The New York herald., 1862-12-07

Screw sIoops, first class .. I33 III y55
screw sloops, second class ...... 2I 1877 % 992
screw gunboats new ........... II los Ia .0S.i
iron clad vessels .........-..... 81 26i 50 sos
Side wheel frigates. ............. 40 SOO3
Side wheel ginboats (new) ).... 80 296 SO SSy
Side wheel gunboats (old Navy).. IL 2i9U
Screw steamers (purchased). 80. So 2l5 2349O
Side wheel steamers (purchased). So $50 1851
Screw steamers told Navy)...... 2y $3.50
Gunboats, transports, &C., trans
fsrred from other departments 40 I08 26 544
Total. ................ 1923 I. 1868 as5 ,ssl
REcAriruIAriox.
Steam vessels. is.................ssa 1858 2ss sol
Total. .....................4 .421 s,2es a4o,oae
IRoN-cLAD VESSELS.
The attention OF this department Was turned TO the
subject Of ironclad vessels Immediately after the
mencement OF h0stites and the adoption of measures
for the enlargement of the navy II subject full
Of diihcuy and doubt. Experiments upon large scale
Of expense both England and France II not resulting
IN absolute failure had achieved but limited and Ques
tinable success. Yet il was evident that and ma
terai element in maritime warfare developing itself
and demanded immediate attention In this view re-
commended 70 Congress at its extra session. the 4h
OF July, 1851 the whole SUBJECT and asked authority
organize a commission for investigation Thirty days
after this action on my art Congress conferred the
thory requested appropriated fifteen hundred thou
sand dollars for the construction Of
vessels upou such models should receive the approval
OF the department On the day after the law had been
approved the commission constituted and the depart
ment advertised for proposals or the various plans aud
propositions submitted, three vessels OF different models
were foc0mme nded by tho board which received the
proval OF the department Contracts forthwith made
for constructing the Monitor the Gaena aud ronsides
All OF these vessels are now in the service 1t the
Intention and constant effort OF the department and the
contractors that the Monitor should be competed in the
month II January but there delay consequence
the difficulties incident OF such novelty
and magnitude, and there also slight detects
which were, however promptly remedicd aud she left
New York early in March reaching Hampton Roads the
night Of the Sth.
Her arrival though not as soon az Anticipated was most
opIrtune and important For s0mc time the department
insurgents had made in armorng and equippng the large
steamer Merrmac, which had iaeu into their hanos
when Norfolk abandoned, On tho afternoon OF the
8th Of March this formidable vessel heavily armored aud
armed, and fully prepared to operate both and
steamer down the tlzabeth river accompanied
by several smaller steamers, or them partially
arnored the vessels Of the blockadng SQUADRON
that were in and about Hampton Roads. When
the herrimac and her attendants made their appearance
the Congress and the Cumberland, two sailing vessels,
anchored oil Newports News and the remaining ves-
sells were IN the vicinity Of Fortress Monroe some six
miles distant The Minnesota, the Roanoke, and the ST.
Lawrence got Immediately under way and proceeded to
wards the scene Of action.
Thus terminated the most remarkable naval combat OF
modern times. perhaps OF any age. The iercest and
most formidable naval assault upon the power II the
Union which ever been made by the insurgents was
herocay repellcd. and opened ia the his
tory OF maritime warfare.
Before the occurrence Of these events entertaining
conviction that at least Of the models iron clad
vesses-that OF the Monitor. original invention OF
John Ericsson, OF New York-would prove q successful
harsor and coast defence and service the shallow
waters of seab0ard estimated my annual report
last December Tor the immediate construction Of twenty
irOn-clad steamers The House Of Representatives
prom pity responded 10 this recommendation aud passed
bill authorizing aud empowering the secretary OF the
Navy be constructed, BY contract other
wise as he shall deem best for the pubic interest not
exceeding twenty-one rOn-ciad steam gunboats." The
Senate deaycd action this bill until February when
ireseeing that the country would suffer from longer mac
tion addressed the Chairman OF the Naval Committee Of
the Senate the subject aud the result the mme
House in December
Al the earliest practicable moment after the enactment
Of this law the department commenced entering ino
tracts for the construction OF armed vessels, most Of
them on the Plaza OF the Monitor.
