Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1862-03-15

Report Of the Secretary Of the Navy.
At the special session Of Congress, the Sec
retary presented enlarged estimates Of expen-
diture for three different lines Of naval opera.
tons: LIST. for closing the insurgent ports
along nearly 5000 miles Of sea-coast line and
occupying the Potomac from its mouth to the
Capital; I'd. for organizing expeditions
against various points Of the coast and Sd,
for pursuing piratical cruisers.
Congress having given the authority. pur-
chas.s were made and charters hastily execu-
ted for the exigency, and orders peremptorily
ISSUED to forthwith equip and prepare for ser
vice the public vessels that were dismantled
and in ordinary at the several navy yards.
The force thus hastily gathered was placed
along the coast and divided into two squad
rons, one Of which, designated ms the "Atlan-
tic Blockading Squadron" had for its field Of
operation the whole coast, extending from the
castern-most line of Virginia to Cape Florida,
and was under the command Of Flag officer
Silas II. Stringham. The other. or "Gulf
Squadron" operating from Cape Florida
westward to the Rio Grande, was commanded
by Flag. g.officer William Mervine.
The duties imposed upon the Aag-oficcrs
were soon found too extensive for execution by
any two commanders. While the subject OF
dividing the squadrons was under considera-
ton, Flag officer Stringham unaware Of the
fact) proposed to relinquish his command
which was acceded to, and two squadrons
were organized on the Atlantic coast-Capt
Louis NJ. Goldsborough raising his flag on the
Minnesota, Sept. 23d, commanded that which
guarded the Virginia and North Carolina
coasts; Capt. Samuel F. Dupont, with the
Carolina, Georgia and Florida coasts to Flor
ida. This blockading service, the Secretary
thinks, is but dull business for those en-
gagged in 1.-THE rebels have not commerce or
navy enough to make it attractive.
The "Stone Fleet" was sent to obstruct
the channels of Charleston harbor and Savan-
nah river.
Since the blockade was instituted. 143 vcs-
sells sailing under various flags, have been
captured, most of them in the very act of at
teinsting to violate it.
A board consisting Of Captains Samuel +.
Dupont and Charles II. Davis, of the Navy,
Major John G. Barnard, of the Army, and
Professor Alexander Bache, of the coast SUR
vey, was convened, and to it thorough in
vestigation of the coast and Harbors, their ac-
cess and defences, was committed. From this
board came the data that satisfied the Gov
ernment that the old Port Royal Enterprise, "
of DeBOw's RerieV was practicable and that
there was an opening for fame through Hat
tcras Inlet, which hitherto has had no place
on our maps. The Secretary then briefly
narrates the story of the Hatteras Inlet Expe-
dition, under Flag-ofiicer Stringham and Ma
jor General Butler, and as briefly the story of
the expedition of forty-eight sail, which, un-
der Capt. Dupont, after encountering the Sc
vercst storm of the season, stormed and took
the well-built and thoroughly armed forts
Beauregard and Walker, that commanded
Port Royal entrance.
The Secretary notices the demonstration on
Tybec Island, at tho mouth of the Savannah
river. He says that the dispatch Of Flag
officer Dupont communicates the additional
fact that the rebels themselves have, in antic-
ipation of our action, placed distractions in
the river at Fort Pulaski.
Speaking Of privateers, the Secretary says
"Such Of them az ellded the blockade and
capture were soon wrecked beachcd or sunk,
with the exception of one, the steamer Sum.
teF, WHICH, ny sOine Iataiity, was permltteu 10
pass the Brooklyn, then blockading one Of
the passes Of the Mississippi. and after a
brief and feeble chase by the latter, was al
lowed to proceed ON her piratical voyage. An
investigation Of this whole occurrence war Or
dered by the department"
On tho Ath Of March last our Navy, all told.
numbered 42 vessels, carrying 555 guns and
about 1000 men. The Home Squadron con.
sisted Of l2 vessels. Of which only four were
in Northern ports and available for service.
Now We have . total Of 264 vessels. Of 2ls,-
ole tons. carrying 1857 guns and $4,000
men.
When the vessels now building and pur.
chased Of every class, are armed. equipped,
and r-ady for service. the condition of the
Navy will be q follows: