were considered worthless
and are not included in the list Of available vessels.
These osses left at the disposal Of the department 62
vessels, carrying 1l74 guns, all Of which aIe now, or
will be, in commission, with the exception Of the
Vermont ship ofthe-ine ne'.'''''..''''..."''''''''
BBrsnay"ihe rgats e. T.,; iS
peS'I peSp HsseSa .esm.tspSer az sn Frsici:co.
There has been recently added to the Navy, by pur
chase, II steamers, carrying from to guns each,
and sailing vessels. There have been chartered =
Steamers carving from TO 9 guns each. BY these
additions the naval force in commission has been in
creased 50 vessels carry ing upward OF l,lOO guns
and with comp plemen Of about 49, 900 men, exclusive
Of officers and marines There also several steam
boats and other small craft which are Temporarily
in the Sc vice Of the Department.
Purhaes of sailing ships have been made for trans
PORTING Goals TO the steamers that are performing duty
ennels before the principal harbors IL would be
inexpedien and attended with much loss OF time, az
well az great additional expense, to compel the steam
ers when short Of fuel TO leave their stations and pro-
ceed the nearest depot distant In most cases several
hundred miles TO obtain supply. In the absence OF
aIy proper or suitable stations buildings for storing
Goals, hulks have been provided, to be anchored at
some cOnvebient place for the OF the squadron.
The squadron on the Atlantic coast under the COM
mand of Flag.Ofi 3 IL. StriHgham, consists Of %
vessels, 900 guns, aud !, 800 men.
The squadron in the Gulf, under the command OF
Flag Officer William Mervne, consists OF II yeseeE,
2S2 guns, and 500 men.
Additions have been made TO each of the squadrons,
of two or three small vessels that have been captured
and taken into the service. The steamers Pswnee and
Pocahontaa and the iioils under the late Commander
Ward, with several steamboats, In charge OF naval
officers have been employed the Potomac River, to
prevent communication with that portion of Virginia
which il in iusurrecton. Great service has been rem
dertd by this armed force which has been vglant in
nerce ptng suppes and in protecting transports aud
.upply-vessels in their passage up and down the Po-
tonne.
The aotilIa on the 9th ultimo met with serious and
sad loss in the death of its gallant commander, james
H. Ward who died AZ his post, while covering the re-
treat of his men from the assault of an overpowering
number Of rebel enemies. La the death OF Conlman-
der Ward the Navy has lost brave officer, who has
enriched it by military and scientific contributions,
served il fi hiully in varied spheres, and promised
much for il in the future.
The squadron in the Pacific, under the command Of
Flag Officer John b. Montgomery, eonsiste of yes
sel., 81 guns, and 900 men.
Tie West India squadron Is under the command Of
Flae.Oalcer G.. j. Pendergrst. who has been tempe
rariIy on duty, wi bis flagship the Cumberland, at
Norfolk al d Hampton Roads, since tie I'D OF March
he will at an early day, transfer his flag to the steam
frigate Roanoke, and proceed sodthward, having IN
charge our interests on the Mexican and Central Anne
rican coasts, and iu the West India Islands
The East lnda. Mediterranean, Brazil, and African
ouadrons excepting vessel OF each OF the TWO lat
ter have been recalled. ,.
service in the Gull and the Atlantic coast about 2VO
guns and >, ooV men. .., IN orr,c,ns
S;c M. AN of Mach, 259 officers Of tie navy have
,.si1, ed their e.----is-ioIs or been disn - - . .
servi,e. Tins dininution of officers, at time whe1
the force was greatly enlarged, and when the whole
naval armament Of the country was put in requisltion
has compelled the department TO seid many Of our
public vessels 10 sea without full complement Of Off
cers. 10 some extent this deficiency has been sup
piled BY gentlemen formerly connected with the navy
who hsd 10 red 10 civil pursuits III peaceabe times
but who in the spirit Of true patriotism, came prompt
lv forward in the hour OF tIeir cOuntIls Ienl and
made voluntary tender of their services to sustain the
flag and the country. The Department glady avaied
itself OF the tencer thur patIlOtcAy made ana re-
ceiyed these gentlemen into the service III the capacity
Of acting leutenants. The aacIiiy with which they
nresentsd themselves for duty in any poion the gov
ernment might assign them, when others who bad
been the trusted aud honored recipients OF Govern
ment favors deserting the standard, was no ess
honorable them than 10 the profession they adorned
and the country which they loved.
Tie authorized increase Of enlistment, and the imne
date estabshment Of naval rendezvous az all the pn-
cipal seapors with an aJbreviaton OF the term OF en-
stment enabled the Department to recruit sufficient
number Of eeamen TO man the vessels added 70 lhe ser
vice with almost as much rapidy a. they could be pre-
pared. armed and equipped. Only one or two shlDs
nave expe.t.eto any Ic,el;;@S& Tor want Of crew.
and mono beyond two three days. At no period Of
our history has the naval force had so great and rapid
AN increase and never have our seaen come forward
with more alacrity and zeal to serve the country.
THR NAVAL ACADEMY.
TIE Naval School and public property al Annapolis
attracted the attention OF the disloyal and disaected
about the period when the conspiracy eliminated.
Some demonsiraiiOns were made towpId seizing the
property and also tie frgae Constitution, which had
teen pa ed at Annapolis, in connection with the school,
for the benefit of the youths who being educated
fOr the public service. Prompt measures rescued the
fIigae and Government property from desecaton ard
Ana ruidance Of Capt Blake, contributed, N small
degree TO the result. As st impossible, III the then
existug eondon Of aisirs 10 Annap lis and in Mary
Ind 10 continue the school at that point and as the