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IP i rtss.
fiINESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 1862.
10 , oltT Ole THE SECRETARY OF
THE NAVY. •
KATT DNIPATtntkIXT,
December 1, 1882
• It is due to the navel service that in this re
- ."
I I first of nll,'recount to you, and through
duet t
, congress nand the country, the operations and
of our naval forces during the (Went
; yi Odell has elapsed since my last Annual
%:aniezition. Since the commencement of our
••• gal dinietilties, four powerful squadron's have
' ,„o r seed, organized, and stationed for duty on
' • ,
..,ruime frontier with a rapidity and sudden
: ilnds no approach to a parallel in previous
history, and which it is believed no other coun
eur own could here achieved. These squad
'7 'stie been incessantly maintaining, a strict
sit. dem+ gigantic proportions that eminent
isfeemen the Idgliest scenes of legislation
i..a r • •
• sot hesitate, el its commencement, publicly to
'• sins. it• 'l4 ofa material impossibility ;" and yet
• !kis ninst imposing naval undertaking had been
' , s c rim! ofeighteen months in operation, And after
„Ai had been selectively extended along the en
, wis .p of our Atlantic and Gulf coasts, from the
of
the
tliesapeeke to the mouth of the Rio
• h• m e
e minent nutitorities„ with a list.
;• •
ir tianibz of all the vessels which had evaded
"`. „„..s the vigilance of our blockading forces,
wito re ta
refuse in their official statements to admit
-raidt 1 1.1 eitudor that the proof of the eal
• teary •
et the blockade was conspicuous and wholly
I butt in no previous war had the
pmt• of asnefusis e.
„ fi a r m oinv . 'a country been so effectually
" I "I
ire° But even such testimony
rimed nerd tal
OW not ed. The proof 'of the fact abounds in
tie ewer , price of our Southern staples in the great
~.1 1, n irr, uit marts of the world, and more especially
0„ e w hole industrial end comtnernial condition of
r te bailment region. It should not be forgotten
0,,,r no circumstance La wanting to attest the mag
,..!ost of this greatest of all navel triumphs. The
triad neeesaities anti the commercial' cupidity
• Al the principal maritime nations, armed anti ,
powered as they are. by the resourcesOf modern
‘,•stion. are kept at bay. A multitude of isiend
;.:Lers under foreign jurisdiction, looking nearly
our shores, and affording the most con
,;. at lurking places from which Illicit com
::•.• may leap forth to its prohibited desthet
s.s :aid purpose, are so closely watched as to roe
! tle Kill of nil such ventures far greater than
their enormous gains when met:eased. And
.:as a vast line of seacoast nearly three thousand
—in eat mit, nitwit of it with a double shore,en and
• 41.1'm.y-combed with inlets and harbors, has
',beleaguered and locked up that the whole
• ,-ass foreign commerce, which was the very life
>!;,e lialustry and opulence of the vast region
I.i.h it lenders, has practically ceased to exist.
PlsTvilli".ll.oN OF 'THE FORCE,
some elm uges in the command of the squadrons and
villas have taken piece, and new organizations
Lair been Instil. during the year.
The North A Mouth: squadron, guarding the Vir-
Oils and Ntil tie ( 'art:line coasts, continued in charge
of Rear Admiral Clohisborough untilthe 6th of Sep•
hank% when lie wits relieved on his own request by
acting Refer Admiral S. P. Lee, who has since had
lien commattd.
In the South Atlantic squadron, which blockades
the harbors and masts of South Carolinn, Georgia,
and tae eastern emotion of the Florida peninsula, no
tainge has taken piece. Rear Admiral Du Pont, es
saesl to that squadron when it was first made is
stinet organization, still remains in active and use
' . srrvire on that highly.interesting station.
1 t 0 necessity of a division of the Gulf squadron
Sag twit stated to be necessary in my last an
d report. it was consummated on the 21st of
ling-Otticer McKean retaining commend
tie Eastern Gulf squadron, the limits of which
moil:toil the southern and western portions of the
Forida peniusuln, commencing At Cape Canaveral
i. the eastern mast, and extending to Pensacola.
on the , Ith of .lone he was, on his own application,
consequence of impaired health, relieved by
Rear Mllllllll Lardner. This officer's health
a t a giving way, he was compelled to ask to be ro-
Saud, end Commodores Theodore Bailey has been
.tryainted his successor,
The Western Gulf squadron guarded a coast
eLich, cummeneing anti including Pensacola, ex
;stated westward to the Rio Grande, and wits, front
ariety of causes, one of the most important anti
assponsible ea emends ever entrusted to a naval ani
ses From the harbors and rivers subject to that
blockade there are exported in peaceful times vast
susautte of cotton, sugar, and other products.
Within those limits are the ocean outlets of the
swat central valley of the Union; anti in selecting
Ilk officer who should be put in command of the
maz Aron. reek ni was had to an expedition for which
Me department hail made extensive preparation,
satin which the whole Government hind participat
:4. for the capture of New Orleans, and reopening
tie navigation of the Mississippi, After scrutiny
sni delibernte consideration this responsible posh.
azin was entrusted to Captain D. G. Ferragut, in
h e etmlitient belief that his courage and energy were
4 , 46181 to the exigency. •
Resides these large squadrons on on:. maritime
Nuttier, it became a necessity at an early period of
tie insurrection to have an organized naval tome on
the Mississippi rind its tributaries. CM the 16th of
lhiy, 1861, Commander John Rodgers was directed
report to the War Department, which in the pre
laninary stages mistimed the chief expense, for the
maltose of initiating an armed flotilla on the West
ent Waters, andi 111 med lately entered upon his clones.
l'incerdlng to the West, he purchased atomizers
~dish, under his supervision, were fitted, armed,
and am rutted as gunboats, anti thus was commenced
the organization of the Mississippi flotilla,
whisk, a li‘n . Inolltll9 later, made itself felt in
a sitecession of achievements that electrified the
country. But before Commander Rodgers had
ozipeituulty of completing his arrange
'swats sisi using .nba _vein:toil Into notion; Captain
A. If. Foote was eppointed to the command•of the
SOM. Tie labors commenced by Commander
Rodger: , sa elled into gigantic proportions under
ITualeticer Foote, whose energies anti talents were
exerted in creating and preparing that navy on the
Western waters, which he soon made so serviceable
to the country. Fatefully wounded at FortDonel
sea. he was relieved on the 6th of May by Captain
itztrles H. Davis, who was soon lifter appointed
clef of the Bureau of Navigation, and in October
vanquished the eomnoind. By order of Congress
gunboat fleet was transferred to the navy, anti
f•-ir constitutes an Important squadron, under the
:sat/land of Acting Rear Admiral D. D. Porter, who
entered upon his duties on the 15th of October.
The Active operations of the Potomac • flotilla
(eased, in a great measure, after the erection of the
extensive rebel batteries on the Virginia shore, in
the autumn of 18111. For several months the corn
astree on this Important avenue to the national
eipital was almost entirely suspended, though nt no
time was the pitsg:lge of mar armed naval vessels pre
tutted. lit 111nreli the batteries were abandoned by
The insurgents, and the troops which garrisoned
1: um were withdrawn. The advance of our army
tot snis Richmond made the duty on the Potomac
nisipnretively.light during the spring and summer.
At Wren t the flotilla is under the conunand of Cloni
ng:foie I larwood, and is rendering good service by
theekllnt illicit traffic anti capturing many prisoners
and noiniall amount of property.
The transfer of the army to the York Peninsula,
and its detention before Richmond, compelled the
bevy Department to divert some of its gunboats
and vessels destined for other service to the waters
Of James end York rivers. After the battle of AIM-
Vera Hill and the concentration of the army on
Janmes ricer, such was the condition of affairs that
It hemline necessary to organize the vessels which
Lad been retained to co-operate with and protect the.
rattly into a distinet organization. Captain Charles
'Wilkes was detailed for that duty on the 6th of
July, and entered upon the work with energy ; hut
The withdrawal of the army from the Peninsula in
august reic.ased the vessels which had been diverted
from their original destination, and rendered It rut
tiness:ay to continue an independent organization
in dimes river. The flotilla was therefore disbanded
on the list of August.
The persistent sind systematic attempts to violate
ourblocioule, mid furnish assistance to the insue-
Pitts in didlance of our laws, made it necessary that
weenie and effective measures should be adopted to
prevent those lawless proceedings. This purpose
'id been interrupted, anti the proceedings to effect
cflelayed, in consequence of the detention of the
=tatv before llichmend during the spring and taun
ter, our vessels king indispensable auxiliaries
Mile the army lingered on tale upper waters of
.lhtnea river. Immediately on being liberated, a
:lying squadron was organized with n view.of sweep
ing from our coast and the neighboring .waters the
'lawless eontudiandists who made it a business to
violate our biotite& and promote the efforts of those
who are et:wetted in schemes to break up out. *Union
and subvert the (I overnment. The commend or this
tying squadron haft been given to Acting Rear Ail
bawd 'Wilkes, tyke sailed from Hampton Roads in
the Wachntlett nit the 24th of September.
NAVAL EXPEDITIONS.
