Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-01-17

Us. Commissioner, to whom the case OF the
bosaty claims Of Admiral FarIagut and others
for the capture of New Orleans was referred
over two years since, submitted his report He
was directed to take additionaftestimony on the
Gulf Squadron were actually Engaged in the
dostsuctien Of the enemy 3 yessels?. What YES
sells a that squadron did not take part In the
acf1ony and their situation at the time? What
yespe1s of the enemy were Destroyed or sunk
during the action, the number Of guns, &C.?
and whether the forces OF erenemy engaged
and used in the said action opposed TO the
United States was less, equal. superior to
rhe forces OF the United States? He states that
he considers the term western Gulf Squadron"
included the "MortarF lotilla ,"and states that the
most important item of testimony was 1.-THE
proceedings of the Court OF Inquiry relative to
Gongrass Rishmond X. H. srit m o nq;n,s OF
ls64.' This was offered by Gen. Butler for IL
bellants, and objected to by Mr.. Lovejoy for the
United States. He had, however made uss of
il, and referred to 1t in snch a manner that its
contributions may be eliminated If the court
secs fit to reject II. Its value consists of the
elaborate and fun statements contained. The
rebel army accused the navy of having lost New
orleans. ano the navy said the army lost ID. The
court Of inquiry was the result of the counter
charges. and If the document should be re-
eeived by the court and assist i'm determining the
enemy force. il might serve as another ilustra-
tion OF the maxim that ''when rogues fall out
honest men get their dnes."
On the first question the vessels actually en-
gagged he reports that the vessels enumerated by
the iibtllant were engaged. viz Hartford,
Brooklyn. Richmond, Mississippi, Cayuga
Oneida, Varema, .Katahdin, Kineo Wissahick-
son, Sciota, Iroquos, KeEnebec. Pinoia, Itasca
Ninona. Admiral Porter enumerstes number
of vessels under his command as having taken
part in the reduction of the forts As to the
Saehem, tCoast Survey steamer, } she went down
in the Southwest Pass the day before the action.
The Charlton was sunk previously. He fads
that the u. 8. sloop Portsmouth not aimed in
the libel. participated. =
As to the second question-what vessels of the
3tNrx, IL
proof shows that the Colorado and Supply were
anchored thirty miles below and out OF signal
distance: The first tried to get over the bar and
failed. Her officers and men, however, were
distributed among the other vessels and did good
service. He calls attention to the fact that his
answers to the two 6rst questions will amend the
list OF claimants by adding the Portsmouth and
and emitting the Sackem, Charleston, Colorado
and Supply. - =
On the third questionable force OF the enemy
ne names the vessels enumerated by the libel
liant. p in number, carrying SO guns, manned
by 1,64S nen, and proceeds TO quote from the
rebel court Of inquiry's report that the most of
the vessels were manned by but few, and some
had not oyef half their complement of guns. He
submits a list OF vessels prepared by using the
direct testimony, footing up 22, with 80 guns
and ,312 men. and says If the Fox be sdled,
which Admiral Porter says he DESTROYED. the
sum total will he % vessels, with IS guns and
1,ioo men. III The fire RATS are included, the ..
COMP cement of which las Ms sissippi fiat boats)
was 20 men each, the force Of the enemy
may be put down at 700 men.
On the fourth question-whether the forces of
the enemy were less, equal, or superior to the
lnited States force-he saws that IL Is evident
the United States Lad more vessels-43, carry
ing 216 guns. If the enemy's force were men
and gnns afioat their force would he greatly in
ferioT; but IL is claimed by counsel that the no
guns in the forts, the distractions the fire RATS
and the character of the rebel boats, five
or SIX being the most powerful boats on the
river htted up as rams.) and in word
the position" should be considered. This is
a question for the court. 1t is plain however
that the principal force oppO ed to our feet was
not the vessels The fire RATS, the chain, and
the forts were far more dangerous and far more
efiectual. Had Farragut with as many men as
the enemy had, been in command of the de-
fences of New Orleans, do not think Mitchell
with all the vessels Farragut had could have
got by. The position" was clearly in favor of
the enemy Notwithstanding the superiority in
numbers of our vessels and the men on them
That advantage however was met by decision,
method, and courage, and IL is to foster these
qualities IN our navy that the act exists under
which the proceedings in this case are had.
Board Of Health and the smalI.POx
Most of the session of the Board of Health last
nehtwas spent in discussing a resolution offered
by Mr. Langston, that a committee be appointed
10 confer with the Governor with regard to the
necessity OF immediate action on his part in the
matter of providing suitable accommodations
for SMALLPOX patients, and for their removal by
suitable conveyance to the smallpox hospital,
and that said committee be directed to have This
conference as soon AS possible. Doctors Cox and
Verdi and Mr.. Marbury opposed the adoption OF
this resolution. contendiAg that the board has
full powers under the law creating it to provide
for smallpox patients, and that therefore it is
not necessary to trouble the Governor with the
matter. Nr. LaDgston Said party of gentlemen
had conference with the Governor yesterday,
and il was generally agreed that the board had
no power to increase the present accommoda-
tons for smallpox patients. but that the Gov
ernor has such authority. He Ieadithe old law
in regard TO the care of smallpox patients,
which gave the MAYOR and commissioners power
in the matter The Governor is the success
sor of tie mayor, and has the same powers.
Or. Bliss moved an amendment to Mr.. Lang
ston's resolution, striking out that part relative
to committee, and inserting a." that the Presi-
dent of he board address letter TO the Cover
nor setting forth the -rrssitv." &c. Mr.. Lang
sion accepted the amendment, anu the resolu-
ton as amended finally passed. An amenu.cent
offered by DIR. Cox, that the Governor be re-
quested to use his influence with the sitting legis-
lature to hasten the passage of the bill nov be-
fore that body, looking to the construction OF
such buildings, and also to urge the propriety of
immediate temporary accommodations for small
pOx patients, was lost. During the discussion 1t
was represented that the present smallpox hos
pital attached 10 the Washington Asylum is ut
terry unit Tor such a purpose, and that it will
not accommodate but four or five patients at
nest. DIR. Cox reported a case of smallpox
taken Tim the Howard House a few days since
70 the asylum, ard stated that the patient while
at critical stage OF the disease left the hospital
and was found near the Baltimore and Ohio de-
got. When recaptured he said he preferred to
die in the streets rather than return to the hos
pital, where he was placed in a cold room and
received no attention. The Discrimination of one
branch Of the legislative assembly to aid the
board by the passage Of necessary laws was Sc
verely commented upon, Mr.. Langston saying
that if the small poN becomes epidemic the as
sembly must be held solely responsible, as the
board has done its duty On motion OF Mr..
MarbuTy, the presidents of the street railroads
were requested to abolish the use OF straw in
street cars, and substitute mats therefor, and
have the cars swept out regularly.
WASHINGTON AND RICHMOND RAILROAD.
The Richmond State Journal of last evening,
says: We passed over rome fifteen miles OF this
new road on the construction train yesterday.
The track from Alexandria to Colchester is laid,
and is being rapidly ballasted. 1t Is a splendid
piece OF road and passes through a fine farming
region. At Colchester a bridge is being built
over the Occoquan, resting on piers, seventy
feet above the water. so as TO enable vessels to
pass under IL to Occoquan. This bridge Is fine
structure, and will be completed In about six
weeks, if the weather is at all favorable. The
track will be ready through TO Quantico b. the
middle of April or first OF May. Then we shall
have direct communication by rail with Wash
ington. It will make great change in our re-
Ia