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

pO3 Total. ,b3l 24aS''
The foregoing tabular statement EXHIBITS the number
and description OF vessels that have been constructed
or put the of construction for the navy since
abe institution Of active Tor the suppression oil
the Rebellion. Some Of hem have been bni!s by con
tract; others by the Government in the several navy
yards. IL We add TO the number those constructed u.
der similar circumstances, ana within the same piiou'
that have been lost by shiPwreck, in battle &c /,
viz: the soops Eoussionic and Adirondack, and
the ironclads Monitor " eehGwken keokuk Ihdano;h'
and Tecumseh, the aggregate would DO XIV 'es'eN'
1915 guns and 256 755 tGns.
Picket boats. and small craft but Tor espeeia pur'
poses not embraced in this statement
CONSTRUCTION OF NAVAL VESSELS.
At the commencement Of the Rebellion te navy cor
sised Of sailing vessels few paddlewheei steamers
md vessels with auxiliary steam power. Among
the latter the principal and most Important were the
steam frigates which, account 81 their great draush
of water were unsuitable for any other purpose than
that of cruisers foreign stations ms fae-shlps Tor
which indeed they were intended. ihese Nesses lag
been built 10 meet the conditions OF their dayi some W
them the Mississippi for instance, had been In service
more than twenty years. when constructed The prin-
cpal object in view armament not speed, and they
were equal not superior 20 the vessels Of other naval
powers For attacks on forts when accessible 10 naval
attacks protect troops in landing, they can en-
render service Time required 10 repair and place
IN proper condition such OF these vessels az were DIS
msntled and also those which were recalled from ser
vice abroad. The sailing men oi-Waf had become Use
less for fighting purposes. In the emergency tlh'
devoly ed upon il at the beginning Of hosties the De
parmen resOrted to the commercial maiine, and pur
chased every available merchant steamer that eculd
be used TO enforce the blockade.
The want Of class of small heavily armed propeller
vessels felt; and the department Immediately pro-
ceeded. on its own responsibility, and without any
appropriation authorization BY Congress, 10 contract
Tor the construction Of twenty three unhoas OF whch
the Unadila PinOla and WsSahickOn may be taken az
The type Some of these vessels were aoat armed ara
manned within four months from the date OF contract
and participated in the attack on FORT Royal; others
took par the Low Mississippi in passing the forts
and in capturing New Orleans. These eunboats con
tinue TO maintain good reputation, and their steam
machinery gives satisfaction. We'll adapted as they are
for guarding our coast larger description Was needed
Tor service aud four vessels OF the class Oh the
Osspee mounting each two guns Of eleven inches were
built There also four vessels OF slightly less uh
mage constructed, carrying the same armament %
which the kesrsaIee Is the type. Tie shenandoah IS
The tvas Of sis vessels mounting each three
INNS. all Of whsah sDstain q high gspntation: The
heavy guns mentioned constitute me prnepai sinl
amept II the several classes named but they eaeh bsve
In addition from two guns Of less eai.eef All o.
these vessels are screw steamers, snltaDe Tor sea
cruising but for the shallow SOUNDS ana pays we rivers
and b,yous, often narrow and tortnous, anoIher ana
different class drawing less water was iound 70 pe
necessary, and for them competition was invited 10
turn in these frequently restricted channels is ducni
md sometmes impossible and the necessities Of the
rase suggested the principle OF lighting Vessei WIN
double bow and rudder at each end: Twelve paddle
wheel steamers constructed on this principle were olt
some in the Navy ards and others by contract Inc
Port Royal and the Sonoma are types OF this class An
additional number amounting TO tweniy-seven oi these
double bowed paddlewbeel vessels have Deen DUH
almost all Of them by contract. The Sassacus winch
was distinguished in the attack on the Rebel ram IN
Albemale Sound, the Metscome conspicuous N A!SD
Bay and the Eutaw, are types OF these vessels Eght
of this class are built building OF on ana Will have
strength sufficient for service as well as for Inland
waters. One Of them the Wateree, sent rouna cape
Horn reached San Francisco IN September last hld -
On duty in the Pacific.
In order 10 have armed vessels suitable for naval
operations on the Mississippi and its tributaries the
Department invited plans and propositions from ship;
builders and others acquainted with those waters ana
the vessels but on those rivers been chiefly from
yla puhrn tod by NJ
these vessels built at ST. Louis participated ID ihe
action with the Rebel ram Tennessee, and have zone
good service in Mobile Bay.
been brought existence during this war, AID the
coast and harbor iIonclads have been servceaoe III
james River, at Charleston ana At MOBILE MoGhea
tiops and improvements have been made IN tins class OF
The nressure FOR iron clads of light draft, which could
ascend the rivers penetrate the sounds and bays
along our coast felt TO be necessity Inc opera
tions OF armies in the vicinity oi the inland wa'ef
aud adjacent 10 the rivers required the constant
presence of gunboats. But the men thus employed. AZ
well as the magazines and machinery Of the vessels are
exposed, especially in the narrow streams with high
and wooded banks Some vessels, and not a few yau-
able lives have been lost BY these exposures 2ad IN
order 10 afford all possible protection TO the gaant men
who encounter these dangers, the department consd-
cred duty to provide armoTcd vessels of light DRAFT
for their security Contracts were entered INTO Tor the
construction twenty vessels on the monitor prhcpe
each 10 carry llinch guns, in order TO be enceAt
and 10 draw bat seven feet Of water.
Ii was ascertaided, however. when the first TWO ap'
preached completion, that their draught OF water was
more than was intended. The heavy amor and the
two II inch guns with the machinery to give them
proper speed, involved the necessity oi eniag the
capacity Of each Of them. When making these beees
sary alterations, il deemed advisable. under app
cations from Of the commander. OF sluacr9hS or
boats that should present but small rise above the SUP
face Of the water dispense with the turieis in fsc OF
these light draugbt vessels, with view to epocial
operations The remaining pIsen were ordered 10 DC
Enlarged by raising their decks, THEREBY giving hsn
additional tonnage and greater draught anu making
them ehciant ont in Other respects carrying oxt
The original design. This work is now being Pe'ioneu
and U0et OF the vessels are near completion 80
TIE exigences of the times and The necessities Of the
have stimulated the inventive faculties OF our cCln
ordnance ard projectiles. That IN come instances
tbey are not at first entirely successful Dol su!pshS
Mistakes and even failures will occur In nearly every
class Of vessels that have been buIi' ana esIcca!
those that are amored more or less alterations have
been found necessary while they were being
Only two OF the monitor class OF veSses--tIs DICTATOR
and Puritan-ere proposed for seasef'ice lheii sue
cess of which the entoT and bucer 10 sangule i
among the experiments that the period and the eAseh
cies Of the country have imposed upon the department
-Four turreted vessels have been built III tho navy
wards Of wood and cased with iron, differing iheIclH
from the original monitors which ere exclusively vi
from One OF them the MoaadDock now in eonln sion,
has performed her trips from Boston 10 Hampton oade
with entire satisfaction giving assurance that TINS ex
pertinent deyiating In essential respects rom others IS
likely TO be successful The draught OF water OF the
Moaadnock is twelve feet and with Two independent
screws she has a speed OF twelve knots. tOur other
similar vessels OF still moro formidable and inyulner
able character are building. .
The only sea going lron-cad ships Desues 'le Two
turreted vessels already mentioned, are the ~. iron
aides built in o62 the Roanoke, Of the old Ieates
which has been armored and the DtvderDere, case
mate vessel For this vessel the contractor hes PIP
missed speed OF fifteen knots al sea.
The department has, on several occasions, invited
propositions for iron, sea going aimored SHIPS bat
Congress having declined to make the necessary nppTo
Tratons measure has been taken iOT ther eouSIpc