Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-12-09
Naval EIIStmentS and The
Naval academy!
fha strengto of the Eayy in Detail!

The United Statos Navy, December l,
consisted Of GIL vessels, having tonnage
Of 51O,896, and carrying 4,6lO guns. This
is al increase of IS vessels and l67 CUR s
since December, 1868. The vessels con-
structed for the navy since March 4, 1851,
number 2O3, carrying 1.63l guns-nOt
counting those which have been construct
ed within the same period and lost in bat
or by zhipWreck.
The officers and men now on duty num-
ber 81, ,OOO-o1icers, 5000; men, $4,000.
There are six squadrons on duty-the
West Gulf Admiral Farrsgut), East Gulf
| lStribling), South Atlantic (Dahlgren),
North Atlantic Porter, Mississippi (Leel
| anu 4 aOInC Z a. sUi4 J,-USsfuSs tll5 TOSOiii0C
hotilIa Parker. The West India squad
ron, as an organization, has been discon-
| tinued.
The consumption of coal in the navy
last year was about 500, 900 tons.
| The blockade extends along a coast line
of 3, $40 miles-a greater length than the
whole coast of Europe from Cape Trafal-
gar to Cape North.
The iron clad feet has increased 10 II
vessels. They carry 275guns, all of heavy
metal.
The number of prizes captured during
the year was 324 Eighty eight of these
were steamers. The gross proceeds from
sales ofcondemned prizes were $l4 396, ,250.
and expenses $1,237,l53. The balance Of
Sl3, 100, Sal was divided equally between
the captOrs, as prizs money, and the gov
eminent, as a naval pension fund.
There are !, l,609 persons on the naval
pension roll. They receive Sl89,659 q
year. The pension fund, on the lst Of
January next, will amount to 81, 100000
yielding al annual income of $4,000,
sufficient for the payment Of the entire
pension roll.
The Navy Department has cost $780,
| ca, ,26l in four veSrs. OF this aggregate,
Ss5, ,733, 292 were expended last year. The
available resources for the fiscal year end
ing June 30, 1865, are sl39, ,289'O5e. The
balance on hand at the beginning ofthe
present fiscal year was $50, ,O32 244.
The foregoing statistics are condensed
from the detailed statements in Secretary
Welles' annual report. Mr.. Welles en-
larges upon tue satisfactory condition of the
navy, commends its officers for sustaining
its discipline and efficiency, and adverts
with emphasis 10 the extraordinary growth
of the service since the arst year of the
war
WHY WILMINGTON HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN.
Mr.. Welles contends that Wilmington
is more difficult to blockade than any other
port on the coast of the United States.
The reason givan is this:
The two main entrances are forty miles
| apart, and these two are subdivided into
| several others, each Of which affnrds an en-
trance TO vessels. The water shoals grad
usllv and regularly to the shore-line, and
numerous Isolated batteries are erected
| along the coast. so that bloclade-runner
Of light drausht is not under the necessity
of making directly for the entrance, but
can, by the lead, run close Under the land
protected by the batteries, and pass in over
the bar at leisure. When coming out, q
steamer will select her own time, thus Sc
curing every advantage, and she can pass
either up or down the coast before making
an offing, or she may proceed straight out
to sea, trusting for her escape to the night
and iavoring darkness and mists, and the
fsct that she IS under full speed, while the
steamers blockadiDg must have low
steam.
Mr.. Welles says, however, that so soon
as land force can be obtained 20 cooper
ate with the navy, Wilmington will be
taken.
He remarks that sixty-five stesms1s have
been sunk or taken while attempting to run
the blockade of that port. The value Of
thase steamers and their csrgoes is estImat
ed at sl3OOO,OOO
| TIE ATTACK UPoE TUE MOBILE FORTS.
Admiral Farraguts victory in Mobile
Bay is mentioned with high praise in the
report, and the following remarks are
added;
Tho capture of Forts Powell, Gaines ard
Morgan, and the destruction Of the rebel
fleet, gave US possession Of the bay, and
closed the pert to all ingress or egress Of
blockade-runners. This was all that was
contemplated. Possession Of the city of
Mobile would not make the blockade more
efFectual, and without a sufficient cooper
ating land force, which could not then be
sp red TO take and hold the place, further
demonstration was not advisable.
THE IRoN-CLADs IN CHARLESTON HARBoR.
The report represents that the withdrawal
of large part of our land forces from the
islands in Charleston hsrbor, necessarily
put a stop to serious demonstrations against
Charleston, and threw upon our iron-clad
fleet the burden of eusuring the safety of
the coast. and retaining the hsrbor. 1t
adds:
This has been by the iron-clads holding
off Morris Island, inside the bar. For q
long time it was contended that this could
not be done. But you0ger officers and
and seamen offered themselves IS ready for
the work. The result was that Rear-Ad-
mirsi Dshlgren las kept these vessels for
seventeen months where it was insisted
they could not remain, 10 the great injury
ofthe original seat Of the rebellion. The
work has bsen irksome and laborious, unre-
munerative, and perhaps not sufficiently
appreciated for it has been quiet and IN
demonstrstive, without those occasional
captures which, before taking possession of
the hsrbor, enlivene1 and rewarded the
officers and crews.
Fifty blockade runners have been cap
tured or destroyed in Charleston hsrbor
since Admiral Dahlgren anchored his feet
| inside the bar.
THE MISSISSIPPI SQUADRON
The chief operations on the Mississippi
during the past year have been on the
Red River. Mr.. Wells maintains that
the failure there waa due to causes beyond