This exhibition of the distribution and attitude of
Saw naval foree*naturally introduces a succinct his
tOry of net twirl:able series of naval expeditions
and operations': along our Southern seaboard, and
through time great rivers of the central valley, in
which the power and valor of our navy have been
NO strikingly displayed. These expeditions, it must
be remembered, were undertaken In addition to, or
rather in Rid of, the unrelaxing labors of the block
ade, They were eeeeeived and directed in the polidYi
early adopted oral unlforinly adhered to by this de-
Velment. of the mast active and strenuous prosecu
tion of the war, f 0 long as the war should last, and
whenever and NvlieroVor an
struck ngrtinst the power or resources of the rebel
lion by the naval force. In this view this deinirts
Intent lets conatantly sought the co-operation of the
army when SaCil ce-operation was indispensable to
laeress, and when such co-operation was not Indis-
IA„, utable the 'levy alone has acted. The result is
` "t The 3IISSIIISippI, the main artery of the great
central %alley of tho'Union, with its principal tithe-
Aries eillonving many thousand miles of inland
antiphon which had been interrupted, is under
01t control, egeept at Vicksburg, where the rebels.
still retain possession, but from which, with a co
l:Terming military force, they can at any time be ex-
Med. Each one of our blockading squadrons has
secured and holds it contddershle portion of the coast
Within their re:Teeth . ° limits, and in each there
18 a commodious and open port for rendezvous,
/lefitinent, anti supply, where imports and exports
bay be made under the authority of a collector duly
•alaminted by the National Government. Nearly
the entire sealesitti of the insurgent region, in its
11111 111 points of commercial or strategic import
3are--from Norfolk and the outlet of the ()hese-
Vezike through Roanoke, Nowhere and Beaufort.
4 1 1. C ., Port Royal, Tybee, Fernandina, Key West,
ensacolft, to New (Means and Galveston—is prae
_tily in our heeds, held fast and irrecoverably un
-4" the guns of our navy or else garrisoned and
ITT/Vernet! by our military force. But a short time
eke elapse before the few remaining ports which are
!inn in the possession of the insurgents will be reduced
to naval or military occupation and authority.
when the insurrection is thus excluded from the
yeast there fluty be presented for decision,• and its
tear appioximatlon makes allusion to it 'justifiable,
The grave and important question whether, in so far
AN relates to all suet) ports and places on the insur
gent seacoast 1111 IS net unity held and controlled by
lhe national Government in time of war for war
Purposes, And by the power of war, it be not our
lieht and duty to dismiss the costly apparatus and
e mbarrassing formalities and rules of an, interna
tional bkx.kittle, and to substitute in place of it, with
in all the ports and places held and occupied by our
forces, our On 21 . domestic authority to control all
crate therein, es we control everything else there,
and thus to subject at such points all commerce,
ec uthiwise and fonagn, of export or import, to such
conditions anal restrictions and regulations, either
Of admission or exclusion, as a Wll3O war policy may
r t ribe, and n present war power, afloat in the
enforce,
or on shore in a military custom-house, may
irtte. Stich hits been the practice of nations in
~ales of rebellion. Kush was our practice in the
atexican ports whi , •ll .we held during the war with
a_hot couutry. abuidd such a policy be 'adopted,
tame other important advantages resulting front it
be the release of our fleets from much of their
Vesent harassing and exhausting blockade duty,
And the ilaatediafe concentration of theiractivity
'
„ ru
g e •
I techon of our commerce on the high seas, by
mule pursuit in Augmented force, and probably the
I , l rdi capture anal punishment, of the maraullera
now avail 'lionise . Ives of the incessant act:up:t
an of the mass of our naval force in other scenes of
action, for the temporary prosecution of their pira
tical designs.
is "TUSTII MIAMI() SQUADRON—ROANOKE
ISAND.
At the cotetneneenient L of the blockade constnnt
thnoyance was eNperleneed draught,ious souree3
means essels of light which made
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. IN • • -4C344‘1641-:
VOL. 6.-N0.105.
ingress or egress through the sounds anti inner wa
ters on the roast of North Carolina. To gain pen
session of the important points within the sounds
was therefore necessary.
Early in January a Joint expedition of the navy
and army for operations in the waters of North
Carolina moved from Hampton Honda, under the
command of Flag-officer L. M. Goldsborough . and
Brigadier General A. E. Burnside, respectively.
The naval force consisting of seventeen light
draught vessels with an armament of forty-eight
guns, most of them of heavy calibre, arrived at Hat
teras Inlet on the 13th of .1 antiary, and in two days
succeeded,' though with labor and difficulty, in
passing over the bulkhead and through the narrow,
shallow, and tortuous channel ; but the army trans
ports were unable to surmount the obstacles, and be
fully prepared for active co-operation, until some
weeks later. On the morning of the sth of February
the combinedexpedition proceeded towards Roanoke
Island; the naval vessels, placed by. Flag- officer
Goldsborough under the inunedinte command of
Commander Stephen C. lio . wan, were formed in
three sepnrate columns, commanded respectively by
W
Lieutenants Heed erden, Alexander Murray,
and H. K. Davenport. On the morningof the
7th the vessels of the insurgents, Nglit in number,
were discovered drawn up behind an extensive barri
cade, formed by a double row of piles and sunken
vessels, stretching across the sound. At 10.30 the
engagement commenced, and by noon became gene
ral. By 4 P. 111., the batteries were temporarily
silenced and the first landing of troops effected. At
.midnight over 40,000 troops had disembarked. •
The engagement was renewed the following morn
ing and carried on chiefly by. the army until 1 P. M.,
when the fleet proceeded to open a jiassage through
the obstructions, which was successfully accomplish
ed by 51'. M., and the national flag was hoisted on
Pork Point. Firing other of their works and one of
their Steamers were the closing events of the day,
the rebels yielding the island to our possession.
Retreating from Roanoke Island, the rebel naval
fleet fled up the sound and into Pasquotank river,
towards Elizabeth City, Commander Rowan pur
sning them with the flotilla , anchoring for the
night a few miles from Fort Cobb. At SA. M.,.
February 10, the rebel steamers, under command ot
W. F. Lynch, formerly of the navy; were discovered
drawn up ,behind rt battery of tour elms, supported
by n schooner on the opposite side of the river,
armed with two heavy 32-pounders. Fire was opened
by the Insurgents from the forts and strainers at
long range. Commander Hawaii pushed on steadily
until within three-fourths of a mile, when he opened
tire, and dashed ahead at full speed. This bold and
wholly unanticipated onset dismayed the rebels, who
hastily abandoned their works,
which, with their
entire fleet, were captured or destroyed.
Passing up the river the flotilla took possession of
Elizabeth City. Lieutenant Murray was despatch
ed with a small force to Edenton, of which he.quiet
ly took possession, and on returning from this duty
he was sent to obstruct the Chesapeake and Albe
marle ()anal.
In this expedition there were five armed steamers
and one schooner destroyed, and one steamer, the
captured.
CAPTUWE OF NEWBETZX AND WASIIINOTOX, X. C
AND CAPITULATION OF FORT MACON.
Flag-officer Goldsborough having been recalled to
Hampton Roads, a combined army and naval expe
dition, under General Burnside and Commander S.
U. Rowan, left Hatteras Inlet and arrived at _Slo
cum's creek, the point selected for the disembarka
tion of the troops, on the 12th of March.
The next morning the landing of troops com
menced, the gunboats shelling the woods at the
point of landing as the troops advanced on shore.
At the same time six naval boat howitzers with
their crews, under command of Lieut. R. S. Mc-
Cook, were landed to assist in the attack on the
enemy's works. About 4H. M. the first of the ene
my's batteries opened upon our boats, and were an
swered at long range, the firing ceasing at sundown,
and the fleet anchoring in a position to corer the
troops. Early on the morning of the 14th, the army
having engaged the enemy in force, Commander
Rowan moved steadily up the river with his fleet,
and the insurgents abandoned their forts in succes
sion under the pressure of the combined columns
moving upon them. On arriving at Newbern, the
rebels haring fled, Commander Rowan took posses
sion of the place, and later in the day the army were
moved across the Trent, and occupied the city.
The approach by the river to Newborn was heavily
Obstructed with piles and torpedoes, from which the
vessels sustained some injury, and the passage was
disputed by six forts, at distances of from halt f a mile
to a tulle and a half from each other,
and mounting
32 guns, ranging from 32-pounders to 80-pound rifled
cannon.
Lieutenant McCook is reported as having rendered
Most effective service with his naval battery, and
Commander Bowan bears cheerful testimony to the
gallant-conduct of the officers and men of his entire
command. Several stemnorA. and schooners, lirge
quantities of pitch and turpentine, and a valuable
stock of arms and munitions of war, fell into our
.hands with the capture of Newborn.
After the fall of Newbern, Lieutenant Command
ing A. Murray was despatched with a naval column,
accompanied by a detachment, from tke army, to
take possession of 'Washington, N. C. Forcing a
passage through the obstructions in the approach to
that place, he arrived there on the 21st of March,
and it was surrendered to him without resistance.
The batteries onshore having, on the morning of
the 25th of April, opened fire on Fort Macon, Com
mander Samuel Lockwood, senior officer of the
blockading fleet off Beaufort, prepared his vessels
for action, and proceeded within range of the fort.
Fire was opened from the steamers Dayltr.tot, the
State of Georgia, and the Chippewa, and the bark
Gemsbok, which was continued about an hour and
a quarter, when they were compelled to haul off on
account of the heavy sea. In the afternoon a flag
of truce was displayed from the fort, which, on the
next morning, surrendered to Major General Burn
side. Commander Lockwood united in signing the
articles of capitulation on the part of the United
States.
