The New York herald., 1864-12-08


The foregoing tabular statement exhibits the number
and description OF vessels that have been constructed
or put 10 the Of construction the navy sinoc
the rebellion Some OF them have been built BY oon-
tract others BY the government In the several navy
aer similar circumstances aud within the same period,
that have been lost by shipwreck 10 battle &C. viz
clads Monitor, wsehawken KeosuE. indsnols and r.
cumses the aggregate would be 2lo vessels 1878 guns
Picket boats and small craft built Tor especial purpossa
are not embraced 10 this statement
CONSTRUCTION NAVAL vHsx1
At the commencement OF tho rebellion the navy Co.
sisted OF sailing vessels few paddle wheel steamers,
and screw vessels with auxiliary steam power.
the steam frgatcs, which, on account OF their srsss
draught Of water were unsuitable for any other purpo
than that o. cruisers on foreign stations flag shp
been built TO meet the conditions Of their day soms q
Them the Mississippi for instance had been 10 serviss
aud they were equal, II no. SUPERIOR to 81 the vsc.
when accessible 70 nsyai attacks, or y prosss1
troops In landing they stil render service Tns
es . II .
which were recsiled from servios abroad The saatn
sns that upoa &.
hcsitses the department rssscrsed 70 the commercial
,Ss. could = n
sci and used be TO enforce The blockade
the want q e. clas: q small. heavily armed propsiss
preparation Or authorization By Congress- 70 oon.rsc. i
the conssructon Of twenty three gunboa pf which o.
Unadila, Pnoa and Wissahickoa may be taken a. -
type. Some Of these vessels were aAoat, armed -
manned within four months from the date OF CO.
tract and participated In the attack Port Roys otheeU
TOOK parton the Lower Mississippi IN passiug shs ores
and In capturing New Orleans fnese gunboats oonsinue
TO maintain good reputation, and their steam me-
chnery gives satisfaction Well adapted they are rog
guarding our coast past larger dsssrlpsOn was nssdsd e
mounting each two guns or eleven nches were bulle
There also four vessels Of slightly lsss tonnage ooo
structed Carrying tho same armament, Of which ~
six vessels mounting each three elevsn-inch euuU,
all OF which sostaisJ high reputation. = n
heavy guns mentioned constitute the principal armamsss
Of the several cigsses named; but they each have
in addition from two 10 six guns or less calIbrs All e
these vessels screw steamcrs suitable FOR oyu
Ing but for the shallow sounds and bays the rvors an1
bayous often narrow and totuous another and dersae
class, drawing esr water vas found to be necessary,
and for them compettQp invited. TO IN Vheeo
frequently restricted ohanuea is dcu ana somsti0se
principle OF lighting vesss with double bcw and rud-
der a. each cod. Twelve psddIswhesi stsamsrs 60
siruoted on this principle built. some 70 the seW
souons are SIs ,yps. q q S cs number,
amounting TO twenty seves OF hsse
wheel vessels have been buls, sunsst ell q then y
q S'n's s. attack ss l.ss ,S ID SSsmss
sound, the hstsconss; ssssvsoacus N hObns
bay ana h: Eu..w are u, Mpss y 2, ~ snssc s
will have strenFth sucss for sea service well a lse
,uiasd vsssrs ops q them. ths watsree, sent ro9
Caps Horn rssossd $50 FrssOseo In september ass as
r. cd:y = ssvs ssasd vsusss suitable for ssvsl spsvs
ssons q Nsslsppl ana ~ trbutarIss, ne dsyr
:s .s :.s.s :v w.S wss-s s sas "a
baIn - thu1o rtVsy have bssa shIsab fvSm We pluua
suSmisisa by parties bus iAvasd fvod thss vsss,1I
buin q - Lssts. RASsabsssd u lAs soseA viAA ~