Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1861-12-13


Iron clad steaners------.----- IS 1850
50 256 a AS
Making total of 264 vessels, 1857 guns,
and 218, 016 tons.
The aggregate number of seamen in the
service on the 4th of March last was 1900
The number is now rot less than $4,000.
A naval force, auxiliary to and connected
with the army movements on the Mississippi
and its tributaries, has been organized, and is
under the command of flag officer Andrew H.
Foote, who is rendering efficient service in
that quarter.
The steamers which have been built or pur.
chased for this service by the War Depart.
ment are of . formidable charact r, and man.
ned by class Of superior seamen and west
ern boatmen, who, in the preliminary Skin
mishes already, have done good service, and
WILL l am confident, acquit themselves with
credit in the future. Reports are appended
exhibiting some of the operations of this
command as auxiliary to the military move
ments on the Mississippi. -,..,.9s ero4
| The amount appropriated at the last regu.
lar session Of Congress for the naval service
for the present yesY was $l3, 16S, 675, &c.
TO this was added at the special session in
July last $40, 446, 1875, 91-making for the
fiscal year ending June 80, 1862, an aggre
gate Of $43, l5,55l,77. This sum will not
be sufficient, however, for the purpose, and
therefore additional appropriations will be
necessary. This sum will be required to
pay for vessels purchased, and for necessary
alterations incurred in fitting them for naval
purposes, the sum of $2,53O,OOO; for The
purchase of additional vessels, $4,000, 900
and for the construction and completion Of
twenty iron-clad vessels. $12, 600, 000-mak-
ing a total of sic, 100000. This sum is in
dependent of the estimates submitted for the
next fiscal year, and being required for cur
rent expenses as we'll as objects of immedi.
ate importance, it is desirable that it should
receive early attention from Congress.
The estimates submitted by this depart.
ment for the fiscal year ending June 80, 1868,
amount to $44,625,02, viz:
For the navy proper SAL ,O96, $50 %
For the marine corps II, lO5, $50 u
For navy yards hospitals, magazines and
miscellaneous objects 81, 423, AIS w
On the subject of employing fugitives, the
Secretary remarks: +sasa
In the coastwise and blockading duties Of
the navy it has been not unfrequent that fu-
gitives from insurrectionary places have sought
our ships for refuge and protection, and our
commanders have applied to me for ipstruc-
ton as to the proper disposition which should
be made of such refugees. My answer has
been that, if insurgents, they should be hand
ed over into the hands of the government
but if, on the contrary, they were free from
any voluntary participation in the rebellion
and sought the shelter and protection of our
flag, then they should be cared for and en-
ployed in some useful manner, and light be
enlisted to serve on our public vessels or in
our navy yards, receiving wages for their la
Dor. If such employment could mt be fur
nished to all by the navy, they might be re-
ferred to the army, and if no employment
could be found for them in the public service
they should be allowed to proceed freely and
peaceably without restraint to seek liveli-
hood in any loyal portion Of the country
This l have considered to be the whole re-
quired duty, in the premises of our naval Of
fcers.
In speaking Of the capture of Mason and
S!idell, he uses the following Ian guage:
The prompt and decisive action of Capt.
Wilkes on this occasion merited and received
the emphatic approval of the Department,
and if too generous forbearance was exhib-
tied by him in not capturing the vessel
which had these rebels emissaries on board
it may, in view of the special circumstances,
and of it's patriotic motives, be excused but
it mast By no means be permitted to consti-
tute precedent hereafter for the treatment
of any case Of similar infraction of neutral
Obligations by foreign vessels engaged in
commerce or the carrying trade.
THE MAIL-cLAD MISSISSIPPI FLoTlLLA.-
We have nearly completed a mail-clad steam
navy on our Western Waters, one Of quite