Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1863-12-12
Report of the Secretary or the
Navy.
SUMMARY.

n / 4.
9 The first item considered by the Set
retary is the blockade. A coast of thirt,
, five hundred and forty-nine miles, wit
one hundred and eighty-nine harbor an
river openings, and much of the coas
presentingga double shore, had to b
guarded. Besides this gigantic under
taking, more than 100 vessels had to b
employed in patroling the rivers. Tn,
distance thus patroled on the Missis
slppi and its tributaries, is 1866 miles
On the Gulf and Atlantic, 1000 miles o
sounds, rivers and inlets, have been pen
etrated and watched with uneeasing vigi
lance. The blockade is daily becoming
more effective and complete.
The Secretary then states how the
navy is divided, and who commands the
different blockading squadrons. He de-
tails the naval history of the siege Of
Charleston, alluding to the conflict be-
tween the rebel ram Atlanta and the
monitor Weehawken. This contest he
regards as additional evidence in favor
OF the monitor class of vessels, for har.
Dor defense and coast survey. He gives
history of Admiral Farraguts opera.
tlons, claiming that if land force had
beenin readiness TO cooperate with the
fleet, Vicksburg would have been cap
tured Immediately after the occupation
OF New Orleans. Admiral Porter, in
command of the Mississippi squadron,
is highly complimented. Two years ago
not single naval vessel could be seen
on all the Western waters. Now there
are hundred, carrying 462 guns and
$500 men.
Commodore Averevood commands the
Potomac fotilla, and Admiral Bell the
Pacific squadron, which remains as it
was last year.
But the most interesting part of the
Secretarys report is the NavaI Stats
tics:
The naval force at the commencement
OF this Administration, consisted of forty.
SIX vessels, of which only forty-two were
| in commission. The additions which
have since been made have elevated the
country into first class naval power.
nresaatal5 tfnl5fnwing statistics an exhibit is
INV last report ttahf afu 2 llte9Ele5 ,,Turmhers and
The Navy, at the date of the present re-
FOL Ixrrfth
4, ,443 guns, and of 46T,967 tons in the
aggregate The Navy at the date of the
| last report, embraced 427- vessels, 3,26S
guns, and 340, ,056 tonnage. The increase,
| exclusive of those lost,is l6l vessels, yl25
| guns, and 100, 93T tonnage. The vessels
| of the Navy lost since December 1862, are
captured, l2 vessels, 4Sguns, 5,970 ton
mage; destroyed!to prevent falling into the
hands ofthe rebels, 35 vessels, 287 guns,
| 2,SSS tonnage; sunk in battle or by tor
pedoes, 4 vessels, % guns, 2,20l TONNAGE
shipwreck and collision l3 vessels, oil
guns, 1854 tonnage.
Vessels placed under construction since
December, 1862 Double-end iron steam
ers, ], 900 tons each, 7 vessels, "a guns,
7.210 TONNAGE; single turret iron.clads,
GA TONS each, 20 vessels, 40 guns, II,
$50 tonnage; double turret iron-clads
3,130 tons each, A vessels, 10 guns, II,
$40 tonnage; clipper screw sloops, 1900
: tons each, II vessels, 96 guns, 6,40l
tonnage; screw sloops, spar deck, 2,2Ol
tons each, s vessels, 100 guns, 17,60C
tonnage; screw sloops of great speed
: 5000 tons each, vessels, 50guns, l6
!. 600 tonnage; screw sloops of great speed
5000 tons each, 2yessels, l6 guns, 800
tonnage.
The following is the general conditior
of the Navy when the vessels under col
!: struction are completed: Iron-clad steam
ers for coast survey, 46 vessels, 10
guns, 6,21S tonnage; iron-clad steamer
for inland service, 29 vessels, 152 gun
!: 20,7S4 tonnage; side-wheel steamers, 20
" vessels, l,240.guns, 126,517 tonnage
screw steamers, l9S vessels, 1918 gun
lS7,S 1872 tonnage; sailing vessels IL
l, 1928 guns, 70, ,256 tonnage.
There have been added to the Ma
during the past year by purchase, some
, tugs; over so steamers for blockadil
and supply purposes, and over 20 9th
vessels for tenders and store ships.
least 20 of the steamers were captur
= in endeavoring to violate the blockat
- A brief history of the Monitors is g
en-. The Secretary regards them as W
adapted for coast defense, but thin
great improvement may be made both
". regards their size and sea-going qualiti
in Their structure must afford space for I
Ny sailing power and for the large machi
,sSa sv, ry, and large quantities of coal requil
'eS, 'eS. to keep the engines at work They m
=. also be prepared toearry guns of he
i as Ter calibre than any yet used at s
'1s- The Secretary admits that such vess
are are will cost enormously, but thinks the |
mean session of few such viii guar
nbe the peace with foreign powers.
rinS fnS Secretary cannot forget that, larg'
It i in in the cost, may be, it yet sinks into in
last. nifcance in contrast with the expe
coat, sesSS lures and sacrifice of a single year
will even month of foreign war,
gned, In order that we may have nav
: the magnitude contemplated by the
MY my retary, he urges the establishment
, new navy yard, and the enlargemel
IN. one or two of the old ones.
The Secretary then compares wo
and iron vessels;
BLING "The disadvantages of wooden
o sells are, want of strength as comp
with those of iron structure, and
", more rapid decay of the material, p'
81 ularly when covered with iron pla
ings, the action of the immersed iron a
- or copper sheeting near it, causing
.. copper to become foul, and imm'
RE, &c ean;ao rassaIs ,;rIt ,,,jor IN. !. !,
Court o1d tbo ,,~ob,bie ,raoto. a..o,,,f
n Craak iror. peruaifa the onet,.y1o hon sof sh;