The iaiena, less formidable vessel, for time
under fire from punging shot at Drurys Bluff James
AS yet the lronsides recently completed. has
been tested in action but II Is believed she will prove
formidable lighting vessel That we might be prepared
tor extraordinary emergencies II was deemed advisable
TO put armatu.e on OF our steam frgaes aud the
Roanoke was selected for that purpose.
mored ships oil the Warrior class which being
strccted by OF the maritime Powers OF Europe
have within the United States few harbors that
accessible to them and for those few the
always be prepared whenever foreign is imminent
II has been deemed ads isabe, however that should
have few large sized armed cruisers OF great speed
for service well Of the class OF smaller vessels
for coas;wse and defensive operations.
tue construction Of fonciads OF the Monitor class
the nautical qualities of the vessel have been the gov
ernins Object Tor with light wight and heavy
the shallow waters c coast and harbors few o. which
accessible TO vessels OF great magnitude While tue
nearly approach shores those OF the Monitor class
the isier waters rivers, harbors aud
baysus OF oGr EXTENDED double coast.
DEfoT foa an iRoN-cIAD NAVY.
IN March last aud again ~ June, | invited the et.
teation cf the naval committees Of Congress TO the
importance OF taking promp, preliminary measures
for establishing navy yard including oun.eries shops
and docks adapted the grow wants Of the sery Ice
and the country II was not that we needed an addtonal
h,fh u Of a. pfshtr
ter in many respects, from any that We possess
IN view Of the mportancs Of possessing somewhere in
this country dock yard Tor the purposes Of
navy the suggestions OF the department the
favorable considef alton o. Congress The city Iha
deli the commercial centre of the iron coal
gons became interested ia the question and induced
70 make tree offer c League Island body OF land Of
about hundred acres the confluence OF The Dca
and ST huykil rivers 10 the United states for
PURPOSES In consequences OF this liberal oer, Congress
authorized the secretary o the Navy 10 receive nnd nc
ccpt League Island provided, however that It should
be sccepted unH the title shall be perfect To- low
water mark. nor II, NJ more thorough examination
ard survey OF the premises by competent board
of officers to be appointed by the Sec ciary OF
the Navy he shall disc that the public interests will
be promoted by acquiring The title Aforesaid that
the board be appointed shall before proceedii any
decision OF the questions referred to them surrey
and examination OF the barber Of New Lond 1ouncc
cu', and s surrounding with reference 10 Its fitness
for naval depot aud navy yard and that they also make
the investigation in regard To the waters Il Nara
ganset Bay.
Pursuant 10 the requirements OF tho act Of Congress
board OF officers. consisting OF Rear Admiral 1t gham
tommodores Van Brgnt aud Gardner, and Captain
Marstor, of the navy. Professor Bacho and ipgtneer
sanger make tue required examination, and report
The assiduousiy engaged for mo this
urou the duty assigned it, and after completing
the survey and examination revised their labor and
uron tut discussion ot the subject the u ami
mousy rejected auy proposition for the contemplated
nsvy yard the waters AZ Narraganset Pay IL regard
the ether locations, League Island aud New lon-
don which Is best adapted 10 the purposes such
navy yard and depot s contemplated BY he aw the
boa divided IN .pnion and presented majority aud
minority reports. The majority comprising olr mem.
bcrs award New London tile preference cr League
Island 4 navy yard. The minority tly 4ud EN-.
yhaticaly give their preference to League ieli pos.
scssing important requisites which the other and
being better adopted to the special wants GOVERN.
mcnt and The Oh ccts of the aw authorizing the eppant.
meat oi the commission.
Without attempting this place, 10 anal these vo.
luminous reports reproduce tho argum Il uced
by each have consdorcd II my duty to bfinl thc b..
ect TO the attention ol Congress- aud o. tnfcrap my
opmhn in iavor o yard and depot betl3 adapte
the construction ~ iron vessels and ,or cgd yess
sells than any now have, and where this estf iNan
NJ vessels may be repaired or W time pence at p