AFFAIR AT WEST POINT.
The arrival of the Army of the Potrime on the
'York peninsula rendered it necessary to detail seve
ral gunboats, chiefly from the North Atlantic squad
ron, within whose limits it is, to convoy the trans
ports and protect the right flank of the army on its
march along the York and Primunkey rivers. While
on this service, on the 'lth of:4ll.ay. the enemy, -in
large force, attacked Geneila . Frankthrs - Mvislon;
commuting me right wing of the army at West
Point, the junction of the Pamunkey and illittapony.
The assistance of the navy was requested by Gene
ral Franklin and Commander William Smith, se
nior officer of the naval forces in York river, ordered
the gunboats Wachusett, Marntanza, and Sebago to
the support of General Franklin. These vessels,
taking n position as mar the insurgents as possible,
opened upon them with great. effect. Their tire soon
began to slacken, and they commenced their retreat.
The aid rendered by our gunboats on this occasion
was most essential, enabling General Franklin to
hold his position and to repel the rebels.
On the loth of May the Galena, Monitor, Aroos
took, Port Royal, and Naugatuck, all under com
mand of Commander John Rodgers, ascended James
river, with no serious obstructions until near Ward's
or Drury's Bluff, where piles and sunken vessels dis
puted their further passage, and a heavy battery ex
posed the vessels to a plunging fire. • The Galena
nnd Monitor ran within six hundred yards of the
bluff; but the latter was obliged to drop down
several hundred yards, as her guns could not be
sufficiently elevated for effective service. An action
of three /tours' duration took place, when. owing to
scarcity of ammunition, the vessels retired to Oity
Point without silencing the battery. The Nauga
tuck was unfortunately disabled by the bursting of
her rifle gun. The men on the vessels were exposed
during the contest to a constant fire from sharp
shooters concealed in rifle pits on the river bank ;
but officers and men exhibited great coolness and
courage throughout the engagement.
SOUTH ATLANTIC BLOCKADING SQUAD-
1.11 my annual report in December, 1861; mention
was made of the plans and investigations which had
been projected during the summer preceding for
seizing and holding some of the important ports on
the Southern coast, and that the command of the.
South Atlantic squadron had been g iven to Flag
officer DuPont, chairman of the commission which
had been selected by the Department to make ex
amination and report on this subject. I was also
enabled to communicate his services at Port Royal
and Beaufort, in South Carolina, and the capture of
Ty - bee Island, at the mouth of the Savannah river,
in November.
Following up these successes, and in order to carry
out the original purpose of his command, in addition
to the duties of maintaining a blockade of the coast,
Fing-otHcer DuPont and the squadron became ac
tively engaged in examining the waters and islands
on the South Carolina and Georgia coasts, prepara
tory to their military occupation. Expeditions were
sent to St. Helena, North end South Dlisto War
saw inlet, Tvbee and other islands, and other' im
portant localities. The necessity of guarding these
points until the army was prepared to hold then em
ployed no inconsiderable portion of the naval force
in that quarter.
On the Ist of January a force of five gunboats,
under Commander U. P.:Dodgers, was detailed
to co-operate with a column -of troops, under Brig.
General Stevens, in certain military operations in
the vicinity of Beaufort, South Carolina. The
movements, both naval and military, were con
ducted with success. The effective action of the
'navy on this occasion elicited from the late gallant
General Stevens a very complimentary aeknow
ledgment, and the entire management of the expe
dition is commended la high terms by Flag-officer
Dupont.
FORT PULASKI
At the commencement of the project of cutting off'
communication between Fort Pulaski (held by the
rebels) and Savannah, the ultimate repossession
of that fort, received consideration and wni pre-;
pared for by frequent and successful reconnoissances.
An expedition being in the course of preparation to
capture Fernandina and other points South, the oc
caion Was not permitted to pass unimproved of
nicking a reconnoissance which would serve as a
demonatration upon Savannah Ind cover up the
mai plirPOlie, alri shriek On Fernandina. Accordingly, on the 27th of January, a fleet of
gunboats, under Flag-Captain Charles H. Davis, and
of transports conveying a - column of troops Under
Brigadier Oeneral Wright, entered Little Tybee
river, and passed beyond the highlands of Wilming
ton 'alma They examined the creeks and localities,
mid obtained much valuable information, so neces
sary to future successful military operations.
While on this service five steamers, the rebel fleet
of Commodore Tatnall, made their appearance.
CapC&M -Das - ls and Commander John Rodgers, who
was anchor in Wright river, opened upon them.
A short but spirited engagement of less than half an
hour followed, when a part of the rebel fleet was
forced back, and the remainder escaped to Fort Pulaski.
Pulaski. The appearance of such a force in Wil
mington and Warsaw Sounds created a sense of
alarm at Savannah, inducing the withdrawal of
troops from other points, in anticipation of an attack
on that city. In the capture of Fort- Pulaski, a
purely. military operation, which occurred some
months afterwards:, August 11th, the navy had the
good fortune to parthipate, n detachment of otticera
and men from the WilbaSh serving in one of the
lin:ceiling batteries, and having the management of
four ride guns in Battery Sigel.
EP OS SE SSION OF FIaN.A.NDINA, ST. •
;Si A RV'S FORT EILINtIi. .1 A 71iSt tti VILLE,
A uoil STINE, lilll22iS WI Cis:,
The repossession and reoccupation of the eastern
eoePt of Florida was another of the primary otiiiiets
(It she part of the South Atlantic oradmizailon.
Vlagsollicer Dupont sailed from Post lii alin the
. WalatPlt on the lastday of t
the ad
er March, transferring his flag to the 3lohican, en
tered Cumberland Sound in that vessel, accompanied
liy eighteen other vessels of the navy, the armed
Ffrlllner McClellan carrying a battalion of marines,
under the command of Maier Reynolds, and several
transports, containing a brigade, commanded by
Brig.. lien.' Wright.
The immediate object of this expedition was the
regossession of Fort Clinch and the capture of For
nandina. The insurgents abandoned their works of
di fence, and rapidly retreated.
Commander i)rnytnn with a division of the force
Proceed to Fernandina, and oceupled that place.
'The flag was hoisted on Fort Clinch, the first of the
national forts seized by the insurgents on which the
ensign of the Union had resumed its proper position
f.illte the commencement of the rebellion. This fort
and the'several batteries commanding the channel .
of approach to Fernandina bore every indication of
preparation for a vigorous defence, mid their aban
donment without an effort to hold them was as much
of a surprise as it was doubtless a disappointment to
those who had come to capture them.
Commander C. R. P. Rodgers with n second divi
sion Was sent to occupy Sf. Mary's. Lientemuit
Commanding T. H. Stevens, in the Ottawa, pushed
en from this place, and, encountering the rebel rifle
men anti cavalry on the banks, he soon dispersed
On the 7th of March a small Wrre was sent, under
Commander S. W. Godon, to hold Brunswick, and,
about the same time, a squadron of light vessels WAS
organized anti sent to Sacksouriffe, both of which
places were surrendered Without opposn. Ou the
12th of March St. Augustine surrendered without
exhibition of force the citizens raising the flag of
the T.71)i011 With their own hands.
This expedition, organized chiefly from the forces
which had but a short time previous participated in
the capture of Forts Walker and Beauregard and
Beaufort, though carried through without loss of
life, 111113 of very considerable importance. It secured
to us Fort Clinch, Fernandina, St. Mary's, Cumber
land Island and Sound, Amelia Sound, Jacksonville,
St. Augustine, and Brunswick, in reality the coast
and inland waters from St. Simon's southward
STONO DIVER AND MOSQUITO INI4ET
From information derived chiefly from the contra
band pilot, Robert Small, who had escaped from
Charleston, Flag-offieer Du Pont, after proper recon
noissance, directed Commander Marchand to cross
the bar, with several gunboats, and occupy Stono.
The river was occupied as far up as Legareville,
and examinations extended further, to ascertain the
kosition of the enemy's batteries. The seizure of
Mono inlet and river secured an important base for
future military operations, and was virtually a turn
ing of the forces in Charleston harbor.
On the 22d of March, Acting Lieutenant Budd,
commanding the steamer Penguin, and Acting Mas
ter Mather, comnitinding the steamer Henry An
drew, with boats' crews from those vesselt, proceed
'ea some fifteen or eighteen miles up one of thela
goons of Mosquito inlet. Returning, they landed,
in one of the boats, near some earthworks, which
had been abandoned or never armed, in the vicinity
of a dense grove of live oak and underbrush. - A
heavy and continuous tire was suddenly opened upon
them from this cover, killing both of those officers
and six of the boats' crews, and wounding several
others, two of whom were made prisoners. The
service thus lost two meritorious officers, who had
volunteered their services to aid in suppressing the
rebellion.
EASTERN GULF SQUADRON
In January last Flag-officer McKean despatched •
Commander Emmons, with the steamerßatteras,
to operate against the rebels at Cedar Keys. This
place was quite a depot, and several vessels had re
cently been taken thither for safety and to load with
produce.
Commander Emmons was entirely successful,
having captured or destroyed all the public property
in'that locality, including military stores, a battery
of two guns iu position on Sea Horse Key, bar
racka
, railroad depot and wharf, and several .schoo-.
nen, laden and all ready to be taken out as soon as
a favorable opportunity should offer.
