New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-12-04

Point on IyDee lslan0, at tue NOUN vi VIC oa'
River resulted in the capture OF that Island ana tn
strong Martello tower and battery that virtually
rcommands fort Pulaski. Our naval forces have pos
session Of that island part OF the South Atlanti
squadron ia ut anchor in the harbor, and the Tag
the Union is again unfurled in Georgia. The OILS
patch Of Flag-Oficer Du Pont communicating u
the Navy Department an account OF tbs transaction
ard the additional fact that the rebels themselves
have in anticipation Of our action, placed obstruc
tons in the river 1T Fort Pulaski, is appended to th'
report.
Without specifying, in detail the numerous meri
torious achievements which have during the yea
doDe honor to the naval service, append dispatche:
Of the commanders, communicating the brave ano
heroic conduct which has been displayed by our ma.
val officers, Sailors and Marines whose intrepidiy
courage and loyalty were never more marked thar
Ia this rebellion.
THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER.
| A naval force auxiliary to and connected with
the army movements the Mississippi and It's tribu.
taries has been organized and is under the command
of Flag Officer Andrew III. Foote who Is rendering
efficient service 10 that quarter.
| The steamers which have been built or purchased
for this service by the War Department are OF for
mdable character and manned by class of superior
seamen and Western boatmeD, who, In the prelmi-
nary skirmishes already, have done good service,
and will, / am confident, acquit themselves with
credit in the future Reports are appended exhibit
ing of the operations Of this command as aux
iliary to the military movements on the Mississippi
PURSUIT OF PRIvATEERS.
1t was natural that apprehensions should prevail
in regard to armed cruisers commissioned expressly
by the rebel leaders to deptedate upon our COM
merce. This robbery of merchants and Others en-
gagged in peaceful and lawful pursuits by pirateai
cruisers is not inconsistent with the general conduct
of those who have violated law and moral eblga-
tons 10 crafty inordinate ambition. Our extended
commerce presented inducements for piratcal war
fare yet but few of our misguided countrymen have
prostituted themselves to the purposes OF plumber
though thereto invited, ard these few have been in
constant fight to escape the avengng power of our
vigilsnt naval forces. Such Of these cruisers as
eladed tue blockade and capture were soon wrecked,
beaebed, or sunk, with the exception Of one, the
steamer SUMTER which, by some fatality, was per.
nitted to pass the Brooklyn then bockadiDg one OF
the passes of the Mississippi and after brief and
feeble chase by the latter, was allowed TO proceed
on her piratical voyage. An investigation OF this
whole occurrence was ordered by the Department
Soon the Niagara and the Powhatan, from the Gulf
squadron, followed in vigorous pursuit-the latter
though long in commission, and with defective boil
ers and machinery, under her energetic commander
tracking the piratica craft far Maranham. The
Keystone State, Richmond, Iroquois, and San Ja-
eno were also in search OF her at different points
and periods. Although piratical rover, without
license from any recognized or acknowledged gov,
eminent, and avowedly engaged III the robbery and
plumber Of our citizens regret say this vessel has
been received, and her wants supplied, against the
Remembrance Of our Consuls, by public authorities,
in many foreign ports where her character was well
known.
REBEL EMISSARIES.
Capt. Charles Wikes in command Of the San ia
cinto while searching in the West Indies for the
Sumter, received information that james M. Mason
and John Slidel disloyl citizens and leading con-
spirasrs, were with their suite to embark from Ha-
vana in the English steamer Trent, on their way to
Europe TO promote the cause OF the insurgents.
Cruising in the Bahama channel he intercepted the
Trent on the sth of November, and took from her
these dangerous men, whom he brought to the United
States. His vessel having been ordered to reht for
service at Charesown the prisoners were retained on
board and conveyed to Fort Warren, where they
were committed to the custody Of Col. Dimmick, In
command OF that fortress.
The prompt and decisive action Of Capt. Wilkes
on this occasion merIted and received the emphatic
approval Of the department, and II too generous
iortearance was exhibited by him in not capturing
the vessel which had these rebel enemies on board,
il may in view of the special circumstances, and OF
is patriotic motives, be excused but II must by no
means be permitted to constitute precedent hereaf-
ter for the treatment OF any case of similar infac-
ton OF neural obligations by foreign vessels engaged
in commerce or the carrying trade.
TIE NAVAL FORCE AND ITS INCREASE.
This brief review of the principal operations OF
tho Navy, under the new and extraordinary demands
that were made upon its efficiency, naturally intro
dnces an exposition of the measures adopted IN con-
formity with the legislative policy Of Congress TO
increase it's available force. The measures which
were adopted By the department, in advance of the
special session in July, for augnenting the Navy,
and the recommendations and suggestions which
had the honor at that time to submit received the
sanction and approval of Congress Immediate &C.
ton had been rendered necessary IN consequence OF
events that had been precipitated upon the country
and for which no legislative provision had been made
Only feeble force Of men and vessels, scarcely suf
fcient for ordinary police operations was at that
time available on the Atlantic In order that
the condition of the Navy on the 4th OF March may
b. rightly unde rsood will be well to state the po
siton and character OF each OF the vessels at that
date. The home squadron consisted of twelve YES
sels and of these only four in Northern ports
and available for service, viz: