The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1864-12-16

try IN his report an exhibit of the navy an
ofnaval affairs of which all citizens ma
bsproud. However he may have been ,
times regarded as good natured but supel
annuatcd old gentleman, slightly dispose
to Rp Van Winkleian slumbers. he ha
gwen US here an evidence of wakefulues
and activity that have made our navy
power on the earth.
ln the commencement of bis report, ht
shows the small naval force and the d ff1
culties encountered at the com ncemen,
of the rebellion, and then recapitulates the
achievements of the last four years.
He notices the public displeasure con.
sequent upon the deficiency Of the VII
mIngton blockade, and shows the imposs.
ibi'ity of entirely closing that port by
bio ,kade, owing to the numerous outlets
and the shoalness Of the water. In this opin
ion the officers of the blockading SO uad. .
ron at that place concur. The navy has
been at all times ready to cooperate in
tne capture OF Wilmington, but the mili-
tsry forces have not been, and il cannot
be taken By either arm of the service uu
supported by the other. He Of course
does rot say, whas is probable, that if
Sherman s early successful in occupying
Sivsnnah, he may spare the CO. operating
lsud force which shall give us Whining
ton.
The country will not censure Mr.. Welles
because some of the new vessels of war. to
the creation OF which the inventive genius
OF our coun,rymen has prompted, have
not in all cases been entirel, successful
The exi-enciss of the times demand and
Will Justify jullcious experiment.
The following concerning the navalhe-
ro of the age will strike popular chord
"Among the eminent oomman ders in
our naval service, of whom the nation
may well te proud. we have one who all
will acknowledge. merits by his achieve
menls as high rank as that oil any naval Of
6cer in any conutry On the occasion OF
the recent brilliant victory in the bay OF
Mobile, more glorious. perhaps, in some
OF ifs incidents, even than the memorable
conflict tha, gave US the possession and-u-
timstely restored the free navigation of
the Mississippi, II was, beyond question,
the spontaneous sentiment Of the country.
that the veteran hero who had illustrated
our naval annals by these grand successes
was worthy of the highest honprs. and
should be promoted to the highest naval
rank. In recommending, therefore, that
the Office of vice admiral should be Great
ed, aud the appointment conferred on
Rear Admiral David G. Farragut, bu,
respond, as believe, to the voice AID
wishes OF the naval service, and of the
whole country
For other facts aud points in this ex-
tended report, we append the following
synopsis from TIE Illinois Journal:
There are six squadrons on duty-the
West Gulf (Admiral Farragut), East
Gulf (S,riblins) South Atlantic (Dal.
grenl, North Atlantic (Porter). Mssis.
sippi Lee). and Pacific (Pearson) be
sides the Potomac f,tilla (Parker). The
West India squadron, as an organization
has been discontinued
The c)nsurn piou ofcoa' in the navy last
year was about 500 600 tons
The blockade extends along coast line
0f l. II
Whole coast Of Europe from Cape TrataIger
to Cipe North.
The iron clad iaet has increased TO II
vessels. They carry 275 guns all Of heavy
meta.
Toe number of p-izas captured during
the year was 324 Eighty eight Of these
were steamers The gross proceed ls from
sales OF condemned prizes were a, 1885,
ESQ, snd The expenses 81 l,237I53. The
balance of SI3, 1870. 45l was divided
equally between the csptors, as prize
mouey. and the government, as naval
pension furd
Thsre are l,6Os persons on the naval
pension roll They receive SlS9 $50 a
year The pension fund. on the lst Of
January next, will amount to $1,000 600
yielding an annual income Of S42O, 600,
sutfi lent for the payment of the entire
pension roll
The Navy Department has cost $3.50,
647, 1851 in four years. OF this aggregate
s85 1888. .292 were expended last year
The available resources for tue 6sc 4 yea,
ending June 30rh, 1865, are Sl39.2s9,,
Ooo. The balance on hard at the begin,
mag ot the present fiscal year was So.
032, ,2I4.
Admiral Farragut's victory in NJ bile
Bay Is mentioned with high praise in the
report, and the following remarks are ad
ded
Inc capture OF Forts Powell. Gaire:
and Morgan, and the destruction Of tht
rebel fleet. gave US possession o.
the bay and closed the port to al
ingress or egress of blockade runners.
Tnls was all that was contemplated. Pos
session of the city of Mobile could no
make the blockade. more eifectuAl, apc
without sufficient cooperating land fore,
which could not then be spared 10 TAX,
and hold the place, further demonstrate,
was not advisable