The New York herald., 1862-01-08
REBEL DEFENCES AGAINST THE FEDERAL
NAVY,
MEASURES OF TIE REBEL GOVERNMENT.
From the Richmond Examiner, Dec. 80.

(FrOm the kiCnMOhu Examiner, DeC JU
We are glad know that the attention q 9pg.ess has
becn bough, to the serious Of navy our public
deences and that prompt and vigorous measures have
been initiated by it TO supply that want far
stances will permit Its appreciation OF the Importance
Of the subject, understand has teen ksfod IN ITS dr
preparation Of rerv considerable sum tor ne smmedias
or, coasts and rivers and the errice they TU be likely 10
re,dc, in TIE Chesapeake Boy ohch has been Undecided
is 10 BE- hoped urged by every consideration Of
the public interest," that the Navy Department will act
in having these boats built and equipped at the earliest
possible period. II is large and important measure OF
the conry defence and the style and vgor with which
IL will executed by Secretary Mallory is likely TO de-
termne for the Navy department Its position and credit
with respect other branches Of the and Of
the public defence II impossible that all these boats
can he constructed within short period Of time, and
need be- the government can offer premium 10 obtain
the rapid execution OF the contracts Let tho work
be pressed vigorously promises not only new and
important imminent 10 our public defences but with
proper construction Of the boats valuable arm OF Of
fence.
II s obvious that much Of the value OF tbs miniature
but by no unfornidablc navy to be composed OF
vcsscs all Of single class viii depend upon the mode OF
their construction The important point is the
greatest Of efficiency to these boats, and 10 On
able them core with the enemy in tho widest variety
of circumstances. Estimating their tonnage at l66 tons,
which we believe is the proposition Of the government
they could carry nnc-nch pivot guns to be used
over the bow and tho stern, and be made ca
pablc of carrying fuel for stcamng thirty hours The
principal advantages Gained for boats constructed after
this shon that the light draught OF wator (sx tcct
|
that The equipment OF two guns would give the of
gn in chase and also in retreat and would sccurc
what would be most important In certain circumstance
not only tho material advantages but also tho moral con-
nence of bavag shot in serve. Tho small surface
these vessels would exp to tho re of the enemy
| is cat mated as another advsrtsgr.
Now Of these advantages we have 10 remark that the
great dc the construction of gunboafs has been the
excl svcnoss Of the idea OF their security IN sec~hg
shelter The principal consideration ior us IN the CON
sruction of thceo boats 10 secure advantages which
,he enemy has not and which may avail in other
| Of ,tre ,natn
creeks and nlots We want TO mako up MS far as posi-
bic by this device of ilcots Of guboas for navy con-
si.n OF vessels OF different cas es and Of large ton
| mage ruch as the cnomy has. We are dTtd thdt hts
uGiie 5,acf conJrcs ia ro'iig ds apnrorltGti Of tco
,t,Hios If dollars and this !ca shall hope 70 see
fully rgenouly and vigorously carried out by tho Navy
| uonartm, nj in exrendhg the money.
In consulting tho diierort modes proposed Tor building
these gubo1ts the questions nsura IS Has not
Tho enemy also vessels Of less draufht water nan fx
iol to pursue ganhoasi Docs not no also use both
stern ANA bow gns2 And do not bis launches, carrying
n pound boat howiizor, olcr Infinitely smaller sur
! face to the aim Of single 9-luoh N than would our
gunhoais o the styo proposed OFF, to tho concentrated
6 or humber OF such boats OF the enemy? Thoso are
practical questions and must be considered If the in
torres, Of tic pablic defence and the public treasure arc
~ be consulted IN the execution Il measure ntondod
not 10 MI our creeks and nets with cookie shells, but
10 suJply as a nary for The purposes " he csr
| The objects In tho Construction of thcsc boats,
| which we hope TO stcaliy and faithfully kept IN
Wow by Secretary Mallory, are to secure the greatest
amount Of efficiency Tor them and 70 end1e Mem %
cdrya sufficient tdtuy 20 cop g1af Af geHct posStot
circinsanss o ddrIgdac 9th c 'cor Nsees q III e,ey
1hcfc objects we believe may al lasi e. mcaSuraby ac-
! compiscd eunboat bate might be made equal to
two hi Dis of brcS lsdo of the Unuei states steam
rgate Niagara usng Eo guns over bow and stern, and
VT present Ices beam per gun to tho enemy than tho gun
boats OF the sty prop sod TO VII ch we have ocrrod
at with this clpEcni mi ht be constructed TO carry
fuel for stcamng twelve hundred miles At ten knots an
hour anI 90 store pravis ns for enc hundred ana ~
mon for twenty DAYS Ioss &c this caRscty and Cass
world b s0nching m'-o th1n the mosquito cCt which
M, popossd TO k cp shore They might aeep th,rc
/ too besides however b-ng formidable enough 70 cops
with the majority OF tho vessels IN the cnnlnys feet
sugiv while twJ Of thom with batteries Zach equal IN
/ .eraby more IN ono ha of the hrQsdEi 70 of the
leivcet med vtsses IN tic cnemys fleet could throw
m re- weilt &c M al than sny vce'n Of war BOW aoat
no answer % t3 ohiee ions tor nclin1ncy 10 tho
ssass hnats h.ch sa nlCwtlnd 20 be tbC st 10 pro.
1,agd ir sone are that IA of tbs n05lItl
iy geuld yo1tre tonga-e u war vessels u the Yam
kos a1gy yt IN n. hcls hey coul cngage 81 hlrass
one q. a cnnm VS. 70. altI rc3onng F D tn silly
and afstr I'd who We tt practical ccns leaton
of The ftc ty ~ 0bianE CO. ca amcbg nsinbor 81
sma tta.s, and lcst lor nr,ncnt tha. the sizo q
ch veasA and thc utter npcssit ity Of tho accuracy
Uf th r nfean rough " uist necessarily connso The
Circuit ~ their servLCc o Srsloth wller.
seis o. toe larger asss Which we have rccomrend-
cd Nuu clearly poss al uc cdvanii iges iia the clr-
Gums ancts ~ sic clgo admt ~. Wll ih ~ Dattef .
sey would be as 70 take ~ thcnte' out ~ ssn
q ~ would accomplish tho great psrpnss N atntdmg
s<slato the ensml Davy. they w,nld htyc, bosltfi
tins iAt gubol, az tie material ya.tagc apc t'lbins
4, v.s> of an, .Ynbag description. hey yerd draw
\ sreat \, n IS wsier han ycsfcs a'r,ilv Ssgt with
tle saiae a n,ncnL ihoy would have III ad Sfge ot
a asiaicau Gmnbcr OF crew TO obtain tho moral i,'rc
vii c th. hisi,ry of vafato sh0NstO ncccss saryN IN
asntugsntttr, AMI ., be deficient awnys In numbers
below c'rttina ~ dafd,
Wa eve tbso 81 ces'sns we have thrown out TO bc