The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1863-12-24


with view of interdicting all traffic
with, and if possible, of capturing
Charleston itself; but by?reason of de
lays and difficulties in fitting out the
iron clad fleet, a demonstration was not
made till the 9TH Of April.
Ahistory of operations, ,beforeCharles-
ton is then given. The Secretary then
alludcs to the conflict that took place
in Warsaw Sound, between the Wee.
haken and the Atlanta, and concludes
that this remarkable result was an ad-
ditional testimony in favor of the moni-
tor class Of vessels, for harbor defense
and coast survey, against any navy
vessels that have been or likely to be
constructed to visit our shores. 1t APP
pears to have extinguishcd whatever
lingering hope the rebels may have
had of withstanding our naval power
with naval weapons.
The naval force at the commence
mcnt of this Administration, consisted
of forty>siX vessels, Of these only for
ty-two were in commission. The ad-
ditions which have since been made
have elevated the country into a first
class naval power. In the following
statistics an exhibit is presented of the
altered numbers and description Of our
vessels at the date Of my last report
and at the present time,
The Navy at the date Of the present
report contains 596 vessels mounted
with 4, ,443 guns, and Of 467 ,9G7 tons
in the aggregate. The Navy at the
date Of the last report, embracing 427
vessels, 3,2GS guns, and 34O,O3G tom
mage. The increase, exclusive Of those
lost, is 1G4 vessels, 1,125 guns, and
l20,93l tonnage. The vessels Of the
navy lost since December, 1862, are
Captured, IL vessels, 48 guns, 5,079
tonnage. The increase, exclusive Of
those lost, is l6l vessels, 1,175 guns,
and l20,931 tonnage. The vessels Of
the navy lost since 1862, captured, &c,
u vessels, 48guns, 5,97S tonnage; des-
troyed to prevent falling into the hands
of the rebels, 3j vessels; 287 guns,
2,SS3 tonnage; sunk in battle or by
torpedoes, 4 vessels, 28 guns, 2,2Ol ton
mage; shipwreck . and collision 13
vessels, 81 guns, 1854 tonnage. :.
Vessels placed under construction
since December, 1862: Double end
iron steamers, 1000 tons each, YES
sells, 81 guns, 7,2lO tonnage; single tur-
ret iron -clads, GA tons each, 20 vessels
40 guns, 1920 tonnage; double tur,
ret iron -clads, 3,130 tons each, 4 YES
sells, IL guns, 1920 tonnage; clipper
screw sloops, 2,2O0 tons each, SyesseIs
100 guns, 1900 tonnage screw sloop:
Of great speed, 2,2O0 tons each, D YES,
sells, 80 guns, 10000 tonnage; screw
sloOps Of great spaed. 5000 tons each
? vessels, 16 guns, COCO tonnage.
The following is the general condi.
ton of the navy when the vessels un'
der construction are completed: Iron.
clad steamers for coast survey 46 YES
sells, $50 guns, 6,218 tonnage iron-cIad
steamers for inland service, 20 vessels
152 guns, 20,7S4 tonnage side whec
steamers, 203 vessels, 1,240 guns, 1876,
517 tonnage screw steamers, 1913 YES
sells, 1878 guns, 1882 tonnage; sail
ing vessels, 112, 1923 guns, 7O,256 ton
mage.
There have been added to the navy
during the past yearly purchase, some
80 tugs over so steamers for blockad.
ing and supply purposes, and over q
other vessels for tenders and store
ships. At least 20 of the steamers wcrC
captured in endeavoring to violate the
blockade.
The Secretary then discusses at somO
length the improvements in naval YES
sells.
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