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

raj Dshlgren Several valuable steamers having been
lost In these attempts the efforts were LOT Time aoSs
Charleston and Savannah, beside being among the
best defended points the Atlantic coast. possess
advantages for navy on when ,ne insufgent ieers
There they have had armored vessels and rams, ana
torpedo boats, "Davids and Divers elements
with which they threatened 10 achieve success over he
open warfare of the naval forces OF the Union Charles
ton disaiected without cause, and aspiring without en-
tcrprsc. having, after long and persistent Efforts sue
ceeded in sedGcing others TO engage with her IN assam
| ing the National Government and attempting dis-
mcmberment of the Unon fails 10 become either na
val OF commercial emporium sne mas draesed gov
others without eeyating herself and is fast becoming
waste. .
No formidable Independent operations in the form OF
naval conflicts have been made By the squadron during
tie year steady unreenting blockade has been rig
idly enforced. with attractive ard exciting incident,
bu which has been effective and exhausng upon th'
Rebels
In February a detachment % vessels was sent TO the
ST. johns River TO aid military force intended 10 Do
thrown into Florida Rear-AdInpai Dohlsreh acco 'a
panied the expedition in person. saw the proper CO
operative arrangements made, and assigned I'D nuc,
quotc naval force, which is holding possession OF w
points on the St Johns occupied ny our army, ~
March diversion was made at Bulls pay In Mh!,
force detailed to cooperate IN an effort to sever INC
railroad between Charc ston and savannah. deach.
ment of iron clads crossed Stone bar in July to assist
Gen Foster in a demonstration Ipon the l'cDei Won
on Stone River and James Island. Rear AdmiHl
Dahlgren conducted The naval force inperson IN mes
and other military movements the Navy hns peen ~
ways active andieady to extend cordial cooperation "
every army operation.
in February permission was given to Rear. Admiral
DailgTcn to leave his squadron in command oil Comlo
d0re ). G. Rowan Ga resuning is duties ~ Any Ne
| fouud that Gen Gilmore had been cameo, WIN VIC
greater part Of his army, TO another held leaving pc
hind however. Sufficient defensive force N"e! suS
tined by the navy. Tde withdrawal Of so large loF-
ton OF tie military force necessarily Pni STOP 10 iuf
ther serious dcruonsiration against Charleston.
/ Tie retention OF the harbor. as wen as Tue eh'He
safety Of that coast depended thenooorWad NANNY Oh
the ironclads They we're nais9ehsape 'yr 'nS eo d
they could not have been Withdrawn HiihoHt PutIhs ~
jeopardy the bockadng feot winch. ns wen as u,
land force, would have been nssaiicd ~ gre h,'ply ,
Rebel vessels The capabity OF the monitors To hoM
position off Morris Island had been eontro'efted
by the former intelligent commander OF we slua9fI1.
WHO denied its practeabIy ana hau lem t ~.
duty in june 1865 10 enter protest against H. lis
REPRESENTATIONS with those o the olcers then I'D com
mand the iron-clads that those vessels cond n9 r..
main OF the hGbor, nor nearer TO tha lohtthh NoI'u
Edto with rher suggested difficulties caused the de'
1artmoni TO consider well iis purpose before carrying
out the original order that the monitors Should Ieul"
inside the bar and oil Morris Island as ile0ny eheciH
method of ency closing the port, aud making iuFtacr
The views Of the department were sustained by other
naval officers Of Judgment and ability Younger officers
also made voluntary tender OF their seryiccs Is wei
n Of those who had doubted each ohernc to tkc
the Iishs which the great stake justihed whe he sh
oIs always ready FOX any service or 10 encounter ID!
