New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-03-28


ton Committee. they have recommended to the
Secretary Of War that the proceedings against
bin be dismissed.
THE BOSTON JOURNAL
The proprietors Of Tho Boston Journal have
been summoned to appear before tho Commit
tee.
DUTIES on IMPORTED ARMS.
The Senate Committee on Finance have re-
ported q bill to refund the duties on arms I'M
ported by States prior to the lst Of January
1862.
ACoUIA CREEK ABANDONEn
The enemy have at Last entirely absndoneo
Acquis Greek. carrying with them their att'''
lery and stores. There Is no Rebel force now
between tho river and Fredericksburg. ln that
town there are but few soldiers, the main
body being posted about milo and half DO
yond the town.
A sEA.GOIN0 MONITOR.
Capt. Ericsson's model Of q sea.going Mont
tor, $40 feet long, has reached the Navy Dc
partment. 1t is similar in construction to Its
little namesake, now lying in wait for the
mailed monster, which is momeutaeily expected
from Norfolk. Like that it has but one pro-
peller, and o single turret. The Department
nclines to favor two propellers and two tur-
rets for 0 vessel Of this size. A Board to e.
anime and report upon the numerous plans
and models which have responded to the Sec
Rotary of the Nays advertisement has been
constituted. II consists Of Com. Jos. Smith,
Chief of the Bureau Of Yards aud Docks;
John Lentball, Chief Of the Bureau OF Con-
struction; b. +. sherwood, Chief Of the Bu-
reau of Engineers, and Dir. Hart Naval Con-
structor.
THE CONSTRUCTION or moN-CLAD SHIPS.
Secretary Wees has sent to the Senate
Committee on Naval Affairs the following COM
munication:
NAVY DEPARTMENT Msrch 25 1856,
Sin: In nv report of July 4, lS6l, had the houor
20 present TO the consideration OF Congress and &
country the matter iron-clad steamers for naval
purposes a sum of money was appropriated al
that fesi0n 10 build more armored iron or steel
clad SHIPS or floating sieam-batteries. 1hB appro-
prision intended experimental, resulted 10 order
log three armotrd vessels Of different constructions
One u these three has been built under contract
with this Department, and arrived st iiimpton
Roads H. time 10 Of great seryce TO he country IN
driving into port the ronclsd siesnier Merrac, clad
in armor This meIaoiable engsgenl, mt lie the first
witch has taken place between vessels pro rcted
with iron, and tho results to be dedu cd from ii
SO important that feel impelled TO submit some gen
oral views in writing 10 your Committee.
First: Steam Las become such an indispensable
element in naval warfare that vessels propelled by
sas oply are considered useless for war phrpores.
TIE a,t sailing vessel built for he Navy was the
Con. tellaton omineDced in 1853, ana completed IN
August, 1853.
Sscoqd. Steam ve.selsof.wsr, unIess protected
from the enemy shot aud shell can make but feeble
resistance 20. and mus. surrender when assaied by,
al iron.clad vessel.
7hird. The Navy, az II exists at present csnno!
successfully contend against spowe, "ying IRON
clad vessels, and consequently canno. meet Tie re-
quirements OF the country.
Fourth. i de. N II imperative that we should
forthwith commence the construction Of armored wee
sells on a scale commensurate with tue great inter-
es's RI stake.
FTh. The Department, under date OF February
90 1862 advertised for plans. which are now beiog
received developing the ingenuity and skii Of our
countrymen; aud 1 have fifth they will produce
models for class Of vessel. Tor homo defense and
for sea service that will SECURE To our country equa
ty if not pre-sminence in naval construction.
S,rih The heaviest ordnance III present use "a
no. sufficiently heavy ard powerful 10 break ana
des.rov the armature now laced upon vessels; we
shall therefore lie COMPELLED To- ncrease the caliher
of our 0nus until sizs be attained which will crush
apv arInature that can be borno by a vessel ]
have already given orders TO construct 10 and
2N.ipch guns but their manufacture 10 attended
with treat difficulties and requires Tie Lighesi
skill 10 attsin success. There are but few es'h'-
lishmsnts in the oountry wiling % undertake.
the man fracture Of these gun@ and they can
produce but snail number. IL il therefore esrner'-
V requested ia 1t appropriation Of S5lO, 900 bc
made to extend the grounds and 10 huild furnaces ai
tie Washington hayy-iard, where come OF the
,ihel ard tuning mscines already m operation.
Ia that event tie snchore aud cables nov mauuiic-
tnred Ut that ysid should le transferred 10 some
other pt8tion, leaviog no Ling 10 be oanninciure
but quns ordnance storee, aud matters pertaining
thereto. A civil asr.iant 10 the ordnance OF the
Yard al a salary Of 200 per aunnn, aud one CLERK
At 81 400, AMI ono clerk at 81 200 Ier annum, are
iecOnmer ced
.>.peah The DcIartueut PROPOSES to construct
few vess II Of lilht draught treat speed, and heavy
armament for { We,tern waters; also II clfrs I y
h4rbor drferpe, aud 10 operate upon tho Atl,nti
cont end IL the Gulf of Mexico, which shal be -
far as po.siblo invulnera'le, each armed with ID
inch gum. Aud 6nsI y IL pfopppee 70 attempt MI
ocean steamer, possessed Of tie same Failing and
arm o-ed prOperfies armed with guns Of 2l-iuches
caliber. Iso two latter cids7es Slfo y De ured ~
rams.
Firth Assnmirg that NJ enemy c0 aiways con-
s,ruct guns and vessels similar own, aud thai
he can al,o attack us upon the senboard with s1pe-
ryor naval force concentrated AT the point eeced 10
be attacked and that forH, however ebllfnlly con-
etrncied aud wbaever tho cnliter Of the guns
monbt,d thereon caunot be relied upon sink every
ifon-cLtd vessel wbi h attempts 20 pnss the line 81
FIRE n high sped, IL becomes absolutely essential
that We ,aoud ceoDn TO mechani al means 10 clear
our Ioits at tho points wbero the forts are con
strdcied Tie attention # our reople once invited
u such project will no doubt give us simple plan
to DO this at WI, without injury " tho hafbor Or
lin nance 70 commerce.
M.Ms | All The Committee 20 consider the in.
portsn subject D. procuring plates for toe srns.
ture Of ve,tels. II IA believed there are but few II
I'm Ia nnll.ll,la 4 milling