Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1863-12-24

thc uiiitsIy 6iegrapu anu tnc Nauapic
services it has rendered to the government
under the superintendent of Col Stager
and Major Rekert.
After abiding to some claims against
the department and saying that other leg
islation or larger appropriation will be
required TO carry them into effect, he con
oludes as follows:
may be permitted to express the hope
that the next annual report from this de-
partment may announce the complete
overthrow of the rebellion, and the resto-
ration of peace AMI the establishment of
the Union on sure foundation in all the
bounds of the United States.
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF THE
NAVY.
| The secretary of the navy states that
the blockade has been effectively main
tanned, 1t now covers distance of three
thousand FIVE hundred and forty -uine
miles, including one hundred and eighty
nine harbors, river openings or indenta-
tons, while the coast presents a double
shore to be guarded. The blockade is
becoming more effective and complete
Progress has been made in repelliug the
rebels from the coast and circumscrbing
their limits. The Mississippi and its trIb-
utaries, after a protracted, persistent and
|, severe struggle, in which the whole ener-
gies and efforts OF the insurgents were en-
gagged to obstruct and prevent our sue
cess, has been re-opened to navigation and
commerce. He alludes to the duties per-
formed by various blockading squadrons
known as the North Atlantic, Acting
Rear Admiral Lee South Atlantic, Ad-
miral Dahlgren; Eastern Gulf squadron,
Acting Rear Admiral Bailey; Western
Gulf squadron and Mississippi squadron,
Rear Admiral Porter; Potomac Aotilla,
Commodore HARDWOOD Pacific squadron,
j Rear Admiral Charles II. Bell.
Speaking of the operations before
Charleston, the secretary says: y.
, In the slow operations of this protract-
, ed siege of over five months, as well as in
! the demonstration of the 7th of April, both
the resisting and attacking power of the
monitors has been illustrated and proven.
a AS a commercial mart Charleston has no
existence her wealth with her trade has
departed. In military or strategic view
the place is of little consequence and
whether the rebels are able by great sacri-
4 fee and exhaustion to hold out few weeks
= more or less is of no importance. Since
: the feet under Admiral Dahlgren has re-
manned inside the bar, and we have had
! possession of Morris Island, the commerce
= of Charleston has ceased. Not a single
:, blockade runner has succeeded in reach.
ing the city for months, and the traffic
"a which had been to some extent, and witt
q large profits, previously carried on is ex
n tinguished.
The increase of the naval force during
"a the past year has again been very consid
II cradle At the commencement of tn
:. Administration it consisted of 76 vessels
. and of these only AZ were in commission
: In December, 1862, the number of GU
- vessels was 427 during the current yea
4 it has Increased to 5SS.
4 The Secretary calls attention to th
g highly important improvements in nava
warfare to which our war has led, an,
&c which have astounded the entire civilize
"a world-the introduction iuto naval servic
"a of iron shielding and of ordnance of
70 CALDER, reach and power heretofore re
a garded as impossible. He urges upon tn
o. consideration of Congress the adoption @
further measures for creating powerful
navy. The establishment of new Nav
l. Yard on large scale, he regards as a
= Indispensable necessity, as our faclitie
/ for manufacturing and repairing stear
70 machinery are entirely insufficient. Sug
,s gestions are made as to the establishment
% of Naval Depot on the Mississippi, tn
! education of engineers, tho Naval Acade
q nv, the enlistment of seamen and othe
y important subjects.
"a The number of vessels captured by tn
i squadrons and reported to the Department
v on the 1t Of November is ,045, classifie
4 as follows: Schooners, SAT steamers
- l79; sloops, 13l br!gs, 80; banks, &c
,r ships, Is; yachts and small boats, III
! This IS exclusive of large number de
- stroyed on the Mississippi and other riv
ers, and on the coast.
!, In the discharge of his arduous duties
,fl Mr. Welles has "been constantly chesret
70 and sustained by the assured conviction
that the Navy of the United States ha
a achieved great and new historical re
NJ nown; that it has expanded and is ex
banding in measure commensurate wit
10 the exigencies of the country and of tn
: times that it has done and is doing heroi
- service in great and sacred cause, an
"a that its force is welded by body of off
a GERS and men who have established tn
highest claim to the gratitude of tn
h country"
THE INTERIOR DEPARTMENT..
i The Report of the Secretary of the In
,sl terror, is clear and comprehensive docu
= ment. Secretary Usher reviews the op
erations of his bureau in the fu lest detail
j and, in general, shows very satisfactor
N results, accompanied by sensible sugges
: tons. One of these suggestions is that
moderate tax be levied on the product {
! the gold mines, which are now unbur
> dened IN that respect. The Indian affair
.. are revi wed at ! myth, and the settin
g apart of new and larger reservations
|, urged the Pension Bureau is rapidly in
!. creasing in ITS number of pensioners, whic
now reach Is $50 from the army, and l,