The New York herald., 1862-10-05

2,ol Side heel ram. Miss. river =
2slISwizsrland Side wheel ram Miss river. =
2S2l Mingo.. Side wheel ram MISS. riVer... l.
2s3IFuiton lSide wheel ram. Miss river. l.
2S4l lornet.... Side wheel ram Mss river. i
2s5 samson side wheel ram. Miss river i
Thirty eight mortar boats, numbered from to 3s.
and reed since reported destroyed by own Iorcos
but the reports need confirmation
The gunboa,s are armed with the heaviest ordnance
used in the naval service and built with view TO
immense str engh aud to combine. by light draugh and
speed fitness for service the waters OF the Mississippi
tributaries The are constructed for butting
purposes and have thus far answered well fully meeting
the expectations Of the protector.
those marked are sailing vessels.
At the commencement OF the rebellion our navy con-
sisted Of
len ships Of -the-iino.
Ten frigates.
Twenty s!oops-of-war.
Three brigs.
Nine store and receiving ships
Seven FIRST class steam frigates.
Six Arst class steam sleeps
Four first class paddle wheel steamers.
Eight second class steam sloops.
Ons second class paddle wheel steamer.
Five third class screw steamers.
| -Four third class paddle wheel steamers.
Two steam tenders.
IN all. eghty-nne vsssels-thirty scvsa steamers and
Gty.,wo sailing shps-of which there have since been
lost By the casualties OF war
Four ships Of the line.
Four fricates
One FIRST class steam frigats-twelve vessels
The above liss Of vessels does include thoss in
couses Of oonssruction A fcF months more will ADD
ve~y mach the Numerical force the navy besides
which the character Of the vessels completion,
being mostly ifs0cad, viii render navy second TO
none in the word.
PROPELLER GUNBoAre.
OF the class OF ganboats first constructed after the
of a war q
Pembna and Others but little can hs said in their favor.
They my bs termed failures for they possess Of
the requisites Of q an-sf war;.
II is impossible obtain more than seven eight
knots out OF them under steam and with smooth water.
Cnder steam and sah nine knots Is the highest
rate that be had, and rhssd TO wind and u 10
fortunate II steerags way Do kept. They roll fear.
fully, and with but few exceptions giving more or
less trouble with thor engines Many Of them show
signs Of weakness, and IL any last three years
they viii have been faithfully constructed than
The majority.
sipE-wHEEL orNB0ATs.
OF the ether class such as the octorara, Miami and
others, be said 10 recommendation. They
possess many good points and some bad ones. Being
paddle wheel steamers the greater part Of their mach
merry exposed shot and shell; they have not very
great speed but they capable Of and do carry very
heavy batteries they operate in very shoa water
either way, they better adapted for work in our
Southern than any class OF vessels In the service
NEW spAN sLooPs.
The soope Of the class Of the Oneida Lacka
wanna and others superb vessels, possessing great
speed and carrying the heaviest gums Of any vessels Of
their class the world. No effective ships be
found any navy, and hey wen adapted for opera
,,ons anywhere Tbsy have great power and
mcal coal burners. Hence they remain longer
cruise without needing supplies Of fuel than any other
vessels we have.
Ros-cLAp vBssgIs.
ns folly yet TO form any opinion respecting the sea.
sc,ng Qualifications Of any OF the clad vessels yet
built in ,hs country The New 1ronsides has yet to be
tested and the report u ocers looked forward
TO With anxiety a. On viii depend the construction Of
others Of a simihr class.
For smooth water harber defence nothing exce
the plan OF Mr. Ericsson. With a feet of vessels his
pAn guarding seaports, may be easy about the
SAFETY q large cities. We mast net look in future 10
fcrtBstions the protection Of coast matter
how extensive they may be heavily armed but 70 she
tle Mopnors and osher vessels Of similar class that
never remain stationary, but hover around and by
stant sgns worry and annoy the enemy that he win
be compelled to leave suffer destruction by slow but
ssre method.
The four classes Of vessels spoken OF above are
those most likely 70 be constructed in future. We have
| no use for anything larger, except 70 make q
display on foreign station. which viii agaia
| attempt
PrRCHAeBp VESSELS
or the vessels which have been purchased BY the TO-
vernment TO increase our naval force but few viii be Of
any great value after the war. The sdswhes steamers,
such the connsetcut Rhode Island and others,
always be retained the service with advantage for
they can bc used storeshps and despatch vessels,
taking the place q the supply Release and Relief broken
down huks thai have been kept use for years carrying
beef when they should have long ago been laid up in
Rotten row. Many Of the purchased steamers be
used 70 advantage n the Pacific Ocean whore they had
better be sent, than sacrhcs them they win be II
| soA when the war is over.
or all invsmesss made BY the government the poorest
IN the purchase Of ships Sarks Sgs and schoonsrs for
cruisers. Tbsy are worse than wsthlsss--ust n
fw cruisers, no use ~ blocRadsrs; h fact they
are good for nothing asd the sooner thsy are disposed
Of the better 10 will be for all Opcernsa They have
been great expense, ussus large ssmbss Of onacers
a. rHn vho couId have beon "a vho aro no vs,S~a