Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1865-02-04
The Rebel Navy.

For men who had il pretty much their
own way ~ the beginning of the rebel
lion, the confederates have been pecn-
liarly unfortunate in their naval opera.
tions. The Sumter run herself into rust
and raitenness; the Nashville was ex-
ploded by ashell from the Moutauk /; tie
Merrimac after sinking the Congress
and the Cumberland, committed suicide
the Alabama fell victim to the kear-
sage, off Cherboarg the Florida was
stolen out of Brazilian waters, but sub
sequently was accidentally sunk; the
Arkansas was seat TO keep company
With the alligasors at the bottom Of the
Mississippi; the AIbemarIe, With tor
psdo hole through her ribs, sunk to
sleep IN the tide water that laves the
shore Of the Carolina Plymouth the
Tennessee and eousorts, we're battered
aud shelled into surrender in Mobile
bay, and the Tallahassee is reported as
part Of the spoils aeeruing to us, con-
ssquent upon lhe faII Of Fort Fisher.
In this specification Of rebel naval
disasters, we have mixed up their river,
with their ocean marine. Yet we have
not begun 10 emu ulerate the misfortunes
that have occurred to the Confederates
in the sea arm Of their service. We can
barely glance at the Wholesale destrue-
ton Of their blockade runners, at their
failure 10 consummate the contracts for
English aud French built steamers, and
at their III luck, when they have attempt
ed to turn to advantage the few vessels
they have captured from us In this,
We do not refer to the damage their pl-
rates have done 10 our mercantile ma
rine This has not been ineonsidera.
bie, but il no more puts stop 10 our
commerce than the shooting of few
pigeons from passing flock checks up
the moving mass
The last failure of the rebel navy, was
the recent attempt Of the Richmond
iroa-clad hotilla 10 pass our obstruc.
tons, for the purpose Of destroying our
shipping and stores at City Point Ia
this they were we'll nigh beng success.
full, but fortune was on our side, aud,
report says, Semmes was on. theirs
either of which circumstances would
decide the case in our favor.
The Anglo-rebel pirate Soaking
/ alias Shenandoah, is still at large. Al
the lone star Of the Confederate navy
she is steamiug along the coast of Bra
zil, burning our shipping, and running
ap long account Tor England 10 settle
She sailed from British port uude
British eoloes, commanded by Britls
officer, and manned by q British crew
Captain Corbitt, who took her to Ms
dera to turn her over to the rebels, ha
been arrested for violating the enlis
ment act But the length of the She
nandoah's cable is limited, and abe vi
soon ind the end OF it.
This habitual i'll fortune of the Cor
federate marine stands ont in bold rt
lif against the fact, that at the breal
leg out Of the war the South was 3
largely, if not mere largely, fegresen
cd In the navy than the north, The il
= ference is not that we are more hrav
nor that we have better fighting qua
lies than the rebels, but thai they la'
, reeuperative talent The leug depe
denee of abe Southern States on q
North to supply their mechanical wan
and wastos, has proved fatal to the
upon the sea, and crippled them greai
upon laud.-IgdidRapolis Journal