Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1863-12-24

vessels knew their power and sought the encounter mi
battle was to test not only the vessels but the new fifteen
nob ordnance then for the first time brought into
warfare and concerning which there had been az Wen az
with respect 10 the vessels themselves sons variety VI
opinion. The couhlc was so brief aud decisive mat onl
one of the two monitor vessels though not widely separa
ed and each eager for the Tight able to participate 10
the engagement The Nahant, having pilot, followed
in the wake of the Weehawken but before she could get
into action the contest Such was the brevty
Of the fight that the Weehawken in about fifteen minutes,
and with only FIVE shots from her heavy guDs 0yerpower-
ed and captured her formidable antagonist before the Ma
hant which Fastening to the work. could discharge
single shot at the Atlanta This remarkable result was
additional testimony 10 favor of the monitor class OF
vessels for harbor defence and coast service against
val vessels that have been likely to be TO
visit shores 1t appears also to have extngushed
whatever lingering hopes rebels may have had fwith
standing our naval power by naval means.
EASTERN GULF SQUADRON
Acting Rear Admiral Bailey has continued in command
of the Eastern Gulf Squadron closely bockadng the Flo
ria peninsula from Cape Canaveral the east to Pen
sacoa. the west There having been no Important
military movements within these limits close watch OF
the coast and Of the ad AGENT waters has been maintained
by the navy resulting the capture Of many prizes and
the almost entire annhlation OF all illicit traffic Some
important boat expeditions for cutting out vessels and de-
stroyng rebel salt works have been projected and
ted with success Lying adjacent to Cuba and not far
distant from Nassau the coast of Florida presented
available points for eludDg the blockade chiefly by small
vessels which capable of penetrating the shallow
habols and net which udeut it's shores But the trade
has not been carried with impnnty--more than one
hundred craft of various descriptions have been captured
destroyed by the squadron during the current year
WESTERN GULF SQUADRON.
The duties of the Western Gulf squadron have been
diversified and exactng For derable part of the
year Rear Admiral FarragIt felt himself compelled to en-
poy many of his most efficient vessels in active river
vice. cooperating with the army with view TO reopenng
the navigation of the Mississippi and eypeng hostile
forces from its banks Impressed with the great import
of this work and aware of the determination of the
Government to promptly and firmly re-establish the ma
tona authority that quarter that the ocean outlet
of the great central valley Of the Union should be
strcted aud secure Rear Admiral Farragnt committed
the subject OF the coast blockade to others OF his
mand and devoted his unremtng personal attention to
the energetic and vigorous pro ecuon Of the conquest Of
the rebels to overcoming and reducing their batteries
and 10 removing every obstacle with which they sought to
oppose the navigation of the river to resist the autho
tiss of the Union. Soon after the capture of New Or
leans in the spring Of 1862 aud the natural result of
that event the naval forces formed junction. and could
the army at that time have furnished adequate
operating land force the reduction Of Vicksburg might
tave beef accomplished and the occupation and navga
ton OF the river easily secured But the omission to do
this the rebels opportunity to immensely strengthen
vicksburg and also to forhy Port Hudson and Grand
Gulf in addition What, therefore, might have been DC
csmplehed with comparatively little effort in the
Of 1862, was work of immense and almost incredible
labor and difficulty in 1863. 1T indispensable that
communication should be opened with Rear Admiral
Porter of the Mississippi squadron and General Grant
Admiral Farrsgut therefore, moved up IN strong force
from Baton Rouge in March, intending to pass the bat
teries at Port Hudson, but only his flagship the
Hartford, and the Albatross successful With these
he succeeded in approaching Vicksburg and in tmmun
eating with Rear Admiral Porter the peninsula
This gallant act of Rear Admiral Farragut being effected
the navy had command of the river between Vcksbug
and Port Hudson and enabled to establish blockade
Of Red River and thus intercept the supplies from Texas
destined for the rebel armies The insurgents felt this TO
be Of the most serious and fatal blows inflicted on
them during the year. aud from the effects OF it they have
recovered This accomplished the Admiral left his
flagship the Hartford and returning below by way of the
Atchaiaaya he resumed operations for final assault on
Port Hudson 10 meet the requirements OF the occasion
force kept always ready to cooperate with the
army in its movements and the part of the navy
tnuous Smelling of the place from mortar boats Vesels
and naval battery shore, manned by seamen was
maintained, secondng the army. Nearly three thousand
l3nch shells thrown into the works by the mortar
vessels and the naval battery Of four 9nch guns used
preaching battery performed good service. In
quence of the capture Of Vcksburg the 4h Of July
the reduction Of Port Hudson became inevitable and the
garrison finally surrendered the 9th Of July General
Banks, who for weeks, had besieged the place.
This the last stronghold of resistance to the Ma
tional authority on the banks of the Mississippi.
pursuits, Rear Admiral Farrseut turned IL Rear
Admiral Porter the entire control OF the western waters
above New Orleans and departed himself for that city
Deemng that ts long service and useful abors of eeh
teen months entitled this gallant officer special consde
ration the Depa tment eUdered him respite which he
accep ed and Commodore H. IL Bell the next officer in
rank, appointed to command the squadron in his alb
senee.
The blockade Of the Gulf has been the main, efficient
and successful although at Galveston and Sabine
Pass occurred and Tor time, reckless adsenurers aud
foreign capitalists, to exten succeeded, by perver
ing neutral privileges and raudulently abusing neutral
rights on the Rio Grande in carrying illicit trade with
the rebels through Natamoras The Rio Grande being
the boundary between the United States and Mexico is
open to the navigation OF both countries and could not,
therefore be blockaded With knowledge Of this fact,
multitude 81 schemes projected and under the dis
guss of neutral trade, Matamoras suddenly became
great commercial mart for the rebels and their friends
But the shrewdy devised schemes interrupted
with disastrous 10 most Of those Hh0 partc
pated them and the occupation nf the Rio Grande and
Brownsville has put fual termination to the lately
tensiye commerce. OF Matam0ras which is becoming in
significant it was before the rebellion.
MISSISSIPPI SQUADRON.
The Missssppi squadron has been actively engaged in
successful efforts o the rebels and restore thu
national ascendency the great central valley OF the Union
| Rear Admiral Porter, whose activity, energy and
mand has exhibited extrho binary vgor n various naval
expeditions the Mississippi and its tributaries and in
Jealous cooperation with the army most OF It's impor
| taut operations
The capture Of Arkansas Post on the White river, in
January the destruction Of the batteries at Grand Gulf
bay aud in operation with the army the reduction of
VcksbHrg, which finally surrendered the 4th OF July,
tire most prominent G the remark able achievements O
this squadron Of which marked by incidents Of
singular and romantic daring Ia the appendix to this
port will be found correct records Of the extraordinary adj
ventures attending The efforts get control Of the Yazoo
by sweeping from it's channel the network Of torpedoes,
explosive Hachnts, and contrva for submarine war
fare, s cOuHuohee with the Mississippi. These
efforts followed by the no9ei and SINGULAR "Ya-
Pass Expedition, and the expedition OF 5teets
Bsyo. and Deer Crock"