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

years on arduohs and eIhausing duty in this command
received leave TO return East IN the summer ana was
subsequently detached In order to take command OF the
North Atlantic squadron. Captain A.. NJ. Pennock.
senior officer on the station wns LETT in charge. Un tne
LIST Of November: Acting Rear Admiral y H. lee lee
assumed command Of the Mississippi squadron auu
entered on the discharge of his duties.
POTOMAC FLOTILLA.
The limits Of the Potomac fotal ~ embrace also ,he
waters Of the Rappahannock and at present ana during
the year have been under the command Of Commander
Foxha A. Parker. Upon the 1otia has devoiVed tLe
duty of arrestng the cOnraband trade attempted TO pe
carried on across the Potomac from Virginia WIN Tue
lower courties OF Maryland and extending from ae1
andra to Chesapeake bay. including the bay itSet III
has also been necessary to patrol and guard the Kappa
hammock The snail craft which are the vehicles o.
this traffic, and adapted to it, arc well calculated 10
cude detection Those engaged in it reckless, m
scpulons and unprinciped, so that on no station ere
greater vigilance and unceasing wetchfuness re-
qurod than the part OF the officers aud men OF the
nota. J. ia scarcely possible TO wholly prevent tins
species Of Illicit traffic and blockade running with SO
long line of communication to be patrcled, opporti'
mites will sometimes be found by the contrabandsts
who are ever the watch, and who are AIDED by SYM
patizng associates either shore 10 euGc deteciion
md capture. Numbers have however. been captured
during the year while in transit others have been ier
reied ont ind their boats haze been DESTROYED.
At oil times and on all occasions the foa has given
It's active and wiling cooperation 70 the military move
uerts Willie the army was in tho vicinity q Fred
ericlsburg last Spring and Summer the SERVICES Of the
smaller steamers on the Eappahannock were efficient
md Invaluable. IhCy opened
military forces; cleared large. numbers Of torpedocs
from tie river; drove the Rebels from its banks CON
vowed transports with troops and supplies going TO the
army. and returning with the wounded and SICK RON
the battle ed The vessels Which emp oyed in this
service oflishl draug and their construction Is
necessarily slight, consequently those who serve on
board Of them in hostile country are exposed 70 more
Of the Rappahannock of sharpshooteIs, or removing
from its bed dangerous torpedoeS no less daring and
energy have been exhibited than BIZ others IN Vessels Oh
T,tff non on
PACIFIC SQUADRON.
There has been no material change in the strength o.
this squadron within the past year Inc new Steamer
Wateiee joined it, ard orders have been given detach'
Ing tie Narragansett and ordering her TO The Atalc
| Ncting Rear Admiral Charles IT, Bell having had
command oi the squadron for three years has been re-
Gently relieved by Acting Rear. Admiral george y.
earson tic transfer took place at Panama on the 2jh
! Of October. .
no hostile craft has made It's appearance in the Pa:
ciac and our commerce s been carried on in s usual
channels without interruption, other than that neceesa'
ry caused by the measures OF ioIelgh powers Ia III
altitude Of hostility toward each Other.
$IAo blockade of Mexican porte on the Paoihc by tie
French fleet rendered il important for Acting hcar-
Admiral Bell 70 remain several months IN tlat laare
with his lagshp in order to look infer the Interests OF
the United States An exception in favor OF the steamers
Of The Pacific Mail Steamship Company, male Ia the
dea;aon o. eoeka gave them los rp and
TIE ptes5lce o. Tie dagslp OF some other oIe =. w
vessel at that port has aided in giving protection to
the Company 8gallst Tue acts Oh
persons and inspired those on board the steamers WITH
ceiling Of security from assaults oil insuTgcht cruises
| from seward . ~ ,
About the middle Of april ActingRear Admiral Bel,
projected from Acapulco to Panama. and thence 10
Collo i. which port ho arrived on the 21.l oil May
! lei.
