Year: 1863

one OF tne6e points would now DO vastly more
disastrous to the rebellion than it could have
been at this time last year. q
Incrsassd Activity or the Rebel Priva-


teers-IndiRerence Of the Navy Depart.


ment. giH na g49g


We yesterday published list of six of our
merchant vessels which have been recently
captured OF our coast by the privateer
Clarence-a tender Of the Florida We give
this morning the particulars Of further depre-
dations on the Atlantic by the new privateer
Georgia, while from the South Pacific We have
received by the Ocean Queen accounts of the
commencement of privateering operations in
that quarter, one Of our merchant vessels hav-
ing been destroyed by Q rebel cruiser, and
another being hotly chased by her when last
seen.


Some four or i've weeks since our London
correspondence made mention Of the fact that
two fast steamers, supposed to be rebel priva-
teers, had left the Clyde for the Pacific.
Although there was hardly time for either of
these vessels to be employed in the operations
described, there is no doubt that they are now
actively engaged in capturing and destroying
our East India and China merchantmen. Each
of the latter, with her cargo, is worth from
half million to a million of dollars, and
many of them will be sent to the bottom of the
ocean before there is possibility of any of our
cruisers arriving for their protection. Of the
preparations made to give increased scope to
the ravages of the rebel privateers in that
and other quarters we have evidence
in the news brought by the British
ship Bucephalus, from which it appears
that, previous to her departure from Bahia, an
English bark, the Castor, had arrived out there
with coal and ammunition for the Georgia,
the authorities, it should be added, compelling
both vessels to leave the port. Their object
had, however, been accomplished by being
enabled to rendezvous there. From these facts,
and from the plan adopted by the Alabama
and Florida Of converting the clippers which
they seize into privateers or decoys to cover
their movements, It may be calculated that the
aggregate Of our losses ct sea from these depre-
dations will within the next three months far
exceed that Of any similar period since the COM
mencement Of the war; s KS ss


All these probabilities we have long vainly
endeavorsd to impress upon the attention Of the
Navy Department; and at length It has ventured
to act upon them; for by our dispatches
last night we see that Mr.. Welles has sent
four ships from this port and three from
Hampton Roads to encounter the rebel pri-
vatsers. But we cannot get over the fact
that two Of the fastest steamers on the ocean
the Atlantic and the Baltic, which have been
lying here idle for months, and which were
built with view to the probability Of their
being converted into vessels-of-war-have been
repeatedly offered TO the government for the
protection Of our commerce by Captain Com
stock, on the sole condition OF its furnishing
the guns, ammunition and coal required. Can
there be stronger commentary on the slug
gishness and imbecility that preside over the
administration Of our naval affairs


THE HEALTH OF OuR ARMIES IN THE SourH.-
1t is remarkable fact that the regiment Of
Wilson Zouaves, which returned to this city
few days ago from the war, came back almost
a. strong rs they went out. Considering the
length OF service, the numerous actions they
were In, and the climate Of the extreme south
Of Louisiana, their numbers were very slightly
diminished. This not only proves the care
which Colonel Wilson must have bestowed
upon his men, but IL shows also how much such
sanitary measures as General Butler establish
ed in New Orleans, and which General Banks
is now inaugurating, can do in preserv-
ing the health of the army by expell-
ing yellow fever and other epidemics
If similar measures were taken in other mill
tary departments there is no reason why our
soldiers could not live as well and as comfortably
in any Southern city as in the North, even in
the heat of summer


New REGIMENTS FOR THE WAR.-There are
now organizing in this State no less than twen-
tv-Hve nav reqimenta As liberal bountv is