The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-01-05
GRAND NAVAL DRILL.
The Fleet at Key West To Be En-
ployed in Warlike Exercise.

Il
Spain-List Of tho Vessels Detailed for
| tho Sea Parsds-A Magnificent
Marine Spectacle To Be Given.
WASHINGTON Jan. 4, 1874.
| The concentration OF q powerful neet at Key
| West, with view to Immediate naval operations
should the demands of the United States for the
surrender OF the captured steamer virginius have
been refused by the Spanish government. affords
an opportunity for naval maneuvres, though not
OF belngerent character yet still OF almost equal
| Importance. Before the dispersion of the fleet
| 1t ts the purpose Of the government to order q
| naval drill The department Is now making
preparations for this great event. Commodore
Foxhall A. Parker Chief Signal Ocer OF the Navy Ia
having an extra supply Of the revised naval tactics
| prepared, and will forward them to Key West at
once. 1t is proposed to apply all the latest i'm
provements in naval tactics and signalling
The scene Of this great naval drill
win be In the Florida Channel and 1t
win probably be extended to brief
cruise In che adjacent portions OF the Gulf Of
Mexico. The drill will embrace fleet formations
and man9uvres under steam, forming in order OF
battle In one or two lines, forming columns OF
vessels ana neet evolutl0ns under sail where
carried, and also under sail and steam to-
gether. All the man9uvres in the tactics
will be executed by signals The fleet will
consist OF Is vessels of all classes,
mounting So7 guns. or these II are frigates and
cOrvettes. iron-cad MONITORS hospital ship and
despatch boats. The Canonicus and Ajax mont
tors are fitting out at the Philadelphia Navy Yard,
ana will be added to the neet now In the harbor
of Key West This neet will be the finest
OF the regular navy of the United States ever
concentrated at one point, and the advantage
thus presented OF giving the officers and sailors
chance Of few lessons in practical seamanshp as
employed IN neet operations may not occur soon
again. The uncertainty OF the political situation
IN Spain will probably delay the feet at Key West
even longer than is now contemplated; In
which case q series OF naval drills will
follow. This will not only increase the
practical eclency OF the navy, but will also give the
neet some useful occupation The Secretary of the
Navy will issue the necessary orders as soon as
all the arrangements are perfected, and the
Juniata. Ossppee and POwhatan Will rejoin the
feet. 1t is the desire of the Secretary to
conduct the drill with all the perfection
and discipline which would be required
In actual warlike operations The Commodore
OF the fleet will be Rear Admiral A. L. Case. OF the
European squadron, now at Key West and Rear
Admiral Gustavus Scott will be second in COM
mand. The following Is complete list OF vessels,
from official sources which will participate, and
their officers, compiled from the last assignments,
and not from printed registers
SHIPS.
Wabash, first rate. screw IS guns, fagshiplof the
European squadron: Rear Admiral A. L. Case
station senior ocsr Ct
Ames aid; DR.. A. GlhOn, Fleet Surgeon. Of1cers-
Captain Samuel R. Franklin, Lieutenant Com
and Meutenants Franklin Hanford, Cavett o.
Logan, Harrison G. o. Colby, Robert 7. Jasper and
Worcester second rate, screw. Is guns. naesnip
North Atlantic Squadron, Rear Admira! Gustavus
aid. and Dr.. F. N. Gunnel Fleet Surgeon captain
| William d. Whiting; Lieutenant Commanders,
Merrill Miller, executive otdcer, and G. H. Davis
well, George A. Beckwell and Andrew Dunlap Jr
Colorado, first rate. screw, As guns; Captain,
Merriam; Executive Of1cer, Horace Elmer; Lieu
tenants Edwin Lonquecker, J: K: P. Ragsdale,
| Bloomfield Mcllvatn and Willie swift.
Edward Simpson; Lieutenant Commander, Francis
manaef @. ". Armenarout; Iieutenants, Richard
n Cults Henry T. rySons o w LAM, r. Parker;
Congress, second rate, screw. 10 guns; Captain,
A. O. Rhind Lieutenant Commander, William J.
Samson; Executive Oficers, Benjamin F: Day and
Hunter and Edward Wood; Masters, William II.
Everett and D. H. Mabon.
Lancaster, second rate, screw, % guns; Captain,
Charles H. B. Caldwell; Lieutenant Commander,
Edward A. walker; Executive Otficers, George w.
ans
and Edward Il. Gheen Master, Charles E. COlahan
Brooklyn, second .i rate, screw 20 guns; Captain.
Pearson; Executive Oficer, +. W. Croker; Lieu
tenants, Ransome B. Peck, A. B. wycor and James
Pow6atan, second rate. paddle, u guns; Cap
TAIN John G. Beaumont; Lieutenant Commander.
Schultz; Leutenants, Francis NJ Cool and James
II. Dayton; Gunners and Masters T. M. EttIng,
walls and Nay "a. THIS ~, vessel IS now at
tow the Ganonicus or the Ajax, now fitting out
Alaska, second rate, screw, II guns, Captain
Samuel p. Carter; Lieutenant Commander G. W.
Tracy; Executive Oncer, Felix McCurley; Lieuten-
ants, Hamilton Perkin and w. G. Cowles, and
Tic0nderoga, second rate, screw, II guns; Cap
tam O. orns Gnares
Leutenants, Edwin s. Houston, George p. Clay,
Richardson Clover and Charles E. Ailibone, and
Canandaigua second rate, screw 10 guns CON-
mander R. b. Lowry; Lieutenant Commander
Charles P. Anthony, William r. Randall, Seaton
Schroeder, and Masters Thomas A. Debois and
Shenandoah, second rate. screw, II guns, Cap
tain q. Fl. Wells; Lieutenant Commander, Charles
McGregor; Executive Omcer: D. Evans; Lieu
and Master, Edward Ferry.
Junista, third rate screw, guns, Commander
ecutive Oncer; Leutenants George E De Ed
ward, P. Mcclellan, Charles w. Chipp, and Master,
James Robertson. This vessel brought , the vir;
back to Key West
Wachusstt third rate, screw, guns. Com.
mander T. Scott Filebrown, commanding; Lieu
tenant Commander, b. H. McCallagh; Executive
On1cers, j. MCGOWAN, Jr., F. H. Paine B. J. Crom-
well, and Masters, G. W. Jarboe, sac. Paine and &.
N. Barry
wyoming, third rate, screw, guns Commander
Wam GHsHns w HS%manulag ne@ssn cs
Lieutenants, Chapman Laid, Charles r. Hutchins,
Albert X. Comden, and Master, Edward N. Day.
Kansas, third rate, screw, guns, Commander
A. v. Reed, commanding; Lieutenant Commander
F. w. Dickens, Executive Ofllcer; Lieutenants, J.
A. Chester ]. b. Briggs, and Master, A. B. Speers.
Ussipee, third rate screw, guns, Commander J.
Waters, commanding; Lieutenant Commander G.
X. Haswell. Executive Oncer; Lieutenants, D. G.
WOODROW, william n. Rhoades, John G. Rich,
Louis v. Housed and Alfred Force. The Ossipee
towed the Virgnius from Key West to the point of
,kin md ia nnW Mt No YOr hut xril ho