The New York herald., 1863-12-10

national asccndency the great central valley OF tho
Union.
Rear Admiral Porter whose activity energy and res-
diness OF emnenty fitted him FOR that com
mand has exhibited extraordary yigor In various naval
expeditions the Mississippi and lis tributaries, and In
jealous ooperaon with the army IA most o. It's impor-
tint operations.
The capture OF Arsausas Post op the White river in
January the obstruction OF the batteries at Grand Gull
in May, and in cooperation army tho reduction
NIcKsourg, whch hhaly surrendered on the ath oil
july arc the most prominent o. the remarkable achieve
mens OF this squadron some OF which arc marked by
incidents OF singular and romantic daring. In
the appendix to this report will be found cor
rect records OF the extraordinary adventures attend
ng the efforts to get control of the Yazoo by sweeping
from channel network of torpsdoes explosive
chimes and oontr or submarine warfare, ts
confluence with the Mississippi These efforts were fol
lowed by the novel and singular Yazoo Pass Expedi-
ton,h and the expedition Of ''Steels bayou and Deer
creek On the right bank OF the Mississippi OF
nte est were also enacted by the hardy sailors and boat
on the rivers OF Arkansas and Northern louisiana.
The Cumberland and the Tennessee have beon actively
piiroied by vigiant ami sk,ul naval officers, aud
Ohio, over distanceo hve hundred miles, nterceptng
him and his band when attempting TO escape,
naturally attracted the attention OF the country. But
the great and important exploits OF this squad
ron were in the vicinity of vicksburg, where
the strength Of the naval well as of the
military forces were centred The magnitude OF tho de
fences OF place which intended repulse any
force, naval or military, both combined, which could
be brought against them made tho siege Formidable and
seemed for to defy all attempts at their reduction
In overcoming them, the unnecessarily performed conspi-
cuous and essential part For forty two days, without
all parts Of the city, aud into the works beyond it,
Heavy guns, mounted commanded the important
batteries, and for fourteen days maintained in
cessaut re upon them Thirteen heavy guns were landed
from the vessels aud officers and (where they could
be spared we're sent TO them The gunboats below
the city, cooperation with the army, continually
engaged in sheng the place During the siege sixteen
hou and shells thrown from the mortars, gunboats,
and naval batteries upon the city and its defences before
they captuiated
The creation and organization large squadron
which has done such elective service on the Upper Mis-
than three thousand miles, may be justly considered
among the most wonderful events of tho times II is but
little two years since had not naval vesso on
all these waters, where now have squadron OF one
hundred vessels carrying 462 guns, with crews amount
ing in the aggregate to about 800 Kentucky Ten
nessee and Arkansas tho upper portions OF Mississippi
and Louisiana, and the southern p0 tionS OF those
States which border on the Ohio river on the north,
have been relieved and liberated through the instrumen
taty OF the gunboats acting by themselves, in
and cordial CO operation with the armies Rear Admiral
Porter has well sustained the which the gallant
and lamented Foote noy earned and has carried for
ward 10 successful results larger and powerful
force than was ever at tho disposal Of that heroic officer
10 and organizing this squadron and arnng aud
manning the vessels 1t must not be forgotten that the
service abored under many and great disadvantages for
the government had yard establishment OF its
which the department could depend. In tho
absence government yards Shops stOrehouses and
other necessary facilities and aids for naval establish
ment and also of mechanics and workmen, 1t became
necessary to collect and send ami receive supplies
from central aud secure position. This work has
been performed chiefly at Cairo under the super
and cement Of officers who have devoted them
selves to their less conspicuous but not less indispensable
work with assiduity labor surpassed by
their more active associates who facing the enemy
POTOMAC FlouIIA.
Allured by high prices and prospect OF gain,
cenary adventurerS we'll rebels and rebel Sympa
thizers have continued TO carry exeut Illicit
and contraband traffic between Maryland and Virginia
rendering it necessary to maintain considerable force
tho Potomac. The hotia, under command OF Commo.
dore Harv has kept close watch and guard
tercept and prevent far possible communication
with the rebels and many captures have been made but
the punishment Inflicted on those who attempt to deal
tn traitors and furnish them supplies has been light
that these petty c0ntrabandisS we'll the
bl kae have carried their employ with
some degree of impunty In two instances armed
bodies OF have appeared tho Virginia Shore If
with the intention o. moesting navigation but they have
abruptly fed On tho approach OF gunDoat' To guard
against possible at the time OF the invasion
Maryland and Pennsylvania, which terminated Ia the
battle OF Gettysburg, vessels stationed at what
deemed available points along the upper waters OF the
Chesapeake to cooperate with tho military authorities.
