Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1865-01-30

A Rebel Estimate Of the Damage Done
Our Commerce by the RebeI PTiVa'
teers.
The Richmond Sentinel, in an srticle
boasting of what had been done by thei1
navy, admits that the naval strength of the
Republic is greater than that of England
and France combined, and endesvors to re-
move some of the OblOquy into which the
rebel navy has fallen, by the following re-
sumo Of its achievements
We have to be concise and cautious, but
may be precise st the same time. Take,
then, hurried resume of some particulars
to which we have gained access. The
steamer Sumter, under the gallant Semmes,
captured seventeen vessels in her cruize,
from July Sd, 1861, to January II, 1862
three ships, five brigs, six bsrks and three
schooners, for half years work. The Ala
bsma, under the same hero, captured sixty
three vessels from September, 1862, to JAN
usry, 1864. The greater number of these
were valuable ships, and all but nino of
them were burned at sea. In the number
is included the United States gun boat Hat
terss (eight guns, one hundred and eight
men, and eighteen officers) which was sunk
in open fight, on the llth of January, 1868.
To this list of the Alabama captures have
to be added two vessels brought by her
tender, the Tuscaloosa. One of her cap
tures was subsequently commissioned as q
cruizer under our flag, as in case of other
captures by other cruisers.
The steamer Tallahassee, under the COM
mand of the intrepid Taylor Wood, cap
tured thirty-three vessels during the month
OF August, 1864. his dashing cruise along
the American coast, northwards, was shorn
of its richer fruits by the chilling courte-
sizes of the British authorities in Nova SEQ
tis, on whose unfair conduct we had oc-
cssion to snimsdvert at the time. OF the
captures made by Commander Wood two
were ships, four brigs and four bArks, the
remainder being, for the most part, ses go
ing and large tonnsged schooners. Only
five of the whole number were bonded and
two released, all the rest having been burn
ed or scuttled.
The Chicsmaugs, under the command of
John Wilkinson, who has no professional
superior in the service, in short cruise
last November captured seven vessels
one ship, four bsrks and two schooners.
The Georgia, in few weeks, captured and
destroyed seven chips and two bsrks. The
Florids-but enough of such details. Here
are the shorter mathematical results of sn
Fifty-eight ships, thirty-two brigs, forty
one bsrks, ffEy-seYen schooners pilot
boats and small steamers 'extrs"-sn dis
posed of st sea since the war by Power
which has, popularly, ''no navy"
To estimate the value of these sea cap
lures let US. strike an average. The Jacob
Bell-one of the most valuable--was set
down IS worth at least 81, 2,040, 900 ship and
cargo; the Oreles, at proven value, $780,
600; the Star of Peace at 100000; the
Anglo-Saxon at 85,0OO-others more and
others less. Allow for the fsw bonded,
and then draw moderate average-ssy
$50O,000 for each ship and cargo, and you
have about $30,0O0,0OO worth Of property
in ships destroyed at once. The brig
Estelle was valued, under mark, at $780,
600, the Windwsrd at s44 O0O-say, for
each brig and cargo, 0,0Oo, and you have
Sl,600,00O additional Carrying out the
great moderation of this estimate, set
each bark down at $4,000 and each
schooner at $25,OOO, (seversl of both
were three times either amount and
you have an aggregate of $346o5 900 de.
stroyed directly by our navy. Is that no
thing2 Ask the New York Chamber of
Commerce and take its doleful answer.
But that is only IS to the direct loss IN