The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-11-10
TIE BLOCKADE.

ice
THE BLOCKADE.
ain this pressing emergency the de-
partment did all thst could possibly be
done. 1t purchased every merchant
steamer that could be converted into a
blockading vessel or a war cruiser, and
the navy at this moment contains every
merchant steamer Of any size or excel
lence that has been built in the eoun-
try. 1t set at work every steam-engine
factory in the land that could produce
marine machinery 1t
lined THE Atlantic coast with such a
blockading feet as the world never wit
messed before, and has practically clos
ed the rebellious district TO the world,
the few vessels which succeeded in run
ming the blockade being too small to
carry cargo sufficient to give aid of any
consequence The rebels have not been
able 10 import even drugs enough to
supply the medical department of its
army
The coast around the port of Will
mington, which is the only one at which
blockade running is practicable, is pc
culiarly favorable for that purpose, and
is lined for miles on each side with bat
teries which protect the blOckade-run-
ners and keep our cruisers at a distance
These runners are small vessels of light
draught and very low decks. They are
painted lead color, and approach the
coast in the night From the moment
it is possible to discover them until they
reach the protection of the batteries is
a time of minutes, not of hours, and
they owe to that their occasional sue
cess. We're the circumstances such
that they could not reach the port un>
til after a chase of a few hours, their es.
cape would be very rare. Nearly all
that have been chased in this manner
at sea have been caught.
1T is not the speed of the blockade
runners, but the conditions of the
blockading service, that gives them an
occasional success Their fastest and
newest steamers, built principally for
speed, have been captured by our sloops
in fair chase, and the speed Of the van
pushed Alabama IS now known TO have
been greatly exceeded by that of the
Kearsarge"
Mr. Mckay complies the following
list Of
NAVAL VESSELS NOW BUILDING.
There is now in progress of con
struction the Chattanooga, of 3, 200 tons,
building for the department by outside
parties also, the Idaho, of similar ton
mage, and by other outside parties
while the department is itself con-
structing the Madawaska, Wampanoag,
Neshaming, .Ammonooosuc, and Pam
panoosuc. These. vessels are of wood,
about 5000 and intended TO have q
speed of sixteen knotsper hour They
will carry immense batteries, be full-
rugged, aud will doubtless prove the
fastest and most formidable ocean crui.
sers ever bu It by any Power.
There are also in progres Of building
by the department twenty frst-class
wooden screw steamers of 200 tons
each, to have speed Of thirteen knots,
carry enormous batteries, and be full
rigged for ocean cruisers They will
soon be completed They are named
the Antietam, Arapaho, Guerrero, H&sS
salo, illinois, Java, Keosauqua, KeWay-
din, Maniton, Minnetonka, MosbOla,
Ontario, Piscataqua, Pushmatsha, Tab
gayuta, Wsnaloso, Watauga, Willamet
te, Contoocok, and Mondamn.
While these vessels are building
there have been completed the Nipsic,
Nyack, Pequot Maumee,
Kansas, Yantic, and Saco, all screw yes
sells Of 593 tons each. The machinery
is from the designs Of various parties
building 10 compete with the depart
mcnt The first three, having the de
partments machinery have been thor
oughly tried, aud can maintain speed
Of eleven and half knots.
There are noT nearly completed the
wooden iron-ciad coast steamers iona
wanda, Miantonomah, Agamenticus,
aud Ionadnock, OF j 564 tons, drawing
we've feet Of gaJer, aud having two
: refs each, carrying two i inch gum
Inc Monadnock has been tried, and l.
found capable of achieving maximum
speed Of eleven knots
There are also IN process Of con
struction four other irOn~clads Of tn
same type, bat larger and 10 be faster
they are Kat4mazoO, Passacona1ay
Quinsigamond, and Snack4m4xOn, eacf
1f $3.50 tons
The department has also construct
ed seventy-iOur wooden and iron-claa |
vessels ol the monitor type, with al |
aggregate tonnage OF IS, l0O tons.
The letter concludes as iOilOHs:
There are nos N the navy, IN &C 4
i've service, 5JS steamers, with an az
lregate tonnage Of los, 900 tons. against
he original % steamers and 49, roo tons
With which the war commenced o
his number 200 steamers, with an az
,fegate OF 24i ,000 tons, have been buill
y the department
In the foregoing communication,
ave stated nothiog bat facts, fact,
ghich can easily be verified By. refer
nee 10 official documents, and which
eem Justly due 10 our present Navy
in view Of the erroneous
tatements put forth BY some writer
rho evidently know but little whereof
hey affirm, or intend % missead public
pinion. hold that in time ike the
resent we should eli unite 70 strength
n rather than 70 weaken she arm Of
be Government. Certainty il cannot
. said, with the above facts before as,