Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1862-12-13

In Louisiana where 81 one time there
were apprchensions Of embarrassment from
the number of refugees, the reserve of
tract Of rich land along the railroad TO Bcr
wicl's bay opens up territory in which
many thousands can be profitable employed.
if placed under proper regulation and con-
troll.
AT Port Royal such persons have been
extensively employed in the Quartermaster's
Department, and in ctlti' sting some thous-
ands of acres of the sea is.snds OF the coast,
the products of which are used in the sup
port of themselves and families IN the
operations of the army on the James river
and on the Potomac, in the Notifications of
Washington, and as laborers, tcamstcrs,
holsters, in the landing and shipping OF
stores, they have been of Great service, and
the demand for their icJUr.sl1 exceeded the
supply available.
The successful movement of the various
expeditions by sea, the transportation of
such large bodies of troops, and their rcgu-
lar supply at distant points of the coast at-
ford striking proofs OF the greatness of the
military resources of the nation.
These movements have been upon scale
of great magnitude. The collection of the
vast armies which have been raised, and
their transport to the field of operations in
so brief Il period, would not have been pos
sble but for the extent OF our system Of
steam transport by railroads, rivers and sea.
Ii has been found necessary to exercise
within the loyal States the power conferred
upon the President by law to take actual
military possession of the railroads Of the
country. The various companies met in
convention in this city, and united i'll CON
vention in this city, and united in proposing
a uniform tariff for Government transporta-
ton, which appears to be just and equitable
and they have performed all the services
required of them by the Department with a
promptncss, efficiency and chccnulncss
which do honor to the patriotism OF their
managers.
Every means the country affords has been
put forth to complete the armament OF our
forts and Notifications for the defence OF the
harbors and coasts, as is shown by the report
of this bureau. These details are for obvi-
Gus reasons, not now stated, and the lcgisla-
tion required by this branch of the service
will, by your directions, be communicated
to the appropriate committee.
The subject of arming the fortiiication,
particularly of those defending the harbos
of our principal Atlantic ports, has reccivd
special attention. and all the means at tc
disposal of the Department have been p,
piled to that end, so far as was possible Ad
| consistent with meeting other impcraNc
| requirements.
In consequence of the introduction nto
naval warfare of iron-clal vessels, compra-
lively safe from the effects of snch bat!rics
as had hitherto been sufficient to gaurEhcc-
tually against the passage Of hostile ysseiS'
it became necessary to provide heali' ana
more powerful ordnance. The whole Ls'rm
Of such armament was 'r, 'lE r"Ynt. "-.
| amended byH board Of the most eNpien'e1
and competent officers, and mcJ-ui have
! been taken TO carry their accommodations
/ into effect.
| The Secretary calls special a,tentin to the
necessity of providing additional Irans for
the storage and preservation of)rdnance
supplies, rs recommended in the"p"fJ OF
the Chief Of Ordinance.
/ The attention Of the Dcpartmct has been
/ earnestly directed to the forts All iortiiica-
! tions for coast and harhor dctcre. y per-
sona inspection of the importat works has
/ been made by General Tottcr the dstln-
guishcd Chief of Engineers. The grants
made by Congress for tortiiiCt"uN at the
/ last session amounted to $5.jD,OoO Tor per
mancnt works, and %75O,J00br br temporary
works The Chief of Engines reports that
/ these sums admitted Of ever material pro.
grc,s being made in most OF the lnpor.md
forts now in course of cOnaucuon. II
Thi, has been realized in number 'l II
stances. and in all decided Advancement hf
been effected. Great diRuity has bca
/ experienced in obtaining ppHgs OF mattel
ais from the quarries, 1ne yards, d.
owing to the demands Jade by the VIZ
upon the classes u~uallympnyed IN ~
kind Of work, similarlrouhle hes ben
encountered in procuring trans porlau"nof
. materials.
Much has been done jadvanciueing iIe
four Notifications in tlIprncip1l conner
cial harbors for scryicJ in preparing ddi-
tional Guns. and in proiding for the rtcp
ton OF additional amamcnt OF very HEc
calibre in the eNistiE batteries, an IN
placing all in cfIectiyfondition for dence.
Like measures hayobccp observed with
reference to our nayastatioDs and ouliron-
tiers generally.
The Secretary say:
No aphOrism is lore universally ree!Ncd
than that the sole bicct of just Wr Is 10
make the enemy fl the evils OF hi mus
tice, and by his slerings amend If ways,
lie must therefor he attacked in b most
accessible quarter The power Of te rebels
rests upon their peculiar system { labor,
which keeps lalrers on the plantaions to
support the owns who are deynttg Their
time and strrngl to destroy our armies ana
Il s,yEUllpnt