In the latter part of March Cominander H. S.
Stellwagen, of the Mereeditn, arrived off Apala
chicola with that vessel and the Sagamore, Lieut.
Commanding A. J. Drake; and organized a boat ex
pedition, the immediate object of which was the
capture of a number of vessels understood to be at
or above that city.
He was immediately informed by contrabands that
the place lied been evacuated by the soldiers, some
WO in number, and by the greater part of the citi
zens, on the appearance of the naval force. To teat
the truth of this, and to accomplish the objects in
N' iCW, on the 2d of April six boats from the Alerce
dit a and Sagamore were sent, under Lieutenants Ab
bott and Bigelow ' to the city. Na resistance was
offered, anti the few remaining citizens came for
ward to receive than. The expedition brought out
several vessels, and others had to be destroyed,
owing to the difficulty of getting them over the bar.
Acting Volunteer Lieutenant David Cate, com
manding the United States bark Pursuit, having
received information that the rebel steamer Florida,
which had succeeded in getting into St Andrew's,
was lying some twenty miles above that town, de
termined to make an attempt to cat her out. A
volunteer expedition was organized and left the
vessel oil the 4th of April, and on the night of the
6th reached and surprised the Florida. The crew
were overcome with slight resistance, and the ves
sel—a VlllllBlO side-wheel steamer of 500 tons—witli
a cargo of over , 200 bales of cotton, was brought
safely out.
WESTERN GULF - SQUADRON—CAPTURE OF
NEW ORLEANS AND REDUCTION OF ITS
DEFENCES.
in the autumn of 1861 the capture and occupation
of the city of Now Orleans and the reopening of the .
navigation of the Mississippi Wet*. resolved upon.
It was an undertaking of the greatest difficulty- and
of the greatest importance. The city itself was the
largest and wealtldest in the Southern portion of
the Union, and from its position it was the most
vitally interesting in the whole insurrectionary
region. Its defences had been prepared and com
pleted with the whole power, skill, and ingenuity
of the insurgents. Forts Jackson and St. Philip,
situated in commanding positions to ba r the approach
to the city from the Gulf, had been armed with one
hundred and twenty-six guns of long range and
heavy calibre. A fleet of some twenty armed steam
ers, some of them armored, and four powerful steam
iron-clad rams—one of them of four thousand tons,
and mounting sixteen heavy cannon—were prepared
to co-operate with the fleet, in addition to chains,.
rafts, and tire-ships, for obstructing the advance ot
our attacking force, while an army of several thou
sand men, under the insurgent general occu
pied and defended the city itself.
For the reduction of a place thus fortified and de
fended, the commercial and strategic importance of
width can hardly be overestimated, thorough and
ample preparations were required and were carefully
organized. Besides the squadron that was employed;,
to enforce the blockade on the western portions of
the Gulf, a large additional force of armed steamers
and a bomb flotilla were ordered to the expedition. •
The selection of the officer who should command
the western Gulf squadron was not made until
preparations were far advanced for the Important
expedition that eonMituted the striking feature of
that command. Captain David G. 'Panne, who
received the appointment of flag-officer of the
western Gulf squadron, entered with alacrity, zeal,
and all the power and efficiency that had been antici
pated by the department upon the duty of completing
the organization of the Mississippi expedition. He
found himself at the head of a squadron composed
of uteri who, like himself, were undaunted, resolute,
and determined.
The flotilla of mortar vessels, twenty in number,
was added to the command, under the immediate di
rection and management of Commander David D.
Porter. Besides skilful pilots and the officers, some
of whom were familiar with that coast and the river
passes, the department availed itself of the topo
graphical and strategic information furnished by the
officers of the collet• Survey. Assistant F. H. Gerdes,
in charge of the steamer Sachem, rendered the
agnailranArery essential service:
Military co-operation being necessary, the War
Department furnished an army of eighteen thousand
men, under the command of Major General Butler,
to assist in the expedition and to hold New Orleans
after it should be taken. There was throughout
harmony and mutual good feeling and co-operation
between the naval and military forces.
Flag-officer FarraguPs first orders bear date the
20th of January, 1662. lie sailed from Hampton
Bonds on the 2ml of February, and on the 21st as
sumed the duties of his command. Two months
were spent in completing his preparations, receiving
his reinforcements, and getting- his vessels over the
bars and to the heads of the passes.
On the 16th of April, he gave orders to commence
the bombardment of Forts Jackson and St. Philip
by lime mortar flotilla. The bombardment com
menced on the 18th, and was contiffued, with but
slight interruption or cessation, during six days and
nights, at the end of which time both the forts,
powerful as they were, and desperate as was their.
resistance, had become so weakened and the garri
son so demoralized as, in the judgment of the flag
()Meer, to render the passage of the fleet possible.
Accordingly, on the morning of time 24th, the fleet
was directed to move forward, and the vessels passed
time forts under it terrific fire of more than one hun
dred gnus that had not been dismantled by the bom
bardment, encountering not only the batteries, and
strong current of the river but steamers, fire-ships,
iron-clads, rams, rafts, chains, nnd every obstruction
that the ingenuity - and ability of the insurgents
could interpose to prevent them.
The attacking squadron was formed in two co
lumns, one under the command of Flag-officer Far
ritgut, and the other under the orders of Captain
Theodorus Bailey. In this terrible conflict, and as
the fleet moved up the river toward the city, it over
came and destroyed eighteen armed steamers and
other vessels of the enemy, including three iron
clad rams, two of which, the Louisiana and the
Manassas, were batteries of Immense power. All
the carefully prepared obstructions to the naviga
tion of the river were broken through or avoided,
and on the morning of the 29th of April Flag-officer
Farragut was enabled to announce to the Depart
ment that the flag of the Union again waved over
the city of New Orleans, and Forts Jackson and St.
Philip. A great quantity of arms and munitions
'were surrendered with the forces that defended
the forts whilst a vast destruction of property with
in the city had been effected by the insurgents, in
order to prevent it from falling into our hands. No
thing was wanting to complete the grandeur of this
most triumphant and arduous achievement. The ca
pitulation of the city to our arms, recklessly and
persistently obstructedby the desperation of the city
authorities, was at last completed through the judg
ment, patience, and resolute determination of our
officers, without the shedding of innocent blood.
The insurgent garrison, strong as it was in numbers,
fled with precipitation, and the troops under Gene
ral Butler having been securely landed, the custody
of the city was delivered to him and the army.
Thus the great Southern depot of the trade of the
immense central valley.of the Union was once more
opened to commercial intercourse, and the empo
rium of that wealthy region was restored to national
authority; the mouth of the Mississippi was under
our control, and an outlet for the great West to the
ocean was secured, so soon as the squadron, which
was ordered to proceed up the river, should form a
junction with the flotilla on the waters of the Upper
Illissis.sippi, which was to light its way down, aided
by an adequate co-operating military force to retain
and hold the important points along its shores.
This great blow struck just terror to the heart of
the whole rebellion. It was regarded everywhere,
both at home and abroad, as the grandest achieve
ment:of the war, and as one of the most remarkable
triumphs in the whole history of naval operations.
I do not attempt, in this place, to give the details of
this expedition, nor to assign to the different officers
by whom it was conducted their respective claims to
the praise and gratitude of their country. The
graphic narratives of the actors themselves, in their
official reports, have been spread before the country
by order of Congress. Suffice it now to say that
no terms of commendation can overstate the merits
of the officers who achieved this •rreat success, and
who have been themselves the first and most earnest
to commend the valor, the devotion, and the unsur
passed skill of their subordinates, and of the brave
men under their command.
,OPETIATIONS ON THE -MISSISSIPPI.
Near Admiral Parrngut despatched detachments
of his squadron up the river to clear its passage, and
capture and lake possession of the principal places.
Commander Palmer arrived off Baton Rouge with
the Iroquois Play Ith!and demanded its surrender,
the conditions to be the same as at New ' , Orleans.
The authorities declined to yield the city volunta
tarity, and whilst pleading their defenceless condi
lion, were not free from a tone of arrogance. , The
next clay Commander Palmer proceeded abreast of
the arsenal, landed a force. and took possession of
the same, together with other public property, anti
hoisted the American flag.
Play 12th, .the Iroquois, with other gunboats, an
diet ed off Natchez, the surrender of which was also
demanded by Commander Palmer, upon ,the same
eonditions as at New Orleans and Baton Bouge, that
is, the rights anti property of peaceable citizens
should be respected, all property of the rebel Go
vernment should be given up, and the flag of the
1: sited States should wave over the city unmolested
and respected. Although Commander Palmer "de
ferred taking possession of Natchez—the place hav
ing never been occupied as a military position nor
the insurgent flag hoisted officially over it—yet the
town was virtually surrendered, and the mayor is
sued his proclamation enjoining the citizens to pre
seive good order anti commit no act to provoke the
displeasure of the Government of the United
States.
Commander S. P. Lee, commanding the advance
of the squadron, arrived near - Vicksburg May 18,
and under orders front Flag-officer Farragut and
Major General Butler, demanded the surrender of
the place and its defences to the lawful authority of
the United States, under which private Property
and personal rights would be respected. The de
mand was peremptorily and defiantly declined by
both the civil anti military authorities present, and
Commander Lee asked the removal of the women
and children beyond the reach of harm, so that it
might be at his option to fire or not fire, as he thought
proper, upon the defences of the town,..withoitt
musing the loss of innocent life.