hardship initiated and emulaied their example:
The result has been that RearAdmirnl DGhlgren ms
kent these vessels for seventeen months where 1t was
insisted d oy could not remain, 20 the great injury OF
the original Of the Rebellion The WORK has pee
/ iIksonc and laborious unrcmuneraiIve and poihap,
ubjcmonsirat.vc, without those OCCASIONAL G, pinr,,
which before taxing possession al the haTOo!, eii eheu
! ana I& aTdcd the officers Gnd crews -
Intelligence that the Rebels were strengthening rot
Sumter building bomb proofs AMI mounting heavy gnns
on the channel faces led Rear Admiral Dahlsfen early
IN the summer entertain tie thought q aiigchS thm
fertilization and attempting Tie pasag Mlih RS non
o!ads 1t was question OF great responsibility, Tor Tue
assault II made would draw upon the vessels the 'vl-
cenirated fire OF mauy powerful batices re hcf,uie
cal led "a council Of his Ocers IN Command ana a'trr
fui discussion a large majority deemed ", unfer me
circumstances unadyisabe 1t was consequently a'ah'
several crcdiralle ncursiors have tecn made ~ va
rous uoinis within the limits Of tbs command, resulting
in tie discontinue OF The Rebels Details oi thr'e, o.
OF those of the other Isarons are apeuusp 20 rs
port. Occasional assaults have been mace upon "I'
vessels o.! Charleston BY TORPEDO boai' and IN one ~
stance with sacees. by einkins Tie s,em si9o2 o"A
UousatOac, but fortunately with Bite loss oi NE
NORTH AIi-NIic fCuADGoS.
Tie number OF vessels and officers md men employed
in the North Atlantic squadron e1cecd' i.ai o. aii
other and rs importance !s certainly not less In hd'
aition 10 bockadng the only remaining port OF cou,'
mcrcin intercourse IN the Rebel Staics on ms squad
ron has deyoycd The duty oi gllflIhg h,n sb'ts H..
session Of the great inland waters oi North onro,ns
and Virginia, and an e1enthe eo"iN1al. Vim ~
armies which Threatening Richmond aAd us Nein'
In order to secure the mos, thorough and efficient Dis
charge of dnty that is possible IN even! drl,I,net y
this squadron and especially mat OF t,e e.oao ~
! NJ 0Il.
Inc d. p9rtmept established four divEiDns ofthe squad
| ron VIZ one on james River. one ~ thc sonhas %
North Carolina. and two Oh Cape Year ll'sr ana auJi
cent ino;s each 81 which Was pieci uiIeI an es
renced officer aud Acting k.fr Admiral Lee removed
his headquarters IN July IRON Hampton Roads 10 bonu
| fort. p.,. -,
Fo- some months previous to Nay asi The i, oe' iad
heen len in ouiet oorssio of James River FOR con
siderable defiance below Richmond but the progress
the Potomac army towards the RcDcl capai was ,hc
yna ,r active oIera.ious IN another quarter. On The
5tR Of Aley Ma. Gen. Bu,or moved his army ron
Newport News under convoy % naval lotce Mhith
Lad feen assembled for the purpose up aines i,er
! Eermuda Hundred end City Point. Tie movement
was guiety performed. and the landing Wns promptly
effected. The absence of military OF at al .ouy On
the james River had ben improved ~ r NH two
| ,hc light.draIght boats were DESTROYED.
From tie landing Of tie Army of the james IN May
naya, force competent Ia meet tie hrored e-ses ana
| rams Of the insurgms. Lad they made tenohsIa'
iop has been manu- ..ned the upper waters oil the
James On various occasions sharp bat bTleI engage
mens have occurred between our vessels ana Tue hepei
| bat,ories forming the defense Of Richmond
Tie naval force had anticipated an encounter with
tLe Ec neet which had been In the course Of prepara.
ton for two years, but the mil!ta$ conmarder out OF
abundant pToeaUon. ordcied obstrucohs 10 DC paced
In The channel y sinking vessels for the protection OF
th. large transport feet that In attendance upon
the army and which II was GppIeheaded might W uis'
urled and perhaps endangered IN the narrow wnlfs
were straton to be made by all or any portion
of the Rebel navy The security OF the trnnrpors was
nsty deemed Of vital importance to the army ana re-
quircd to be placed beyond any contingency. hence
s obstruction oil tie river in addition To the protec-
un Afforded by oar rOn.cads and other naval vessels
was doubtless wise military pIccautioD, although II
| restricted the movements OF the navy o-,,- -,
The operatiOns in the sounds OF North Caroina rave
heon interesting and important. IL Lad been cher.
shcd idea of the Rebel leaders TO rcpossess themselves
OF tho sounds ana 10 regain the principal places on
caty in he war BY tie united efforts OF the army ond
nav Prcparations were long In progress for TIE con