Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1864-12-29
THE YAEkEE NAVAL REPORT.
We take the following from the report of sccreta1
Weiles:
THE BLOCKADE.

THE BLOCKADE.
The blockade of coast line Of thrce thousand five
hundred and forty nine miles in length greater in extent
tban the whole coast Of Europe from Cape Trafalgar
to Cape North, undertaking without precedent 10
history. Durug our last with Great Britain, when
that Power had eight hundred naval vessels in commits
sion. not single port OF the United States was th0r
01ghy closed TIE mo- serious attempts OF the at
maritime Powers have consisted 10 endeav0rs to int>r-
diet trade at few of the pCi7cipa ports of beiGer
e1t. Immediately after closing the ports of the ties
in rebellion and giving that act the character of block
ade the eff of the Department directed toward
securing several harbrs at comparatively equldstan
points as bases of operations for the several equadons
where our naval vessels could receive their supplies aud
maintain themselves at their stations aud Oh their cruis
ing plound, without re urning 10 Northern ports for
repairs and reftmente. TO have done this would not
only have endangered the efficiency but in instan
Gee might have iuvolved abandonment of the block
ade 70 this end there set on foot various coast
expeditions which have resulted 10 taking pOss ssiOn
OF clos ing all the ports excepting Wilmington
From various causes Cape Fear River is more difficult
blockade than any mort on the coast OF the United
Stetes. The two main entrances are forty miles apart
and those suhdivded into several Others each
OF which affords an entrance TO vessels, The water
shoals gradually and regularly to the shoreine, and nu
nerous ;saated batteries ced along til coast
that blockade runner OF light draugbt is not under
the necessity Of making directly tor the entrance but
can by the lead close under the land protected by
the batteries, and pass in over the bar at leisure -
a
thus securing every advantage aud she can pass either
up or down the before making an ofug, or she
NAV proceed straight out TO trusting Tor ber escape
to he night and avorng darkness and mists, and the
fact that she is under full speed, whilst the steamers
blockading must have low steam
Almost every vessel employed 10 violating the block
ade has been constructed in EDgla ID with great skill
regardless OF cost and with sole reference to engaging
in this Illicit trade, the profs of which almost
reruneratve as those attending the slave trade, and
Irc1 9ISc0n
and the most powerful maritime nations have cOmhned
IN vain suppress yet the slave trade Is carried
within limits which but traction Cf our ex
teEdsd blockade Tie cupdlty of E0gish merI h2nts
aided by lie vast ree0ul uce together with he auvant
ages derived from those triangular depots Of blockade
rU1ners and Of r6bci snpDlCs-the pOrts OF aiitgX
Ber rmuda and Nassau, ports which will always be IN
sympathy Wlh Tie enemies OF this counry--bas IN
ducEd them engage III this trade, be Illicit traffic
with the rebels, who making upon our GOV
arnmant belongs to that code OF cla morals
wbicJ prompted tie smuggling OF opium Ipto CANA,
aud the rule Of those mho engage in II trade le&a
y or ilIcg lily. Ii ii be ga is the business OF the
Lhuese AID Americans, not Of E5gshmen, 10 prevent
Many who have failed to make themselves acquaint-
cd with the facts CONNECTED w,h the dining block
ade have be- iree and 10 Ct the
manor il which il has been conducted. The lntell-
gent officers Of the naval and merchant service who ktv
IabOed with untiTIug al aud aa4duljy, and ched
wit s!eepess vigilance through weary mn hs of VIII
!er and Summer and i. all weahers, stimulated oy the
nope OF beuefin the country and receiving its tEanks
a3 wtl bg every induce to fame Gid pCcun'arY
reward, successful do not Ia the OPINION tha
the port of lmlngton can be entirely closed By block
ade.
Convinced as the Department always has been that
it necessary to take of the entrances,
D permit armed vessels OF light draft to go inside
opp Ttulty has been omitted to express the meets
sly OF )int naval and military operations for that pur
pose The ravy has been all times ready to perform
nj h,3k
yet able to unite IN COZ onE movement. Meth
branch Of the servte expect be successful in
attack upon any position pendent OF the other
Were there as high water at Wilmington, at New
Orleans, Noble e, aud Port Royal, ener Of those oper
could have bern repeated at that point, but by
of the shoaness OF tue water, exclusively
naval operation cannot De relied upon to be success
full.
SOUTH ATLANTIC SQUADRON.
The coast under blockade by the South Atlantic
squadron is about three hundred miles in extent and
considerable portion of it is net work Of nlets and
sounds. Within the limits OF this command are two
OF the cbie seapor of the Charleston and
Savanuah-cties OF wealth and mars of comm cree in
other days, but the which they commtpced, and
which they still continue to wage sgalns. the mon has
caused Of them 10 be sealed up and has destroyed
their wealth AID prosperity.
After reviewing the operations against Charleston
and Savannah, 10 the spring Of this year, the Secre
tary says:
Intelligence that the rebels were strengthening Fort
Sumter, building bcmb-proofs and mounting heavy
guns the channel faces. led Rear Admiral Dahgren
early in the 20 entertain The thought OF attack
ing that ortfcaon and attempting the passage with
his iron cads 1t question Of gr responslolll-
ty ter The assault if would draw upon the yes
sells the co2csntrated Gre Of many powerful batteries
he therefore Called cJunc OF his icers in command
and after full dscnssion, large ority deemed it,
under the circumstances unadVisabe. 1t was conse'
| Quentl abandoned.