Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1863-12-15

Treasury, to which invite your attention.
Ii is sufficient to say here, that 1T is not
believed that the actual results will exhibit
state of finances less favorable TO the
country than the estimates of that officer
heretofore submitted, while it is confidently
expected, that the close of the year, both
disbursements and debts will be found very
considerably less than has been anticipated.
The report of the Secretary of War is a
document of great interest 1t consists OF
LIST. The military operations of the year,
detailed 10 the report of the General in chief.
I'd. The organization Of colored persons
into the war service.
Sd. Exchange of prisoners fully set
forth in letter of General Hitchcock.
4th. The operations under the act for
enrolling and calling out the national forces,
detailed in the report of the Provost Mar
shall General.
5th. The organization of the invalid
corps.
9th. The operation of the several de-
partments of the Quartermaster General,
Commissary General, Paymaster General,
Chief Of Engineers, Chief of Ordnance,
and Surveyor General.
1t has appeared impossible to make a
valuable summary Of this report, except
such as won d be too extended for this
place, and hence content myself in referring
your attention to the report itself
The duties devolving on the naval branch
of the service during the year, and through
out the whole of this unhappy contest,
have been discharged with fidelity and i'm
minent success. The extensive blockade
being constantly increased in efficiency, yet
on SO long line it has been impossible to
suppress the illicit trade. From the re-
turns received at the Navy Department, 1t
appears that more than one thousand yes
sells have been captured since the blockade
was instituted, that the value OF the prizes
already sent in for adjudication amounts t.
over $l3,000,000.
The naval force Of the United States con,
sists at present of 558 vessels completed
and in the course of completion and Of these
IS are iron clad armored vessels. The
events Of the war give an increased interest
and importance to the navy which will prob
ably extend beyond the war itself. The
arInored vessels in our navy completed and
10 service, or which are under contract and
approaching completion, are believed to ex-
coed in number those of any other power.
But while these may be relied on for har-
Dor defences and sea coast survey, Others
of greater strength and capacity will 6e
necessary for cruising purposes. and to
maintain our rightful possession on the
ocean.
The change that has taken place in the
navy vessels and naval warfare since the
introduction of steam H. motive power
for sh ips Of war. demands either CORES,
pondng change in some of our existing na-
w wards, or the establishment If new ones
for the construction and necessary repair of
modern war vessels. No inconsiderabIe
embarrassment, delay and public injury has
been experienced from the want OF such
government establishments. The necessity
of such navy I'd, so furnished, at some
suitable place upon the Atlantic sesboard,
has, on repeated occasions. been brought
to the attention of Congress by the Navy
Department. and is again presented in the
report Of the Secretary which accompanies
this communication. | think it my duty
to invite your special attention to this sub
ject, and also to that of establishing yard
and depot for naval purposes upon Que OF
the western rivers.
A naval force has been created on these
interior waters, and under many disadyan
tages, within little more than two years,
exceeding in numbers the whole naval force
of the country at the commencement Of the
present Administration. Satisfactory -
important as have been theqao"f
the navy at this iRte>~
scarcely more
Of the mech