Difficulties had arisen between Peru and Spain which
resulted in the seizure by the nay0 squadron Of the
latter OF the ChnCha Islands, and was essential that
our extensive feet OF euano Vesses 1equahtihs mar
gglrtor saould Lave within reach an armed yessei OF
20 .r.a i1
nf unnecessary interruption OF their Interests. Ihe
threatening attitude Of these two powers induced Act
n,.Rear Admiral Bell TO remain with the flag ship M
Callao from May until the 9TH OF october Inc remain
ING vessels OF the squadron have visited the Mexican
md Co,tral American ports AID II is not known tAat
ID have failed IN any resect 10 respond TO az pTopr
on 20 observe and scrapuousy regard the rights Of and
coureses due to, friendly nations. 49,
RumoTs OF reports Of Rebel prlvateer lifting out az
Victoria VaIcoGyers Island drew to that quarter the
United States steamer Narragansctt nom san Fran.
CISCO The probability Of such scheme being carried
INTO effect was asccr.ained 10 be not greater han that
which lad but short time previously drawn tie Uni
ted States steamer Saginaw 10 that locality. After
cruising therefore short time In The Straits oil Faco
and Pugcts Sound, and receiving the friendly assuf'
Rnces ofhcr Britanc majestys authorities tha every
olt would DC made to dscolDtenanee aud arrest any
proposed olation of neutrality the Narfaginsest ie
wlsT INDIA sQUADEOy.
The West India squadron, Us an organization, has
been discontinued. Acting Rear Admiral James l..
IArdDcT who had command o. It at the date % my last
annual report. arrived at Hampton Roads IN the Row.
hann, die Sd VI October ia PURSUANCE oil orders oi
The PRINCIPAL OIL eeis for which tits squadron was
crcsid had to be prominent and The chiei duties
originally assigned ~ il Lave been transferred 70 the
Fast Cuif sausdron There have been dcpredatlons
committed in that qnaIier during the past year Lie
ve If tie squadron have Ia tuIn, given safe convoy
| 10 liOrnia steamers over the most exposed sec
tionW taeir route This convoy has been sisce, Mhen
olpoaiont extended over the entire rouie, by detailing
.I,..r II ~, gg.m
! The three English.bullt praieai cruisers winch,
under toe Rebel tag have. daring the last two years
roaucd TIC seas robbins and destroying our tlAchah
stunning oil armed antagonists. ana have fouad
refuge and protection, and too oron supplies and
other assistance ia neural ports have terminated their
predatory career. Their unrcsralned warfare mas IN
douh,rdl, had The effect OF diminishing American tun
mage al ca se atInsicr of American ship ping to Eng
llsh and othor lags. Whether the mlr.llc nations Oh
The world VIII be ultimately benefited by this policy OF
fostering Rebel b,liigerents may wei be doubted we
have been compelled 10 encounter It Us one q the Incl
dents Of this extraordinary and unnatural conflict.
Yle VIGOROUSLY engaged IN pnnder aud IN the waiton
destruction of our merchant sailing shlrs these tn;'
lii.bl.lt, and almost exclusively EnShsh manned,
lo,ers have never during their entire prGtca! career
aud o al Of their many captures on various seas sem
in for adjlGieai0n aud condemnation siuge snip OF
cargo. ILc less bulky and more valuable portions ol
fLcr rohbe'ies were taken on board the cOfsrs 10 D.
sold or e0ycrty transferred IN Neutral ports, while Tie
stolen thermometers and few nlemcnoes were letant
= memorials O. their achievements. NJ else y as ue
stroysd. f.
Tic Alabama GLIDING our naval vessels at the Cape
Of Good Hope and Straits OF SInGa, ocr committing
sundrv duyastatous returned westward and PROCEEDED
10 e French port of Cherbourr. Information o. her
| arrival was Communicated 10 Capt. Wllslow. OF tle
Eearsarge then at Flushing, who ut once proceeded oil
the harOU end at 1929 n. H., Oh Sunday June - the
Aabaan was discovered standing out. accompanied by
a Fr1ach iron clad steamer and the English yacht
! Deer. 1uad. when the Alabama vas deserted the
KeaI rye was about three miles from the entrance OF
the harbor and 10 avoid any question IS TO the me Of
jurisdiction. well ns 20 draw the Alabama on shore
% that 4 disabled she could not foe In for protection the
| s,nnl yrlrl until ae lnl aitained die