Bear Admiral VarragUt arrived a few days after
wards, aemnpanied by a column of troops, under
General Williams. Subsequently An additional
naval and military force,. including the Mortar
flotilla, was brought up, and preparations were
made for passing anti attacking the batteries. These
batteries were placed upon the heights of Vicks-
I lung, Peareely within the reach of the guns of the
squadron, and were supported by a large artily in the
tear.
Olt the 28th June the mortar vessels commenced
the bombardment. Tlte batteries were silenced by
the eumbined tire of the squadron and flotilla at
11ozem ; but there being an insufficient land force to
co-operate, after the steamers passed, the insurgents
let u, ned to their guns.
Returning, Flag-officer Farragut reached Nfw Or
' leans July '2Bth, and, leaving an adequate tbree at
PHILADELPHIA, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 1862.
that place and Baton Rouge, sailed again, the 11th
of August, for Ship Island and Pensacola. The
latter place having been evacuated by the rebels, it
has been made the depot of the Western Gulf squad
ron. The destruction at and about the navy yard,
which the insurgents seized during the late Adminis
tration, has been very great. some few of the
buildings remain uninjured, and the advantages of
the place for a depot were superior to those of Ship
Island, which had for some time previous been used
for that purpose. -
While the Essex, Kineo, Katandcn, and Sumpter
were lying off'Baton Rouge a vigorous attack was
made by the insurgents, August sth, on the com
mand of General Williams, occupying that place,
and itsiecaptu re attempted by a largely superior force
led by General Breckinridge, late Vice President.
The gunboats were immediately placed in position
to give assistance, if required. The relative posi
tions of the forces were such that the gunboats
Could not, with snfety,'be made available to out ,
troops until late in the day, when they' loured a are
into the rebels' ileft wing which caused - them to
wthdraw in haste and fall back several Miles.' •
A simultaneous attack, by land and water, ap
pears to have been the design of . the enemy, The
rebel ram Arkansawhich was to have taken part
in it. remained a s distance above Baton Rouge,
and the next morikrig the Essex proceeded iip•the
river and encountered her, and after a short engage
ment the Arkansas was abandoned and blew up.
clll. 3 'i ÜBE OF GALVESTOIC ANO OTHER
MMNMEM
About the. middle of 'September Acting Volunteer
Lieutenant J. W. Kittredge, commanding the United
States bark Arthur, was sent with his own • vessel
and the steamer Sachem, by Bear Admiral Farritgut,
to take possession of Corpus Christi and the . Aa
cent waters. Ile succeeded well, and made several
captures, and compelled the rebels to burn many
vessels. Subsequently, however, Acting Lieutenant
- Itittredge, while on shore, was, with his boat's ceeW,.
surprised and captured.
A little later Acting Master Francis Crocker,
commanding the steamer Kensington, with that ves
sel and the schooners Rachel Seaman and Henry
Janes, -captured the defences of Sabine city, and
took possession thereof. Acting Master .Crocker
then proceeded on an expedition to Calcasierielake
and river, and succeeded in capturing and destroying
Several vessels'of the enemy, engaged in violating
.the blockade.
On the 4th of October Commander W. B. Rea- •
Shaw, of the United States steamer Westfield, with
that vessel, the Harriet Lane, Owasco,. and Clifton,
captured the defences of •the harbor and city of Gal
veston, there having been only a feeble resistance.
Our vessels and transports passing up and down
the Mississippi have been annoyed by frequent at
tacks from guerillas and concealed batteries. In .
many instances these attacks have been made from
villages, the parties engaged in them presuming that
.the fire would not be returned to endanger innocent
life. To check the practice it - has been necessary,
after giving due notice, to fire upon and destroy, to
some extent, the towns from which the attacks were
made. This was a punishment by no - Means con
sistent with the feelings of those inflicting it-, but
one that necessitydemanded. Natchez, Grand G-ulf,
and Donaldsonville littre been subjected to it. It is
not' inappropriate to, mention in this connection that
~. the - service hpsj,e..4e4Ltly,fi,i,lffeWlilie'loss . of .ii most.
',- promising an
.galliult . ) - oUng officer, Lieut. Charles
H.
t
:Swnsey, o • the gunboat Sciota, who wai killed
on the 4th of ctober last, by a shoefrornh concealed'
battery near Donaldsonville, Louisiana. . ZieUr-
Swasey had served with distinction as : eXecutlVO' , .
officer of the Varuna, in the battles of the 'Missis
sippi, through which he escaped without injury, but
to lose his life a few Months later by the fire of a
hidden enemy.
WESTERN FLOTILLA
When Flag-officer Foote Rrrivcd. at St. Louis, and,.
on the 6th of September, 1361, assumed command of
the Western llotiJln, the forces oonsisted of three
wooden vessels in commission, which had beeti pur
chased, equipped, and armed as gunboats, by ecnit
mander John Rodgers; and there were nine iron
clad gunboata and thirty-eight mortar boats in course
of construction.
The service was anomalous in its character, and
there was with many great incredulity as to the
utility and practicability of gunboats iu carrying on
hostilities on the rivers, where it was bElieved bat
teries on the banks could prevent their passage.
There were also embarrassments for want of funds
and of material for naval purposes ' there being no
y
navy and or naval depot on the Western waters.
All these difficulties were met and surmounted by
the energetic and efficient officer to whom the duty
was entrusted, whose perseverance and courage in
overcoming the obstacles that impeded and retarded
his operations in creating s river navy were Scarcely
surpassed by the heroic qualities displayed in subse
quent well-fought actions on the decks of the gun
boats he had, under so ninny discouragementsi pre
pared.
OAPTURE OF FORTS HENRY, DONEL•
SON, izo. •
It having been ascertained in the latter part of the
winter that the stage of Water in the . Tennespie and
Cumberland rivers was favorable for active opera
tions, Flag-officer Foote; as soon as four of the irori,
clad boats were ready, urged prompt action, and
proposed to General Grant, commanding at Cairo,
ajoint attack on Fort Henry. ' That officer, though '
preferring a movement on the Cumberland and an
attack on Fort Donelson, yielded to the proposition
of the naval commander on procuring the assent of
gen. I-Iftfleck. , • '
Fort Henry was captured on the 6th of February.
The attacking force consisted of the iron-clad gun
boats Benton, (flag-ship ) , Commander N.
Stemble ; Essex, Commander W. D. Porter; Caron
dela, Commander Henry Walke,
and St. 'Louis,
Lieutenant Commanding Leonard Paulding, form
ing the first division; and the Wooden gunboat;
Conestoga, Lieutenant. Commanding S. L. Phelps;
Tyler, Lieutenant Commanding William .owirin,
and the Lexington, Lieutenant Commanding T. "W.
Shirk, forming the second division; M charge of I
Lieutenant Commanding Phelps,
astern of the first.
The firing was commenced at ON yards di4ant
by the flag-ship, the others followilig in succession,
and continued while the fleet steamed slowly to
within six hundred yards of the fort.; After a closely
contested action of an hour and a qUarter the colors
of the fort lowered; the flag of the UniOn was sub
atitutcd for the emblem- :of Secessiop,; General
Tilghman his staff, and sixty or seventy of his men,'
were received as prisoners, together with a hospital
ship containing sixty invalids,
the' frrati and its
effects, twenty guns, znostly of heavy calibre, and
barracks and tents capable of accommodating quite
an army, which were turned over to Gen - eral (3-rant,
on his arrival nn hour afterwards, with the forces
wider his command. The joint attack was to have
been made by land and water on the enemy's work,
but - was frustrated by the bad condition of the
roads; Which delayed the army miclorivod it of
the pleasure as well as the glory of "paMeipating in
the capture of Fort Henry. ' ' -
Lieutenant Commanding Phelps, on an order pre
viously given, proceeded with the three gunboats up
the Tennessee river. He ascended as far as Florence,
Arabania, the foot of the muscle shoals. This expe
dition was fruitful in 'important results. Several,
prizes were taken—one of thein, , the fine steamer
Eastport, in the act of being converted into a gun
boat. Large quantities of stores were captured, and
the insurgents were lavish in destroying others to
prevent them falling into our hands ; they also de
stroyed many of their vessels. This sudden pene
tration to the very heart of the insurgents' country
was doubtless as unexpected as it was alarming and
disastrous to them.
From Fort Henry, the field of his late 'success,
Flag-officer Foote proceeded with his flotilla to the
Cumberland river to make an attack upon Fort
Donelson. On the 14th of February, with founiron,
clads and two wooden gunboats, he engag,cd that fort
and its adjacent water batteries. With his reduced
force he had to contend against more vigorous works
than he had met on the Gth at Fort Henry. After a
severe fight of an hour and a half, during which he
was 'seriously wounded, and when he was on the
point of enfilading the fort, and the rebellire had
materially aekened, two of the gunboats were dis
abled in t it steering apparatus, and the remaining
boats re red for the night. The rebels were so great
ly' demoralized that they could not be brought into
effective action on the following day which resulted
in the defeat of the insurgents, and the'surrender of
Fort Donelson to the army the next morning.
With two gunboats Flag-officer Foote proceeded
Up the Cumberland on the 19th of February,,and
seized Clarksville and the three forts which defended
the city and river, and issued a proclamation to the
Inhabitants.
In view of the panic which pervaded not only
Clarksville, but the rebel army, which were fleeing
to Nashville, Flag-officer Foote pressed upon Gen.
