The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1864-01-09
SECRETARY OF THE NAVY,s RE.
PORT.

drIa, Va, to the mo Grand. More than 100
vessels are also employed in patrolling riv-
ers and inlets, etc., over length of about
5,6f5 miles in all. The blockade has been
increasingly stringent; and the past year
has been disastrous to the blockade
A review of the doings of the various
squadrons, etc., follows: The North Allan
tic squadron, Admiral Lee, has patroIled
and guarded the Virginia and North Caro-
lima coasts, all blockade-running having
been destroyed except Wilmington, which
two harbor entrances, 80 miles apart and
strongly fortified, render it very difficult to
stop up. But most of the blockade run
ners even there have been caught.
The South Atlantic squad ron, Admiral
/ Dahlgren, has been particularly busy in
! front of Charleston, whose trade has been
annihilated. The attacks made there have
been of service in demonstrating the merits
of the iron -clads; and the trifing military
value of Charleston makes it's capture of
little consequence.
The Eastern Gulf squadron, Admiral
Bailey, has blockaded from Cape Canaveral
! to Pensacola, taking many prizes and
about destroying the trade.
The Western Gulf squadron, Admiral
! Farragut, has concentrated most of its eff
forts upon the river operations, of which a
summary account is given. It's blockading
! duty has been well performed, notwith-
standing the exceptional msfortunes at Sa-
bine Pass and Galveston, and the evasions
rendered possible by the geography of the
Rio Grande.
A sketch follows of the river operations
of the Mississippi squadron, Admiral Por-
| ter, now including 100 vessels, 462 guns,
and about 5, 500 men.
! The Potomac f1otila, Commodore Har-
wood. has been industrious in patrolling
that river to prevent trade and supplies to
the rebels. But the punishments inflicted
on those caught in this business have been
so light, that they turn round and instantly
begin again.
The good service of the Pacific squadron
and the battle of Commander McDougal
with the Japanese batteries are then re-
! ferred to.
The naval force of the United States was,
at the outbreak of the war, rs vessels, only
42 being in commission. That force has
been enlarged until the United States is
now a frstrate naval power, having now
/ 598 ships, of 4 ,443 guns and 467, 967 tuns
burden in all. This includes those now
building. Of these As are coast iron-clad
steamers, % river iron-cl steamers, 9O3
side wheel steamers. 1913 screw steamers,
and 112 sail vessels. At least 90 of the
steamers are captured blockade runners.
After tracing out the necessity of large
iron clad sea-going vessels of war, large
navy yard expressly for building such yes
sells is urgently and at great length and by
forcible arguments recommended to be es-
tablshed, and the evils of the lack of one
are presented League Island, near Phila-
delphis. is strongly urged as proper place
for such yard.
A naval depot, yard, and foundry, should
be established somewhere on the Missis-
sippi.
A class should be formed at the Naval
Academy for the training of naval engin-
GERS. and strong exhibit is made of the
disasters which the want of such officers
has caused, and the plain necessity for much
training in view of the increase of our
steam navy.
The most deserving and competent of the
volunteer naval officers should be promoted
or brought into the regular line. There
should be a system of examinations for pro-
motion, such as already exists in the engin-
eer and medical services. a school to train
boys to the naval service should be insti
tuted.
Here follows long and indignant review
of the career of the pirates helped af1oat by
the European naval powers. 1t is plainly
charged that Admiral Wilkes wrongfully
detained the Vanderbilt in the early part OIL
1868. so as entirely to defeat the plans O.
the department, which would have placed
her where it is almost certain that she
would have met the Alabama, Florida, aDf
Georgia. The difficulty of catching these
irregular cruisers is extreme; they leave nc
trace, and are befriended and helped IN for
eign parts, while our cruisers are impeded
Nor is it best TO relax the blockade to send
more ships after them. Some have been
sent. and Others would be were not seameu
so scarce.
The draft does not exempt seamen, and
of course impedes naval enlistments. II
communities which furnish sailors to The
navy, again, no allowance is made for thi;
on the draft. as would be just. Nor are
there such bounties for sailors as for sol
diers. These errors should be corrected by
Congress, and the naval service relieved
fr,m the very serious inconvenience they
cause.
The Naval Academy. like that at Yves
point has beeu kept full The report o
the Visiting Board last May is clear ant
fervent in approving the scope and c0nduc
of the school.
Up to November /, .o45 prizes haV
been taken; of which 17a are steamers
SAT schooners, % barks, I5 ships. etc.; De
sides many destroyed on the coast and OF
the rivers. The prizes sent IN tor adj Judi
cation TINS far in the war are worth no
less than SIS, ooo, 900. A revision of tn
law on prize is needed.
The Marine Corps is with difficulty KEEP
fnu owing To the hiOh bounties paid 70