Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1863-12-12

GU trS cAHilizeu -WOflu, out which, und(
the lead of our1Government, was exte
minated in the early part of the preser
century. As 9 esia4aa
The subject is continued, with narr,
stion of the efforts to capture the ALI
bama, and tEe(failure of the VANDERBILT
to apprehend her is attributed to Adm
raj Wilkes, who, in derogations of explici
orders transferred his flag to the vessel
and attaching her to his squadron, de
tanned her so long as to defeat the pun
pose ofthe Department
The draft is charged with operatin,
detrimentally to the naval service, no ex
emption to sailors and marines having
been provided.for in the acts of the las
Congress. That honorable body is urged
to encourage and cherish the supply q
seamen. The exemption ofseameu from
the draft is suggested. The subject Of
prizes is very interesting:
The number of vessels captured bv
The squddron and rcF,srtod- to the no,.s-f-
ment to November 1st is ] ,045, classified
as follows: Schooners, 547; steamers.
l79; sloops, i31; briggs, 30; barques, 26 /;
ships, $50; yachts and small boats, III.
This is exclusive of large number de-
stro5ed on the Mississippi and other riv-
ers, and on the coast. A table. giving
the names and dates of capture. and
other particulars, is appended to this re-
port. At the close of the year 1862
there were 32l vessels, including armed
gunboats and tenders in the navy.
The entire number of captures of arm
ed and unarmed vessels made by them
was 29l. Five hundred and seventeen
commissioned vessels were aAoat daring
the war, whose captures were i .428.
making the total number of captures by
public and private vessels, 1871. The
value OF prizes sent to the courts for ad-
ludication since the blockade was estab,
llshed, is not less than thirteen million
dollars The value of those already
condemned, and of which notice has been
received at the departments, is S653.-
so9 4S. The expenses have been S607,-
4Ol "a, leaving for distribution s., ,S97.
$40 80. One-haif of the real proceeds
arising from the sale of prizes is set
apart for the payment of naval pensions.
ESTIMATES AND EXPENDITURES.
Passing over the consideration of a
prize law, fleet engineers and paymas.
ters; the marine corps; the coast survey
lights and signals at sea; the defense of
Portsmouth Navy Yard the loss ofthe
brig cambridge; controls and advance
IN wages which are recommended. we
come to the estimates of expenditure
1he appropriations made for the fiscal
year ending June 80, 1864, are S7I, ,5S7,-
O52 O9. Expenses. of Department dur
ing same time, $63, ,2ll, los 81, leaving
an unexpended balance of SIS, $50. .946 OF |
This amount will, however be absorbed
IN the completion aud armament of yes.
els under contract, and the payment oil
other liabilities to be incurred prior to |
the close of the fiscal year. The exper-
ditures have embraced, besides the ordi. |
nary disbursements for the naval estab- |
lishment, the construction in whole or in |
part and the repair of seventy-one YES
sells IN the Atlantic and Western waters.
the purchasing, repairs and the altera-
hons OF 800 vessels as well as the
mitted for the hsc;tf Cur rIi.o.-----r.---.;-~
40. 1864. are. as follows: Pay of the navy, |
SIG, ,423, ,241 90; constructions,andr repairs
of steam machinery, $3,936,200 90; con
struction and repair of vessels, 3,275,-
600 90; construction OF armor plated sea
steamers, s$l9, ,600, 900 00yordnance and
magazines, $S,603, ,946 GO; fuel, hemp
and equipments of vessels, 81 ,540, 900 %;
premiums and clothing $69, sos 90;
So SHQ
$50 90; navy yard and superintedentsA
50, ,55S, ,44S GO; marine corps, 81 ,445, ,B2l-
So; Surgeons necessaries and hospitals,
$S, ,5S5, 10000; papers of navigation, ,nauti-
cal instruments and navul academy,
S366,873 55. Total, $l42,6lS, ,7S5 40.
These estimates are large, but they are
made upon war basis, and the present
extraordinary cost of material and labor
renders corresponding increase of es-
Inmates necessary.
On the assumption that the war will
continue, and no other rule is safe one,
large additions are to be made to our
naval force, and the hard service to which
all our squadrons are subjected makes
the repairs and restment expensive.
It has fallen-to me to conduct the at
fairs of this Department during period
of trial and sacrifice, in the course of
which our country, by an effort which
challenges the admiration of the world,
has not only created naval power, but
has successfully applied that power in
the most arduous. naval enterprises ever
undertaken When under such circum
stances devoting all my energies to tht
duties of my position, and meeting al
its grave responsibilities to the best o
my ability, i have been constantly cheer
ed and sustained by the assured convic
ton that the Navy of the United State
has achieved great and new historica
renown, that it has expanded and is ex
panding in a measure commensurate
. with the exigencies of the country an,
: of the times, that it has done and is dc
(, ing something for a great and sacre
!, cause, that its force is welded by a bod
t of officers and men who have establishe
: the highest claim to the gratitude OF tn
country.
!, (Signed) GIDEON WELLEs,
7 Secretary Of the Navy.
To the president.