Grant an immediate pursuit, with four thousand
troops, to that place. Orders were received, how
ever, from the general-in-chief of the Western de
partment, prohibiting the gunboats from proceeding
higher up than Clarksville.
In consequence of these orders the flag-officer re
turned to Cairo, and only two gunboats were with
the army when possession was taken of Nashvilleon
•the 27th of February.
The Tennessee and Cumberland rivers tare the
thoroughfares and outlets of a rich agricultural re
gion, and the elaborate fortifications which had
been erected and garrisoned with a view of con
trolling the imvigation indicate the importance
with which the insurgents regarded them. The
rapid clearance of both these rivers, and the for
midable character of the gunboats, which became at
once a power and a terror on the Western waters,
disconcerted and dismayed the rebels.. Forts Henry
and Donelson, with Nashville and Clarksville, and
other places. having fallen, the insurgents became
alarmed in their stronghold at. Columbus, on the
Mississippi, lest the possession of those places
should cut off their communications with the rebel
army.
OPERATIONS ON THE. MISSISSIPPI.
" On the 4th of March a force of gunboats, with
transports conveying troops, moved upon Columbus,
but an armed reconnoissance of the, 2d • had so
alarmed the garrison as to cause the place to be
evacuated without delay; and when our forces land
ed, the forts, though of great strength, were unoc
cupied. .
Keeping in view the purpose of opening the naviL
gallon of the river, Flag-officer Foote left Cairo on
the 14th of March, with seven iron-clads and ten
mortar boats, and having been joined by. Colonel
Buford, with fifteen hundred troops, at Columbus;
moved down and took possession of Hickman. Ar
riving the next day In the vicinity of Island No. 10,
the mortar vessels, in charge of Captain Maynadier, .
of the army, were placed imposition and shelled out
several encampments.
A siege of .twenty-three days took place, during
which a canal was cut to admit the light transports
to reach the army of Gen. Pope, at New Madrid,
below No. 10, and enable him to cross to the Ten
nessee shore. The guns at No. 1 battery were
spiked, and the Pelican Dock, or New Orleans float
ing battery, was shelled out of the channel that two
of the gunboats might run the blockade and get
past, as they did at night in a heavy thunder-storm,
under a tremendous fire from .forty-seven guns,
aided by infantry. Several batteries, erected to pry!
vent the army of General Pope from crossing, were
demolished by these two gunboats, and the landing
was effected. This result being accomplished after
persistent and severe struggles and conflicts, the
rebel commander became convinced that he could
not avoid defeat from a combined assault, and there
fore on the 9th of April, surrendered Island No. 10
to t ' he commander of the naval forces. Thus it
would appear that in the capture of Fort Henry
and Island No. JO not a gun was fired by the army
except from the command of Colonel Buford, which,
at the latter place, co-operated with the navy. There
were eleven batteries on the island and adjacent
shores, mounting upwards of seventy-five guns,
from'w2 tome-pounders.
.One rebel gunboat, four transports, and immense
munitions of war and ninny prisoners fell into our
hands by this important capture. .
hi pursuance of the first great duty enjoined upon
hini t that of reopening the navigation of the Missis
sippi, Flag-officer Foote proceeded to the vicinity of
Fort Pillow. Arriving on the 12th. of April, he was
on the next day joined by General Pope and his
ai my.
. mingements were proMptly made by •the two
commanders for an immediate combined attack upon
the fortilleationa, with every confidence of success;
but, just upon the point of execution, an order from
General Halleck for the army to reinforce him at
Corinth frustrated the well-matured plans that had
been made.
Flag-officer Foote, suffering from the long-ne
glected wound he received at Fort Donelson was, on
the 9th of May, relieved by the Department, on the
advice of the surgeons, of the command of the flo
tilla which was transferred to Captain Charles H.
Davis.
CAPTURE OF FORT. PILLOW AND MEM
PHIS.
The Int ter was scarcely introduced to his command
before he had vigorOus work to .perfornt. lin the
11th of Nay an attack, for which the rebel fleet lying
below Fort Pillow had been long 'prepering, was
made upon the flotilla. This fleet' of eight iron-clad
steamers, four of them fitted as rams, steamed up
fully prepared for an engagement, and the flotilla
was quickly in motion - to receive them. An action
of an hour at the closest quarters followed, at the
end of which the enemy retreated under the guns of
Fort Pillow, three of their gunboats having been
disabled.
The flotilla occupied a nearer position to Fort Pil
low after this engagement, and the ram fleet under
Colonel Eliot joined Fing-officer Davis, and on the
sth of June Fort Pillow was abandoned.
The flotilla moved down the river, and on the eve
ning of•the 7th anchored a mile and a half above
Memphis. The next morning the rebel fleet of eight
gunboats and rams was discovered opposite the city.
The flotilla came up with and engaged them. The
ram fleet pressed into action under full steam, the
gunboats in the meantime keeping up a continuous
and well-directed fire. The rebel gunboats General
Beauregard and Little Rebel blew up, and the
Queeniof the 'West, commanded by Colonel Eliot in
personi encountered the General Lovell and sunk her.
A running fight followed, carrying the vessels seve
ral miles below Memphis, and resulting in the cap-,
turn or destruction of the entire rebel fleet, except
the Van Dorn, which succeeded in escaping. Our loss
was trifling. The rebels suffered severely from the
exploding and sinking of their vessels.
At the close of the engagement Flag Officer Davis
returned to Memphis and demanded the surrender
of the pity - -which was complied with, Col. Fitch
arriving at 12 ,o'clock from Fort Pillow and taking
military possession.
On the 29th of June - Flag-officer Davis left Mem
phis with a part of his flotilla and six mortar boats,
and the 2d of July following joined Rear Admiral
Farr-rigid above Ticksbiug, the latter officer, with a
portion of his squadron, having arrived there a few
days preVious. Demonstrations were continued by
the combined squadrons, at intervals,. on the de
fences of Vicksburg, fcir some days, the mortar ves
eels of each squadron bombarding from both above
annelciw.
An-expedition was sent, on the 15th of July, to
procure information respecting the obstructions and
-defences of the Yazoo but the river was scarcely en
tered wh&f the rebel ' iron-clad ram Arkansas was
encountered, coming down. After a severe fight
with the Carondelet and Tyler, in which they were
partially disabled, the- Arkansas entered the Missis
slink passed the fleets of Farragut and Davis, and
toeirrefuge 'under the batteries at 'Vicksburg. An
attempt to, destroy her, under the guns of the bat
tery, did•not succeed: •
~4-There not-being a suffloient military force to co
. !operate in the reiluction of 'Vicksburg, the scheme
was for the time, abandoned, and, late in July, Flag
officer Davis withdrew his command. to the mouth
of fife 'Yazoo. In Augusta joint expedition was
planned between Flag-officer Davis and General
Curtis for operations up the Yazoo, which was en
tirely successful, resulting in the capture of
battery of heavy guns, field' pieces, munitions of
war, &e.
June 13th a detachment from the squadron, under
the command of Corfiniander A. H. Keity, with the •
46t1k1ndiana Regiment, under Colonel Fitch left
Memphis for White river, their object being to ' form
A junction with General Curtis. .
On the morning .ot.the 17th they arrived at the
, rebel fortifications near St. Charles, Arklinsad, upon
• which an attack was commenced by the gunboats,
'whilst Colonel Fitch landed' for the purpose of its
• saulting the rear. The enemy's. first. battery was
cnrried by the gunboats, and..ColoneLPitch gallantly
charged the second battery, rind earrlNl it without
the loss of a single mane ' .
The alountl - city, in--the lead, was damaged by a
-shot Whickentered and exploded-in her steam drum,
,large portion of her" officers '
• "
- , - ,The.;gunbonts Tyler, Lieut.. Own's' Gwinn, and
- Leihigton; tient. Coni'g James. W. Shirk, Of the
Western flotilla, have been most actively and use
fully employed on the Tennessee river. They have
generally preceded the "march of our army south
ward on the line of that river, convoying the trans
ports, clearing the banks of rebel batteries, and
frustrating attempts bf the insurgents to fortify.
- Frequently under fire, and affording protection to
loyal citizens and their property within their reach,
these gunboats have made a lasting record of their
seii - ices by their participation in the battle of
Shiloh, or Pittsburg Landing. Finding our army
Seemed back .towards the river by . overwhelming
numbers, those two vessels selected convenient po
sitions fur shelling,-the rebels, and from 3 to 6 P. M.
were throwing shot and shell into their ranks with
effect. The Tyler alone, on this occasion, discharged
188 shells..' '
•
: VESSELS ON FOREIGN. SERVICE.
Commodore Montgomery was relieved by Commo
dore Charles R. Bell, in the command of the squad
ron on the Pacific station, on the 2d of January last.
Thnvessels composing the squadron are the steam
sloops Lancaster (flag-ship), Saranac, Wyoming.
and Narraganset, and sloops-of-war Oyane and St,
Mary's: in June the Wyoming was detached and
ordered to the East Indies. The several vessels
have frequently visited the principal Mexican and
. South AmeriCan ports in the Pacific, and our coin
- meree and citizens have received from them all re
gutted protection.
The steam sloop Wyoming is at present the only
'United States vessel-of-war on the East India °sta.
tion, though the sloop. Jamestown is on her way
:thither. No information of the disturbance of our
-.lorunieree: by piratical vessels or privateer's in the
-. - Eastandian waters has been received. .
