New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-12-08

Tho battery of tho Kearsarge consisted OF seven guAs.
viz two li.ineh one 3opoander rihe ana ioar nsas
FOUNDERS That of the Alabama consisted OF elgns
gunsone heavy 6s FOUNDER, OF 5000 pounds weignts
ono l00.pcunder rifle. and six heavy 3Spounders. "A
the engagement the Alabama fought seven guns and 'no
Kearsarge five 80.
This has been the only fair and open fight which
our naval men have been able to secure as YET during
the war; and it occurred in the Engiish Channe IN
sight Of the two great maritime powers OF Europe III
s,zc armament, and complement OF men: the COMBAT
ants were as near equal perhaps as could have oeen ar
ranged. Most of tie crew OF the Alabama were Eng
shnen. and the gunners admitted 70 have been picked
men OF Her Majesty gunnery ship the Excellent.
Some latent remains OF pride which belong to tho
profession. and which animated his carrier and more
honorable life while sailing under the American neg
undoubtedly had on influence in inducing the prate
commander TO meet naval antagonist after ms ions
vain hope that 1t might If successful restore to him
potion Of the respect he had forfeited and at th,
same time relieve him OF of the debasemcnt he has
never ceased to feel even when appauded By those for
eign partsans who hated tie country he had deserted.
But the dshonor indrked his conduct on this oc
ca sion as during his whole gnobe Before eav
ing horbonrc he deposited the chonometers and other
trophies Of Lis rObbeies on shore. When beaten and
compelled TO surrender he threw overheard the sword
that was no longer his own, and abusing the generous
confidence Sf his brave antagonist he stole away In tho
English tender whose owner proved himself, by MS
Conduct ht companion for the dshoaored ana peaIeh
corsair. . :. -
Having surrendered he cannot relieve himself Of his
obligations as prisoner Of var until he SHAH DE reg.
larry exchanged lie. and each Of his surviving Objects
|
Dectlonnd are and viii be, held TO be prisoners o.
war and amenablc to the laws which govern civilzei
conmunities A predatory rover may set the laws u
nations as well those Of his country NJ denance
| but in doing so lie must abide the consequences. .
The Florida originally sailed from England under the
Of oreto and under that name she was. on rcac'
inc NASSAU brought before the court through the Efforts
OF the American consul. who satisfied that she was
in the Rebel interest and intended as Rebel cruiser
The neral authorities decided In faycr OF tne vessel:
which WAS permitted to proceed Leaving Nassau sho
went 70 Green Bay where she received on BOARD inc
armament Gent out for her from England ran into Mo-
bile changed her name 10 Florida, ana hos since nee
ing from all naval vessels carried on predatory war ON
| American commerce, capturing ard destroying IN.
armed merchantmen, without ever sending in Vesset
for adjudication
In februay list awaiting herself of dark night she
ESCAPED from Brest eudAlg the kearsarge which was
of that port IL june she visited the neutral port OK
S. Georges Bermuda and remained there nine days.
receiving all the coal and supplies necessary for long
piratica cruise. Leaving ST Georges on inc 2.th OIL
that month she remained outside but IN sight, Tor
three or four days boarding all vessels that alproacned
tie island On the 10Th Of July she captured the Eiec'
trio Spark near our coast while seyeral vessels were
cruising for Der, but size escaped ard was heAt neara
from OF Tenerfe, the 4th Of August subsequently:
entering the bay of Salvador BroZ
the steamer Wachusett, commanded by COMMANDER Cot
Inns to whom she surrendered and by whom she was
brought in q lcaky and dlapdated condition to Hamp.
ton Roads Here while a. anchor an army trans
tame IN cIi.5n with the shattered vese Which snnks
few day. sa ag hs0s rs " as nsT vs..
which crused under the Rebel flag reasIed to Cher
bourg in February and thence proceeded to the Mer.
