Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1864-09-02
The Escape Of the tallahassee.

We call attention to the foilowin.
lct;cr published il the Boston -ideerfiset.
az ii state, fairly the difficulties under
which the head Of the Navy Department.
Iabcrs in dealing with the rebel pirate OH
the high scas. Ii is 50 easy to find fault.
that more blame has been heapcd on the
Department; ,han either reason or justice
will warrant.
WAsuIHGToS. Aug. 90. 1854.
Well. the pirate Tallahassee has got oct
of Halifax, ont of fiat ncishbolho0d, and
probably out Of the home waters. W.
shall hear ef Fer neXt-whc
OF course there are plenty Of persons
now TO cry Il told You so plenty moro
TO echo "Of coursc :" Certainly, it was
very desirable to catch or sink the pirate
ana every loyal man has, dnubiless, OPEN
ed his paper every morning for the last
ten days with Il sincere desire to find in it
news of the eud of this bold narauder.
TO us all again, n. so many times hereto
fore during the last three years, comes hut
disappointment. With this comes, also.
much iault-tinding, much slashing criticism
Of the Navy Department for its so-Bamcd
"duilness" stupidity" "ineflicicncy,"
&c.
Much of this is from those who are do
termined to scold and complain, let tho
facts and circumstances be what they may.
Did the Department order vessels i'll pur-
suit as soon as the presence Of the pirate
was know then any fool could have told.
say these persons, that she would run into
some friendly port at once. Did the De-
partment order vessels to Halifax and
other ports into which the pirate might run
to coal then anybody but stupid old
Wellcs, say these persons, could have told
that she wasn't going to remain in port
but would be found among the fishing
craft off the Banks. Did the Department
have vessels in various ports ready to send
out the moment any suspicious craft ap-
pearcd in our waters that's the driveli-
ing way 10 do business, say these persons,
when any man of sense knows our vessels
should be out upon the ocean to keep all
suspicious craft away from cur waters
Did the Department have every vessel out
and watching for such boats as the Talla-
hassee $50 it goes, say these persons.
when anybody but the dotards in the Navy
Department would have said that our yes.
sells ought to be in port with steam up, aud
ready 10 move at once on receipt OF or
ders
10 this SOFT Of criticism there is no an
swer possible for it is not criticism. but
eaptious and preyerse fault finding. Doubt
less there are some persons, however, who
really think the Navy Department at
iault-for it is quite the fashion to growl
at its management. Let us see.
The movement of vessels cannot be con.
trolled as are the movements of an army.
The field of an army's operations is small
that OF vessel is large as ocean itself.
Your telegraph goes with headquarters,
aud thence to corps and divisions and even
brigades; hut when your vessel has sailed
there is no way OF reaching her in a few
minutes, or even in n few hours, or days.
Given The probability that some
English-built pirate will appear in our
waters, and a certain number of vessels to
arrest and prevent her appearance and de-
predations. How shall the vessels be man
aged to accomplish the end of course
some should be kept at SEA, cruising up
and down, and coming to port at short in
teryals to learn il there are further Orders
while others should lie in port ready to
move within an hour after receiving news
Of the appearance Of suspicious craft
Now, thiS Is Just the management Of oSr
vessels.
The Tallahassee appeared in our waters
on Thursday, the lth inst. Three or four
vessels were ordered out on the following
daN, and before night of tho Wednesday