The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1864-07-04
The United States Navy,

The Navy OF the United States has had 40
inglorious part to play in this war II was
once the pride of the nation. The Army
was Jealous of it's glory, and had reason to
be. In the very infancy of the nation, the
Navy made itself name. In encounters
with English aud French frigates. it proved
that new and formidable naval power was
rising in the West. In the last war with
England, 1t astonished the world. Whilst
our successes on land were varying, the Ma
Wy ran one long aud almost uubroken career
of glory. Wherever the American banner
quot the stars and stripes, which "old flag"
was not adopted till 1Sl7.) floated, it was
The master OF the seas. IL there was any
special department OF British proves that
John Bull particularly prided himself upon,
aud with justice, it was his Navy. "Bri-
tannia rules the seas" was his fAvorlte
ditty. lie might confess that his enemies
had sometimes got the better of him ON
land, but never on water. He whipped
every thing he came across on that element.
The war of 1872 took the starch out OF that
portion of his stitiening in the most uneX-
pected manner It bit him between the
very joints OF his harness. 1t struck him
under the fifth rib, and doubled him up with
amazement and Indignation. He has never
forgiven it to this day, and If he lives to the
age of Methuselah, his memory of the naval
transactions Of lSl2 will be forever green.
Then began the halcyOn days of the Ameri.
can Navy. Its officers were lionizsd at
nome and abroad. New ships were built
splendid, roomy vessels, with powerful ar
maments; broad-shouldered sons of Nep-
tune at every gun; and fierce little fellows,
in cooked hats, on the quarterback, who
locked proudly upon the broad, grand
ocean, and considered themselves monarchs
of a nobler domain than that Of king or en-
perOr. more inspiring sight than SPLEEN
did American irigate in those days. away
out on the broad sea, her swelling canvas
towering to the skies, aud the masses Of 81
lent, beligerent humanity upon her decks,
was not often to be seen. No one cared
about entering the army i'll those times. The
Navy was the natural passion, and well it
might be.
CHOW are the mighty fallen" How has
n
The ancient prestige and renown of the
American sea kings? DEPARTED forever!-
Gone with the ConEederates gone with
Semmes, Mafiitt, and others, who are the
only representatives OF Its ancient suprema-
cy. The broad ocean is no longer the thea
ire Of the United States Navy. 1t is rarely
seen dozen miles from shore. 1t prowls
about muddy rivers and narrow bayous; it
ombards country villages and defenceless
farm houses; it steals sheep, negroes, and
chickens Whereas it nsed to turn up its
nose In supreme contempt at the army, il
is now the army's body servant; 1t follows
its master like his shadow, aud fetches and
carries, fights and runs, as he directs. II is
It the beck and call of militia Generals, and
plays second fiddle to pot-house politicians,
dressed up in uniform ard strutting about
"a the grandeur Of little brief authority.
Nor does it seem to deserve any better fate.
Augmented to o number OF ships which
would tit it to cope with any European
power, and provided with engines of war
such us the world had never before seen, 1t
has never performed one achievement dur
ing the whole ofthis contest which has add
ca single laurel to the clustering glories
of the cid service. The seventy ships Of
the old Navy were respected throughout the
world. The four hundred ships of the new
have not been able to drive the Alabama
and Florida from the ocean. They have had
to beg their old Eoglish enemy not to build
sny more chips for the rebels, for two
,gaiast four hundred were more than they
could manage. They have even tried TO
have ships built In England to catch the
Alabama aud the Florida, What confes.
sion ii weakness! What AFFECT hunilia-
lion! 1t is enough to make tue bones OF
the great Colnmodores oflSl2 rise from their
/. graves. Verify. England has had her re-
senga, and may we'll chuckle over their
libutations.