The New York herald., 1863-07-24
OUR FLYING SQUADRON.
lis Field sf Operations Why Tho Rebel
Pkaxes Have Net Bsen Captured
What Admiral Wilkes Has DeDe--
Sketches Of His Vessels,
&C., &C.. sc.

&C., Sc. sc.
wAssUaroS. Jsly 10, 1883.
4 great deal has been written and much moro said
absut the employed TO capture the rebel semmes
who has Of late been dcpredatng upon our commerce
Tho press hos not bccn sparng In its comments ana
STRUCTURES upon what known as tho Flying squadron,
lately commanded by Rear Admiral Wilkes, cruising 10
the West fndes with a view 10 check II not 10 put
stop w. the contraband trade which had been carried on
between tho British provinces in the West indies and
tho called Confederate ports h very evident that
the facts in relation the Flying Squadron not
known. Rear Admiral wilkes sent 10 the West In
dies With designed tho purpose Indicated but
70 be able 10 appreciate his position and to form just
and proper estimate Of what no should have
il 10 necessary INQUIRE nrst tho extent Of his eld of
operations and secondly tho means put at his disposal
for the accomplishment OF hts mission.
Tie great point dappvi rendezvous Of the hordes of
contraband and piratical traders found TO he
Nassau, on the Island Of New Providence.
British province. THIS rebel hole 10 situated about
hundred and hfty miles east Of tho coast Il
Florida. rhas less than fvo points Of ingress aud
egresseas, west north and south. Indeed, TO guard
the approaches 20 Nassau II would be necessary
pass the entire Bahama group, including its extensive
banks embracing Of land and Of about
boundary OF upwards Of thousand miles in
cxient. Rear Admiral Wilkes was by the
government with a force, tho country he'd 70
believe sufficient in number and equipment to break mp
the coptrabaDd trade in this vicinity. what this
forceY It consisted OF tho wsshusett soDoma Toga Oc
torara and Santiago de cubs--nve vessels-not Of
them suited for the upon which they be
employed u h the government intended 70 give
Rear Admiral wilkes other vessels, but tnsy
sent and with this force hundred thousand square
miles be gardeda circuit of thousand miles
TO be trsversed and oil contrabaDd trade broken
the oatcry that has bsen rasd aganss
RAAS Admiral wilkes and bis squadron thss hs has not
captured single vcssei, o. psvested ono nom
running the blockade the contrabsnd tde with Nassau
has been sImoet entirely stopped vessels that had been
preparing 70 the blockade have abandoned ther pur
pose stores that had been shipped for rebel ports have
been out Of tho vessels and returned 70 the
houses Nassau Doubtless many vessels have tho
blockade: but N Admiral Wilkes 10 bame' Tho North
Atlantic Bockading squadron consists Of no less than
forty four vessc Tho South Atlantic Boekading squad
consists Of nty three vessels The Fast GuK squad
ron consists Of twenty the West Cuff squad
consists Of less than sixty vessels Rear Admiral
Wilkes had nothingso do with the seaboard
Where tho sixty vessels Of the Western Guf squad
and the twenty two Eastern Gnf vesses whom the
Oreto out NJ Mobile harbor rho points
be guarded by these vcsreis.--cghtytwo In number
taking Of into consideration, would give
70 each vessel = space Of not than hvo
miles, while Admiral wilkes win his nvo nencent
boas. actually guarded a sYsoe Of nearly thcussnd
miles.
The Alabama was anoai. Tho eyes OF all the world
upon her. Her acpreds,ons struck to the
hearts Of our people, especially those among them
engaged IN ncommsrciaI pursuits She be captured
and Admiral wilkes expected TO do h She bad
cvaded national cruisers ia the Atlantic, aud after
tho rebel pirate semmcs had safascd himself npon
common North no resortcd 70 tho West Indies for
richer plundcr. Tho steamer Ariel of his nrst
prizes and according 20 the public prints Admiral wilkes
10 10 blame FOR Some Ii certainly 20 blame Is 10
the Commanding sd.ser of the squadron who merits
wholesale condemnation Had Admiral wilkes been
furnished with squadron mcasurably adequate u
the service upon which be engaged tbs Alabama
this wouii have fastened 70 wharf In New York
city sunk TO the bottom 81 tho and her rebel
commander perhsps dangling from gibbet. u was
sonable TO suppose that having ts<cd u tho Of
plundcr and destruction the North Atlantic scmme.
would endeavor overhaul California steamers, and
every effort should have been eserted tc check him W
his pirailca The capture of abe Alabama and
Florida paramount all undertakings and ad
hitting this II is that Il not considered
necessary detail half OF each of tbc squadrons
assst Rear Admiral wilkes IN achieving this much de.
sired object Half dozen verseIs m addition The
force be had would have enabled the Flying sqparun
capture tho rebel tsrrors of the saas.
Had there been suicisps number Of y.sseiz u the
proper kind on the West Indies the Ariel would have
Iassed her unmoIcei.d 10 Aspnwa, and the
0reto would eucd the breezes of
tho Gulf " u were posslsle TO present to the public
msp showing the uncks ~ The vessels under Admiral
wilkes command faint idea only would be conveyed a
the amount ~ work he has performed with his sma
squadron. lis nEht for the demand.
ed. The wacbusett totally unit for sea service
when she lett Washington In septcmber last her boilers
less detective, until AZ last competent eng
prsnocncod nnsae Tor her 10 70 Admiral
wilkes. however, regardless Of danger, went ia this
seaw erthy vessel thousands ~ miles.
Having broken Up tho trade great extent between
Nassau and the rebel ports, Admiral wilkes turned
bis attention 70 ~ Thomas which N tho had
bccomc great rcfo fcr fnglsh vessels engaged IN con
trshand trade. Ha force had been augmented by sd
dtnn o. worn css s.de.whcel slssmer--the Alabama
dcicsent In speed add armament Tho presence some
a. hs Flying squacron Thomas and In the vlcipay
and the capture Pciernon had The De.
sired effect. John Dull Donplussed. osher resorts
had 20 b. Iooked for. u tho vas necessary
10 keep AirEi watch tho ports the Wind
ward Islands. Admiral wiRos' force bccDmng
and Iess escn by the hEeklng down Of the waehussii
aud Sorolna lie empoycd foF time the H. Csye< asd
oneida stachel 10 the Vest Calf squadroa ony
by which hs froe could b. at all ecio,snt About
lhls the yanderb sent 10 tho west Indies 70
look for tho Alabama and Florida and independently q
Admiral Wilkes Hs Al once. boins unable io leave a.
Tnonas IN hts flagship, hclxed he fss on bosrs of tse
vandssbi, and started apoog the wndw ard
Islands 10 westward. kcksg IN At saa commun,oailns
with The authorities wherever eur iDtsse<ss made
cesssry. What success has attended hs ssss though
sot yet seemingly undersoad and appreciated time vii
show. Our reIAsom with tLs British ssshcrnes 10
the wost Indies not < ihe friendly eharss-
Ter. he was looked upor ~ bitter sssay q rbg.
land. Bs onuncctisn With the Trent saAlr bal
po'soDsd the colonies against hsn, and our owa press