A gunboat sent up tho Susguehapna to Havre de
Grace, another up the Gunpowdor, third up the Back.
water, while one was also postei at Annapolis, and
other at Wilmington
PACIFIC SQUADRON. -
The force 10 the Pacific remains the at the date
Of last annual report with the addition OF the Sag
and the Farallones, storeship, at Acapulco
Acting Rear Admiral Charles H. Bell continues 10
mand OF the squadron and has attended to interests
In that quarter The vigilance Of this officer and OF Capt
fhos o. Serdge commandant Of tho Navy Yard at Mare
Island, with the active operation OF house
and revenue authorities western coast has inter-
copied and suppressed all attempts III rebel pratt
cal cruisers on the Pacihc.
The schooner j. G. Chapman was dstocted in the har.
Dor OF San Francisco In the month OF May last aud seized
by the sloop-of Cyane, with meu, armament and
military supplies board, evidently intended to prey
upon Some indications OF schem0 to M out
rebel cruiser having been by our Consul at
Victoria Admiral Bell dc patched the saginaw to Washing
Territory ascertain the facts and, If necessary, TO
rake prompt measures IN regard 70 them. Although 1t
ascertaned that some proceedings had taken place
sufficient TO give rise TO reports OF design to 1T out
praca craft under the rebel tag from British waters
there substantial grounds TO apprehend that such
scheme could be carried effect, especially in
of friendly disposition aud earnest resolve OF tho
lonia authorities to discounenance aud prevent such
Illegal proceedings The saginaw therefore, returned TO
san Francisco from satisfactory the north.
The NJ this squadron have during tho
wear visited the principal ports tho Pacific coast
by their presence strengthened diplomatic and cou
sular representatives, and impaired FEELING OF security
to Amercan citizens and American ntcsests wherever
they have appeared
In the Fast India ard China soas the jamestown and
the Wyoming have guarded American interests during
the past year. and, with the exception OF disturbance
which be regretted occurred at Japan, all has
the wyoming At YosohaDa. Information was receiv
ed that the American steamer Pembroke had been fired
upon by japanese vessels Commander McDougal imme
daely proceeded 70 the locality Of the outrage where no
ared upon land batteries and nava force,
cons sting OF a steamer bark and brig. An action Of
on hour .oowcd which Is stated that the steamer
o the enemy blown up, the bark sunk and the brig
made completc wreck in ner upper works, while con
siderable damage was dono 10 tue and batteries. The
Wyoming withdrew after thus vndicating the honor OF
the American nag having sustained ioss oil eleven
killed aud wounded.
have mentioned former reports that the naval
force at the OF tins administration con
sisted OF ssvery vessels and OF these only forty
were in commission. Tho additions which have since
been made have elevated tho country into hrst Class
naval power In the following table an exhibit Is pre-.
sentcd the actual number and description OF naval
at the date OF sst report aud at tho present
tIme.--
COMPARATIVE xxmiur NAVY psceNs, 1852 aSp 1868.
No of No. OF
Tesses Guns. Tonnage.
Navy at date of present report tss S.ia3 20, @ 70,
Natty ll mat
-
Increase, exclusive OF those lost 6l I,l76 I27 93t
VESSELS NAVY Losr s,SCK DB)EMrRa, 1862
No Of no.
In VIVA. Manner Lost ysssets. Gpns Tourn0e.
CAPTURED ............. IL ~ bDsT
Destroyed TO prevent fall. ~ 2,93
ing into hands OF rebels !
SIX IN battle or by tyrped)csa - 2,2Dl
Shipw x TIRE aud collision IL 6t 4,8J%
TotN.................. ~ 1876 t5pS
vEsskIs rNptR pEcxxBra 1862
Tons NO. Of No. OF Ton
Description each VcSscts. Guns n1qc.
Double end iron steamers ,O3D 81 1910
Single turret iron Clads ..... 6tt 20 20 1880