The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-12-16
THE NAVY.
SECRETARYWELLES's REPORT.

lhlS Is an increase OF 81 vessels and TO-
guns since December, 1863. The vessel
constructed for the navy since March 4
1861, number 203, carrying 1851 guns
not counting those which have been con
structed within the same period and los
in battle or by shipwreck.
The officers and men now on duty mum
Der 81, 600 officers, 5000; men, As, 900
There are six squadrsns on duty-tht
West Gulf admiral Farragut), East Gul
(Stribling), South Atlantic (Dahlgren)
North Atlantic Porter, Mississippi (Lee),
and Pacific (Pearson)- besides the Poto.
mac aotisla Parker). The West Indis
squadron, as an organization, has beer
discontinued. 4
The consumption of coal in the navy
last year was about sos, 900 TONS
The blockade extends along coast line
of S,549 miles-a greater length than the
whole coast of Europe from Cape Trafal-
gar to Cape North.
The iron-clad fleet has increased to II
vessels. They carry 275 guns, all of heavy
metal
The number Of prizes captured during
the year was 324. Eighty-eight of these
were steamers. The gross proceeds from
sales of condemned prizes were S14, $780,
220, and the expenses $1,237,159. The
balance of $13, 19O,84l was divided equal
ly between the captors, as prize money,
and the government, as naval pension
fund.-
There are 1909 persons on the naval
pension roll. They receive $1S9,659 a
year. The pension fund, on the 1st of
January next, will amount to 100000
yielding an annual income of 1920, 900,
sufficient for the payment of the entire
pension roll.
The Navy Department has cost $780,
647, 261 in four years. Of this aggregate,
$85, 1888, 292 were expended last year. The
available resources for the fiscal year end
ing June 80, 1865, are $139, 289, O59. The
balance on hand at the beginning of the
present fiscal year was $SO,O32, PA.
The foregoing statistics are condensed
from the detailed statements in Secretary
Welles' annual report. Mr. Welles en-
larges upon the satisfactory condition of
the navy, commends it's officers for sus-
tanning its discipline and efficiency, and
adverts with emphasis to the extraordinary
growth of the service since the first year
of the war.
WHY WILMINGTON HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN.
Mr.. Welles replies to the censure cast
upon the Navy Department for its failure
to close the port of Wilmington. He con.
tends that that port els more difficult to
blockade than any other on the coast of
the United States, for reasons which are
set forth as follows:
The two main entrances are forty miles
apart and these two are subdivided into sew
eral others, each of which affords an entrance
to vessels. The water shoals gradually and
regularly to the shore-line and numerous iso-
lated batteries are erected along the coast, go
that blockade-runner of light draught is not
under the necessity of making directly for the
entrance, but can, by the lead, run close under
the land protected by the batteries, and pass in
over the bar OF leisure. When coming out a
steamer will select her own time, thus securing
every advantage, and che can pass either up or
down the coast before making an offing, or she
may proceed straight out to sea, trusting for
her escape to the night and favoring darkness
and mists, and the fact that she is under full
speed, while the steamers blockading must
have low steam.
Mr.. Welles adds:
Convinced, as this Department always has
been, that it is necessary to take possession of
the entrances, 80 as to permit our armed YES
sells of light draught to 90 inside, n opportu-
sity of joint naval and military operations for
that purpose. The navy has been at all times
ready to perform its part in such an cxpodi-
ton but the army has not yet been able to
unite in cOnioint movement Neither branch
of the service can expect to be successful in
an attack upon this position independent of
the other. Were there deep water at Will
mington. as at New Orleans, Mobile and Port
Royal, either of those operations could have
been repeated at that point, but by reason of
the shoalness of the water. an exclusively ma
val operation cannot be relied upon to be sue
cessful.
In another part of the report, Mr..
Welles recurs to this subject, repeating
that the navy is ready to attack Whining
| ton as soon as there ia land force to CO.
operate with it, and remarking that IS
steamers have been sunk and taken while
| attempting to run the blockade of that
port. The value of these steamers and
their cargoes, is estimated at $1S, 900, 900.
THE ATTACK UPON THE MOBILE FORTS.
Admiral Farraguts victory in Mobile
Bay is mentioned with high praise in the
report, and the following remarks are
added:
The capture of Forts Powell, Gaines and
Morgan, and the destruction of the rebel fleet,
gave US possession Of the bay, and closed the
port to all ingress or egress Of blockade-run'
ners. This was all that was contemplated.
Possession of the city of Mobile could moi
make the blockade more effectual, and with.
out sufficient cooperating land force, which
could not then be spared to take and hold the
place, further demonstration was not I'D.
| visable.
THE IRON-CLADs IN CHARLESTON HARBOR.
The report represents that the with
drawal of large part of our land forces
from the islands in Charleston harbor, ne
cessarily put stop to serious demonstra.
tons against Charleston, and threw upor
our iron-clad fleet the burden of ensurine
the safety of the coast, and retaining the
harbOr. It adds:
The capability of the Monitors to hold posi-
ton off Morris Island had been controverteG
by the former intelligent commander of tn,
squadron, who denied Its practicability, ant
had deemed it his duty in June, 1863, to entel
protest against it. His representations, witt
those of the officers then in command of tn,
iron.clads, that those vessels could not remain
off the harbor, nor nearer to that point thar
| ~ oil,