. The sloop-of-war Constellation, Commodore R. K.
• Thatcher, has been cruising in the Mediterranean
'since last spring. She has visited some of the com
mercial ports of the . Levant, and her presence has,
doubtless; been conducive of good results. No dis
turbance.,of our commerce has occurred in that
quarter. •
The small steamer Pulaski has been the only ves
sel on the Brazil station during the year, and I am
happy to state that nothing has arisen requiring the
presence of an additional force, either to secure the
rights of our citizens or the safety and.protection
of our commerce, both of which have been respected
anti protected..
The
The Saratoga has been the only vessel on the Af
rican station.
. The Tuscarora, for some time, watched the rebel
stealner Nashville at Southampton, and then block
aded the Sumpter at Gibralter. She was relieved
• fn the latter duty by the Kearsarge, and endeavored
to prevent the escape of the 290. She is now in
pursuit of this pirate.
The St. Louis has been cruising from tne Azores
to the-coast- of , Portugal. and .Spain, in
search of the 290, or Alabama.
• The Chippewa has been sent to relieve the Kear
-Barge in blockading the Sumpter, and the latter Veil;
se] at Ifistadvices,-was also in pursuit of the 290.
The Vanderbilt, the 'San Jacinto, the Mohican,
the Sabine, the Dacotah, - the Onward, and the Ino,
are severally . cruising to protect our commerce, and
have specially in view the capture of the 290, or any
piratical cruiser.
PRIVATEERS.
The rebel armed steamer Sumpter, which, after
committing many depredations, was, at the date of
my last reporyleeing to escape our cruisera r crossed
the Atlantip. ..Shewai tracked to Gibraltar, where
she has since remained, one of our cruisers vigi
lantly- guarding her from Algesiras. With this ex
ception, no other armed vessel has plundered our
commerce or inflicted injury on our countrymen
until within a recent period, when a steamer known
as 290, or Alabama, built and fitted out in England—
a vessel that had not been in any port or visited any
waters but those of Great Britain—went forth from
the shores of that country, ravaging, sinking, burn
ing,.and destroying the property of our merchants,
who, knowing our peaceful relations with England,
and uninformed that such a cruiser had been permit
ted to leave Great Britain, were unprepared for such
assault and devastation.
How far and to what results this abuSe.lllflX be
carried with impunity to the Government which
tolerates it is matter of grave consideration. The
piratical privateer 290, or Alabama, has no register
nor record, no regular ship's papers nor evidence of
transfer, and no vessel captured by her has 'ever been
sent into any port for adjudication and condemnation.
All.forms of law which civilization has introduced
to protect and guard private rights, and all those re
gulations of public Justice which distinguish and
discriminate the legalized naval vessel from the
pirate, are disregarded and violated by this lawless
rover, which, though built in and sailing from Eng
land, has no acknowledged flag or recognized nation
. ality, nor any accessible port to which to send any
'ship she may seize, nor any legal tribunal to adjudge
hermaptures. Under the English flag, in which they
confided, and by the torch of the incendiary, appeal
ing to their humanity, our merchantmen have been
lured to destruction.
She was built and fitted out in British ports in
flagrant violation of British law and - of the royal
proclamation of neutrality, and I have reason to
believe that her crew is composed almostexclusively
of British subjects, or persons who, pursuing a law
ful voyage, would be entitled to ship and receive
.protection as British seamen.
Before this piratical cruiser left Great Britain the
authorities of that country were informed by the
recognized official agents of this Government of her
character and purposes. The British Government,
thus invoked, came too late to prevent her sailing.
To what extent. under these circumstances, the Go
vernment of Great Britain is bound, in honor and
justice, to make indemnification for the destruction
of private property which this lawless vessel may
perpetrate, is a question that may present itself for
disposal. It is alluded to now and here, not only
front a sense of duty towards our commercial inte
rests and rights, but also by reason of the fact that
recent intelligence indicates thatstill other vessels,
of a similar character, are being fitted out in British
ports to depredate upon our commerce.
Our own cruisers not being permitted to remain
in British ports to guard against these outrages, nor
to coal while. cruising, nor to repair damages in
their harbors when injuries are sustained, the arrest
of them is diffiqult and attended with great un
certainty. This - Department has despatched vessels
to effect . the capture of the Alabama, and there is
now quite a fleet on the ocean . engaged in pursuing
her.
THE NAVAL FORC
When I entered upon the discharge of my public
duties, as the head of this Department, in March,
1861, there were but 42 vessels in commission', arid,
as stated in my last annual report, but 76 vessels
then attached to the navy have been made available.•
Most of those in commission were abroad, and of
the 7,600 seamen in the pay of the Government
there were on the 10th of March 1861, but 207 men in
all the ports and receiving ships on the Atlantic
coast to man our ships, and protect the navy yards.
and depots, or to aid in suppressing the rising insur—
rection.
Neither the expiring• Administration, nor Convess,
which had been in session until the 4th of March,
had taken measures to increase or strengthen. our
naval power, notwithstanding the lowering aspect of
our public affairs ; so that when a few weeks after
the inauguration I desired troops for the protection:
of the public property at Norfolk-and Annapolis, or
sailors to man and remove the vessels, neither. sol
diers nor sailors could be procured. There were no.
men to man our ships, nor were the few ships at our•
yards in a condition to be put into immediate ser
vice.
The proclamation of April, placing our entire coast
from the mouth of the Chesapeake to the Rio.
Grande under blockade, found us with a naval force,
even were every vessel on Our.
.coast, inadequateto.
'the work required.
1 have in my former reports at the special session
in July, 1861, and in December last, made full expo
sition of the steps which were promptly taken to re
call our foreign squadrons, and the progress which
had been made in augmenting our navy by repairing
anti fitting, as expeditiously as possible, every
available vessel owned by the Government, by pur
, chasing such others as could be made speedily useful
in guarding our. shallow and peculiar coast, and by
rapidly constiucting as many steamers as could be
built at our navy yards, and employing, to the ex
tent that we could procure materials, engines, and
machinery, the resources. of the country in adding
others from private shipartis. The result is, that
we have at thin time afloat or progressing to rapid
completion a naval force consisting of 427 vessels,
there hartn7.., been added to those of the old navy
enumerated in my report of July, 11161, exclusive of
those that were lost, 115.1 vessels, armed in the aggre
gate with 1,577 guns, and of the capacity at 510,6'8
tons.
- .
The annals of the world do not show so great an
increase In so brief a period to the naval power of
any country. It affords me satisfaction to state
that the acquisitions made to the navy from the
commercial marine have proved to be of an excel
lent character, and though these were not
built fps war purposes, rind consequently have not
the strength of war vessels, they have performed all
the service that was expected of them. No equal
amount of tonnage was ever procured for any ser
vice at prices correspondingly low, and with so little
"disturbance to the commercial community; and no
vessels were ever constructed on better terms for the
Government, or have better subserved the purposes
for which they were designed, than the twenty-three
gunboats for which the Department contracted on
its own responsibility at the commencement of hos
tilities, without waiting for the action of Congress.
In no respect, during this war, has the Government
been better or more economically and faithfully
served than in the additions that have been made by
construction and purchase to the navy.
In order that the actual condition of the navy,
past and present, from 'March 4, 1861, to November,
1662, and the expansion which has-been made, may
be seen, I present a tabular statement of the number
of vessels, and the aggregate of their a rmament and
tonnage, with a detailed account of the losses that
hat e occurred since my last annual report ;
LAVAL FORCE AT THE DATE OF THE LAST
ANNUAL REPORT.
Description
Old nay) ; '
'Purchased vvr:sels
New VeSSPIS completed nud under
construction
PRESENT NAVAL PORDE.
Description. No. Guns. Tons.
Old navy 74 1,601 100,008
Purchased c Aids 180 GSS 80,010
Transferred from War and Trea
sury Departments 00 2.3(1 32,03
New vessels. completed and under
construction ' 69 '120,2/0
Total 427 3,268 340,036
Increase since last reported.... 163 711 122,03
LOSSES BY SHIPWRECK AND IN BATTLE.
Steamer IL 13. Forbes, 3 guns, 329 tons, wrecked
February, 1882, coast of North Carolina.
Frigate Congress,. 60 guna, 1,867 tons, in action
with Merrimac, March 8, 1862.
Sloop-of-war Cumberland, 24 guns, 1,726 tons, in
action with Merrimac, March 8, 1862.
Steamer Whitehall, 4 guns, 323 tons, at Old Point,
March 9, 1862, by fire.
Mortar schooner M. I Carlton, 3 guns, 178 tons,
attack 'on Forts Jackson and St. Philip, April 19,'63.
Steamer Yaruna, 9 guns, 1,300 tons, in action with
rebel gunboats below New Orleans, April 24, 1862.
Mortar schooner Sidney C. Jones, 3 . guns, 245 tons,
grounded below Vicksburg, and burned to prevent
falling into the hands of the enemy.
Steamer Island Belle, 2 guns, 123 tons, grounded
in Appomattox river June, 1962, and burned to pre
vent falling into the liana of the enemy.
Screw sloop Adirondack, 9 guns, 1,240 tons, wrecked
near Abaco August 23, 1862.
Steamer Henry Andrew, 3 guns, 1'77 tons, wrecked
in a gale near 041 e Henry August 24, 18e2.
