Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1862-12-12

Below we publish 50 much Of the Report Of
the Secretary Of the Navy as VA be interesting
to the general reader:
THE NAVAL FORCE.
When I entered upon the discharge Of my
public duties as the head Of this department,
in March, 1861, there were but 49 vessels in
commission, and, stated in my last annual re-
port, but rs vessels then ATTACHED to the navy
have been made available. Most Of those in
commission were abroad, and Of the 1900 sea
men in the pay Of the government, there were
on the 10th Of March, 1861. but 2O7 men in all
the ports and receiving ships on the Atlantic
coast to man our ships aud protect the navy
yards and depots, or TO aid in suppressing the
rising insurrection.
Neither the expiring administration. nor Con-
gress, which had been in session until the 4th Of
March, had taken measures to increase or
strengthen our naval power, notwithstanding the
lowering aspect of our public affairs; so that
when a few weeks after the Inauguration I de-
sired troops for the protection oftbe public pro-
perty at Norfolk and Annapolis or sailors to man
and re 1ve the vessels neither soldiers no sail
ors could be procured. There were no men to
man our ships, nor were the few ships at our
yards in condition to be put into Immediate
service.
The proclamation of April, placing eur entire
coast from the mouth of the Chesapeake TO the
Rio Grand under blockade, found us with a ma
val force, even were every vessel on our coast
inadequate TO the work required.
! have in my former reports at the special ses-
sion in July, 1861, and in December last, made
full exposition Of the steps which were prompt
ly taken to recall our foreign squadrons and the
progress which has been made in augmentine
our navy by repairing and fitting, as expeditions.
| ly a. possible, every available vessel owned by
the government, by purchasing such others as
could be made speedily useful in guarding onr
shallow and peculiar coast, and by rapidly con-
structing as many steamers as eonld be built al
our navy yards and employing, to the extent
that we could procure materials, engines and
machinery, the resources of the country in adj.
ding others from private ship yards The re.
suit is, that have at this time afioat or pro.
crossing to rapid completion a naval force con.
sisting of 427 vessels there having been added
to those of the old navy enumerated in my re.
port of July 1861, exclusive of those that wer,
lost 30J vessels, armed in the aggregate with l.,
5II guns. and of the capacity Of 240,02S tons.
The annals ofthe world do not show so grea
an increase in so brief period to the naval pow
er OF any country. 1t affords me satisfaction I,
state that the acquisitions made to the navy from
the commercial marine have proved to be of al
excellent character, and though these vessel
were not built for war purposes, and CONSEQUENT
/ ly have not the strength Of war vessels the,
1 have performed all the service that was expect
ed OF them. No equal amount of tonnage wal
ever procured for any service at prices CORES
Pondingly low and with so little disturbance I,
the commercial community; and no vessels wer,
ever constructed on better terms for the govern
ment, or have better subserved the purposes 70
which they were designed, than the twenty
three gunbOats for which the department con
traeted on its own responsibility at the com
mencement Ofhostilities, without waiting for tn
action of Congress. In no respect. during thi
war, has the government been better or mer
economically and faithfully served than in tn
additions that have been made by construction
and purchase to the navy.