The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1862-01-01
Dcpar,nsc,stnl Reports.

Departmental Reports.
NAvY.--Thc duties Of the navy during
the past summer have been thrcefold; to
guard the insurgent ports and coast line
Of nearly three thousand miles; to protect
our maratime commerce and cruise in pur-
suit Of piratical vessels sent out by the con
fcdcrates; and to take part in combined ma
val and military expeditions against North
and South Carolina. and the ports Of the
infected districts. The report of the Secre-
tary of the Navy gives detailed information
Of the manner in which these arduous duties
have been performed. Vessels have been
sunk in Ocracoke Inlet, on the North Caro-
lima coast, and others are about to be sunk
in the harbors Of Charleston and Savannah
Ore hundred and atty three vessels, Of
various sizes. have been captured since the
institution Of the blockade, most of them in
attempting to run the blockade. The naval
expeditions were, it seems. planned after re-
ceiving the reports Of board Of officers,
who dcliberated on the best points to be at
tackled and seized. The secretary reports
that flag officer A H. Foote, Of the navy,
has organized an efficient naval force in the
Mississippi, auxiliary to the army. OF pri-
vateers, the report states that 'such Of these
cruisers as eluded the blockade and capture
were soon wrecked, bcached or sunk, with
the exception of one, the steamer Sumter,
which by some fatality was permitted to
pass the Brooklyn, then blockading ono Of
the passes Of the Mississippi. and after a
feeble chase by the latter was allowed to pro.
ceed on her piratical voyage. An investi-
CATION OF this whole occurrence has been or
dered by the department" The Secretary
fully sustains the act of Captain Wilkes in
capturing Mason and Slidell He says ad-
mi,ably:
1.-THE prompt and decisive action Of Cap
tain Wilkes on this occasion merited and
received the emphatic approval of the depart
ment, and If a too generous forbearance was
exhibited by him in not capturing the ves-
sel which had these rebel emissaries on board,
it may, in view Of the special circumstances,
and of its patriotic motives, be excused; but
it must by no means be permitted to con
stitute q precedent hereafter for the treat
ment Of any case of similar infraction Of
neutral obligations by foreign vessels en-
gagged in commerce or the carrying trade"
There were, on the 4th Of March last, in
commission and at the service Of the Sccrc-
tarv Of the Navy, only 40 vessels, carrying
555 guns, and :, 600 men. There are oday
in commission, 264 vessels, carrying 1857
guns, and 1000 men This is an immense
work to do in little more than eight
months. Besides this, there will be ready
very shortly, ffty-two new steamers, ''pecu.
liarly adapted to coast guard duty !" three
of which are iron. clad.
On the slavery question the Secretary
says nothing, but the following, "on the
employment of flgitives," will show that he
proposes to protect loyal men, and arrest in.
surgents, without asking if they be black OF
white. He says
''In the coastwisc and blockading duties
of the navy it has been not unfrequent tina,
fugitives from insurrectionary places have
sought our ships for refuge and protection,
and our naval commanders have applied to
me for instruction as to the proper DISPOSE
ton which should be made of snch refugees
My answer has been that, If insurgents, they
should be handed over to the custody Of
the government; 5utif, on the contrary
they were free from any voluntary partici
patton in the rebellion and sought the shell
ter and protection Of our flag, then they
should be cared for and employed in some
useful manner, and might be enlisted tc
serve on our public vessels or In our navy
yards, receiving wages for their labor. Il
such employment could not be furnished t.
all by the navy, they might be referred tc
the army, and if no employment could be
found for .hem in the public service, they
should be allowed to proceed freely and
peaceably, withou. restraint, to seek liveli
hood in any loyal portion Of the country
This have considered TO be the whole re.
quired duty, in the premises, Of our nava
officers"
The naval estimates for the year ending
Jure 80, 1868, amount to 81, 4,625, ,665; and
besides this, the Secretary reports deficit
of $l8, $50, 900. needed for current expense.
, to pay for vessels purchased, and for neces
sary alterations incurred in fitting them fol
naval purposes, for the purchase OF addition
al vessels, and for the construction and com.
pletion oftwenty iron-olad vessels.
If WAR.-The following statement presents
the entire estimated strength Of the army
both volunteers andregulars -
/ Volunteers.
Three Months. For the War. Aegregat,
4 California, l6SS 4,6Ss
i Connecticut, 3,y6 1x400 14,6St
Delaware, I'D xe00 2,71(
Illinois, 4,vti Ssh000 A9a1
Indiana, %0s6 m.S1 62Ols
j Iowa, vs. LSsUW 20 I6s
/ Kentucky, loWV lo,OO(
Il Maine. SOo l4,xW 1900