Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1863-04-09
THE EFFICIENCY OF THE NAVY.

II may be, that much popular impotence should be
expressed by stsy-at-homs critics whenever things
are not so managed as to procure uniform success
for the Union arms as we'll on sea as on land. 1t
Is generally admitted that under the direction of
the present Secretary of the Navy, with that of the
enlightened assistants he has called around him,
rare degree Of vigor has been impressed on the
operations Of our fleets in every branch of the
naval service but those vicissitudes aud misadven-
lures which are incident to all warke enterprises
have none the less occurred with sufficient fire.
quency to prevent the acclaim Of the multitude
from being uubroken by some murmurs of discon-
tent. For, in the absence of the delegated Office
borne by those whose part it was, in the midst of
Roman ovation, to remind the triumphant hero
that he was mortal, there are always those in our
more favored days of universal enlightenment who
are ever ready to impose upon themselves the duty
of mercilessly exposing all faults" "errors,"
and blunders" after they have been irretrievably
committed by somebody in office or command.
These prophets Of the past" while thus skilled
to point out mistakes when it is too late to correct
them are, it is observed, not very exuberant with
helpful counsel when the question is I" how to do"
any thing that requires courage, capacity, and ex-
perience. With no knowledge or device to show
In advance how enterprises of great pith and
moment can be infallibly accomplished, they sre
brimful with surprise aai indignation at the way
any thing was attempted the moment after entire
eminent in any direction.
It is in view Of this disposition, inherent, We
suppose, in the temper of all popular Governments,
that Mr.. EVERETT, in recent paper " on the diff
Guilty Of ntercepting vessels at and of prevent
ing vessels from running blockades" recalls seve-
raj historical examples in rebuke of the denuncia-
tons heedessly visited on the Navy Department
because a swift sailing privateer has for a few
months pursued her car unchecked, notwith-
standing the vigorous tilted efforts made
for her capture; and ',lockaded coast
of one thousand m4.>-, uuen.c. With hundreds Of
inlets, vessel of light draft, and propelled by
steam, occasionally slips in or out of dark night.
By copious and interesting citations from the naval
history of England, in the best days of Colling-
wood and a Nelson, he shows how impossible it is
to blockade any port in such way as to prevent
all access or escape the part of vessels seeking
to run the blockade. Thus Admiral Collingwood,
while off Ushant wrote as follows, on the 4th of
February, 1906:
The sailing Of the enemy's squadron from Rocbeort
and evading Sir Thomas Graves to intimate that
something is to be undertaken by them. 1t ia not
we'll aceItaned where that squadron but by the route
in which they Brest seemed to be their desti
nation; and if they arrived there it will be proof ho,o
I.tfI. NJ.
from blockaded port and enier another where the
whole feet without being seen does cithn the
eomprehsnson Of city politicians Their idea is that
like sentnes standing at door, who must and may
intercept al who attempt to 70 into it,"
That single vessel, tracing her trackless paths
at sea, should long Re able to eude the search and
evade the pursuit of our ships-of-war, however
vigilant in their duty, is shown by another series
of striking illustrations to b, no reason for sur
prise or complaint, though there were any thing
exceptional in such misfortune attending such
servics Three memorable occasions are cited
from the history of Napoleon l. to prove how little
dependence be placed on the most distinguished
skill and activity in naval warfare, in the way of
intercepting or oyertaking an enemy. We can find
room for only one of these historical parallels:
Lord Nelson cruising the Mediterranean in the
spring OF 79S when the French feet bound for egypt
and conveying Bonsparte and his army sailed from Touon
Not the slightest disaster encountered the voyage
by the latter He presented himself before Malta, aud
received the equalization of that place with all the quiet
and ease Of review on the Camp de Mars. Four Gays
afterwards Nelson arrived with his feet at Naples From
Malta Napoleon crossed the unmolested
On the POD of June Nelson and the French Admiral
each others track in the night without KIN wing it As the
latter approached the coast Of Egypt they the sgn
gun. from Nelson's feet, at DIS of five leagues lie
was then sailing northwards from Egypt wber~ h. had
bren 10 hing ia vain for the French The fleets were for
several hours within few lesgues Of ether uu uay
On the lst Of July the Freuch feet arrived
of Alexandria, and learned that days before Lord
Nelson had left the roads for the of Syrin The
two sxtyf ur gun ships, fourteen gates seventy briggs
and CUTTERS, and four hundred Transports with 10 900
sailors and $4,000 soldiers board. 1t might well be
said to carry C4saraDd his fortunes Imagine a bait
at between such vast and to great degree iedy
force and uninoumbsred English feet commanded by
Nelson. When we reflect that enormous force,
covering the have done for U.S. escaped
Tor two weeks commander vgilant Nelson, crus
ing 10 It's immediate vicinity crossing s track aud quitting
the port Of its destination dsys before the arrival Of
the French, shall have little charity for own gal
ant officers who have failed to encounter the Alabama
the broad Atlantic"
THE SIEGE OF vICKsBURG
CINCINNATI APRIL 3-The news from Vcka buro IL