Sey. where she changed owners her armament vas
removed from her. and she left Liverpool for Lisbon
On the 18th OF August Commodore L. l. Craven. oftho
Niagara fell In with her in lat 80 10 north, long, -
west. smiling under the English flag. Commodore Crs-
ven took possession OF the vessel lawful prize and.
putting prize board OF her. he sent her to the
i Tho Tallahassee, an Fngish.buit blockade runner
from Liverpool which port she lc in the early part Of
the Spring under the OF tie Atlanta, was engaged
10 violating tie blockade running between Bermuda
and Wilmington. am not aware that any valid trans.
fer Of ownership of this vessel has ever taken place pus
am induced to believe she lie now, while depsedatng on
our commerce, registered rs British vessel IN tno
Cus.om-House ut Liverpool Whatever may Dc tns
fact in that particular this Engishbut neutral vessel
which had been previously engaged IN the unneutraa
employment OF carrying supplies to the Rebels who arc
wagng war upon our Government came OUT Oh IL:
mington early in August armed. ohcered ana manne4
FOX predatory warfare and under the command OF J
/. Wood formerly OF our navy commenced the pratt
cal work Of destroying peaceful merchant snps TOD
bng them of money and other yaluabcs, and retaining
trophies OF his hero!sm the stolen chronometers IN
formation % the operations OF this vessel reached INC
department the 9Th Of August and orders were in'
ueda.ey sent for all the available vessels wnln col.
venent distance 10 start at once IN pursuit Sevei1
vessels proceeded to sea that evening" and within iory
eight hours sixteen vessels from New. OK Dostons
Philadelphia, Newport, and Hampton Roads were II
search OF her. But she reached Halifax in safety In.
stead Of remaining there nine days, getting supplies ~
did the Florida at Bermuda the authorities would per:
NIT her receive only limited quantity GOALS ana
sac was therefore but short time IN tn. port Ihs
PontOosuc arrived in pursuit OF hea lew hours ater
her departure. She was at last accounts IN ninins
ton.
THE NAVAL FORCE.
| The sllioined statements present general eIhbh
Of the navy including vessels Under construction on
the lst Of December 1864, with comparative state
mert OF the Navy in December 1868 and 1861
4 tabular statement is appended OF the number OF
naval vessels OF every class that have peen constructed
or are IN the OF construction since March =
| lS5l:
GENERAL EXHIBIT OF THE NAVY. NcLUDIsG VESSELS
| uYDER CONSTRUCTION. DEC, 1904.
No 60, S s,,, No ,,a q
/ llJ Screw steamers especially con-
struc,ed for naval purposes. l,i2o lo',S'h
| - padde.whecl steamers especially .
constructed for naval purposes. 52i DEE
| II Iron-clal vessels. ....;-..... 80 o''''o
lie Screw steamers purchased cap
tured. &C. fitted for naval pur-
poses. oA' "V'-~
IA fadale.wheel steamers purchased,
captured, &c. lifted for naval pur-
poses. OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. 52l lc,Ios
lle Sailing vessels OF all casses.....- $50 6s,o4S
oil Total. ---sf,olv 1iV'osV
co,r ,nATryH STATEMENT or the NAVY DEC, 1868 AND
80. Of - SOOf No OF
/ Oh Total navy December, 1861. 800 30 $40
! 5sS Total navy, December. 1853. 4.fD 4o7,soI
! - Actual increase for the yesr...... l67 42.fs9
/ "a Total losses 10y shipwreck. in bat .
tie capture, &c. during tie year li6 laosS
100 Actual addition to the navy from
Dec lsGl 20 Dec, ls6f.......... 3l3 5j,5lJ
VESSELS CONS gGUcTED FOR THE NAVY SINCE fARCu =.
! 1861.
No Description. Guns. Tunuase.
| Screw s,oops. Ammonoosuc class, IL
to 10 guns, 3,2l3 TO 3, 7l3 tuns each. l?l 2bo3I
Screw sloop Idaho guns and 2,ods oe,o