Steam ram Sumpter, 2 guns, 400 tons, grounded in
Mississippi rivet and abandoned. Total, 112 guns
• and 7,908 tons.
ADDED SINCE FOURTH OF MARCH., 1861,
(Exclusive of Those lost.)
)3y purcirisc ...... • •
By . transfer • • • •
By construction
ADDED BY CONSTRUCTION
Description
2d-class Screw al'E-of-war
Screw gunboats
Side-wheel gunboats'
Armored wooden vessolu
Armored iron vessels..
IRON-CLAD NAVY
No of
Description.vess.
vessels.
(It'll's• Tons.
ScabOard.
Armored wooden vessels.. 8 6 19,055
Armored iron vessel- 20 42 22,611
ll'e,,rterarfrer.t. .
Armored wooden ves.sels.. 4 9 1,358
Armored 'wooden VeSSON,
transf'd from:War Ilen't. 10 .122 6,284
Armored iron vessels • 12 32 10,020
- •
64 261 59,808
NAVY ON WESTERN WATERS
,Description. , N , e t u l ti. I Gnus. I To.
Armored vessels.l 26 I 261 I . oroas
Wooden
gunboats. 18 I 79 6, , 1
38
Transports and ordnance'
10
Fteatners. ..... .
Aimed tugs
When the vessels now under construction are coin
pleted, the Navy will consist of—
SAILING VESSELS
Description. No. Guns. Tons.
Ships-of-the-line .G 604 16.194
Frigates 0 319 10,237
Sloops-ot•-war 16 29 14,305
Brigs 4 20 909
Ships, including store a lid receiving
vessels.•. 23 139 18,087
Schooners 29 91 5,821
Barks 18 92 8,432
Yachts 2 200
Total 1101 1,415 74,175
STEAM VESSELS.
Description. No. (Inns. Tons.
Screw frigates 5 228 18,272
Screw sloops, lst class 8 133 11,961
,Screw sloops. 25 class. 21 167 23,902
Screw gunboats (new) 27 • 103 14,033
iron-clad vessels 61 261 69,60 S
Side-wheel frigates ' 4 40 8,003
Side-wheel gunboats, (new) 30 296 36;137
Side-wheel gunboats, (old navy)._ 5 11 2,190
Screw steamers, (purchased) 58 215 23,490
Fide-wheel steamers, (Purchased).. 63 25n 38.017
Screw-steamers, (old navy) 6 27 2,•3(10
Gunboats transports, &c., transfer
red from other departments . 40 103 20,544
Total 3231 1,353 265,951
EI:CAPITULATION.
Description. No. Units. I Tons.
Sailing vessels. 101 1,415 74,176
Ste:un vessels 323 1,863 205,861
. --
Total 427 3,20.1 340,036
IRON-CLAD VESSELS
.
The attention of this Department was turned to
the subject of iron-clad vessels immediately after
the commencement of hostilities, and the adoption
of measures for the enlargement ,of the navy. It
was a subject full of difficulty and doubt.• Experi
ments upon a large scale of expense, both in Eng
land and France, if not resulting in absolute failure,
had achieved but a limited and questionable sue
tess. Yet it was evident that a new and material
element in maritime warfare was developing itaelf,
and demanded immediate attention. In this view I
recommended to Congress-, at its extra session, on
the 4th of July, 1861, the whole subject, and asked
authority to organize a commission for investiga
tion.. Thirty days after this action on my part, Con
gress conferred the authority requested, and appro
priated fifteen hundred thoultand dollars for the con
struction of one or more iron-clad vessels upon such
models as should receive the approval of the Depart
ment.'
On the day after the law had been approved the
commission was constituted, and the Department
advertised.for proposals. Of the various plans and
propositions submitted, three vessels of different
models were recommended by the board, which re
ceived the approval of the Department. Contracts
were forthwith made for 'constructing the Monitor,
the Galena, and the Ironsides.. All of these vessels
are now in the service. It. was the intention and
constant effort of the Department and the contrac
tors that the Monitor should be completed in the
month of January, but there was delay in conse
quence of the dithculties incident to an undertaking
of such novelty and magnitude, and there were also
- some slight defects, which were, however, promptly
remedied ! and she left New York early in March,
reaching Hampton Roads on the night of the 8111.
Her arrival, though not as soon as anticipated,
was most opportune and important. For sonic time
the Department had heard, with great solicitude, of
the progress which the insurgents had made in 11.1 , -
ori ng and equipping the large war steamer Merri
mac, which had fallen into their hands when Nor
folk was abandoned. On the afternoon of the Bth
of March this formidable vessel, heavily armored
'and armed, and fully prepared to operate both as a
ram and a war 'steamer, came down the Elizabeth
river, accompanied by several smaller steamers, two
of them partially armored, to attack the vessels of the
blockading squadron that were In and about Hamp
ton Roads. 'When the Merrimac and her attendants
made their appearance, the Congress and the Cum
berlind, two sailing vessels were anchored off New
port News,
and the remaining vessels were in the
vicinity of Fortress MonroC, some six miles distant.
The Minnesota, the Roanoke, and the St. Lawrence
got immediately Under way, and proceeded towards
the scene of action.
. .
• The Congress, being nearest to the Merrimac, was
the find to receive her fire, which was promptly re
turned by a full broadside, the shots falling appa
rently harmlessly off from the armored side of the
assailant. Passing by the Congress, the Merrimac
dashed upon the Cumberland, and was received by
her with a heavy, well4iireeted, and vigorous fire,
which, like that of the Congress, produced, unfor
tunately, but little effect. A contest so unequal
could not be of long continuance, and it was closed
when the Merrimac, availing herself of her power
as a steam ram, ran furiously against the Cumber
land, laying open her wooden hull, and causing her
almost immediately to sink. As her guns approached.
the water's edge, her young commander, Lieutenant
Morris, and the gallant crew, stood firm at their posts,
delivered a parting tire, and the good ship,wentdown
heroically, with her colors flying.
Having thus destroyed the Cumberland, the Mer
rimac turned again upon the Congress, which had,
in the meantime, been engaged with the smaller
rebel steamers, and, after a heavy loss, in order to
guard against such a fate as that Arhich had befallen
the Cumberland, had been run aground. The Mer
rimac now selected a raking position astern of the
Congress, while one of the smaller steamers poured
in a constant fire on her starboard quarter. Two
other steamers of the enemy also approaChed from
James river, firing upon the unfortunate frigate with
precision and severe effect. The guns of the Con
gress were almost entirely disabled, and her gallant
commanding officer, Lieutenant Joseph B. Smith,
had fallen at his post. Her decks were strewn with
the dead and dying; the ship was on tire in several
places, and not a gun could be brought to bear upon
the assailants. In this state of things, and with no
effectual relief at hand, the senior surviving officer,
Lieutenant Pendergrast, felt it his duty to save fur
ther useless destruction of life by hauling down his
colors. This was done about four o'clock P. M.
The Congress continued to burn till about eight in
the evening, and then blew up.
From the Congress the Merrimac turned her at
tention to the remaining veSseLs.of the squadron.
The Roanoke haul grounded on her way to the scene
of the conflict ; and although she succeeded in get
ting off, her condition was such—her propeller being
useless—that she. took .no part in the action. The
St. Lawrence also grounded near the Minnesota,
and had a short engagement with the Merrimac, but
suffered uo serious injury, aud, on getting afloat,.
was ordered heck to Fortress Monroe. •
_ .
•The Minnesota, which had also got aground in
the shallow waters of the channel, became the spe
cial object of attack, and the MerriMae, with the
Yorktown and Jamestown, bore down upon her.
The 'Merrimac drew too much water to approach
'very near ;
her fire was not therefore particularly
effective. The ether steaniers selected their posi
tion, tired with much accuracy, and caused consi
derable damage to the Minnesota. She soon, how
ever, succeeded in getting a gun to bear on the two
smaller steamers, and drove them away—one, appa
rently, In a crippled conditidn. About 7 M. the
Merrimac also hauled off, and the three stood to
wards Norfolk. ,
All effbrts to get the Minnesota afloat during the
night, and into a safe position, were totally una
'
vailing. The morning was looked for with deep
anxiety, as it would, in all probability, bring a re
newed attack from the formidable assailant.. At
this critical and anxious moment the Monitor, one
of the newly finished armored vessels, came into
Hampton Roads, from New York, under the Com
mand of 'Bfent..Tohn L. Worden, and a little after
midnight anchored alongside the Minnetota. At
six o'clock the next morning the Merrimac,
as anticipated, again made her appearance and
opened her tire upon. the Minnesota. Prompt
ly obeying the signal to attack, the Monitor
ran down past the Minnesota and laid herself olose
alongside the. Merrimac, between that formidable
vessel and the Minnesota. The fierce conflict be
tween these two iron-clads lasted for several hours.
It was, in appearance, an unequal conflict, for the
Merrimac was a large and noble structure., and the
Monitor was l in comparison, almost diminutive.
But the Monitor was strong in her armor, in the in
genious novelty of her construction, in the large
calibre of her two guns, and the valorand skill with
which she was handled. After several hours' fight
ing tIM Merrimac found herself overmatched, find,
leaving the Monitor, sought to renew the attack an
the Minnesota ; but the Monitor again placed her
self between the two vessels, and reopened her fire
upon her adversary. At noon the Merriamooi
ously damaged; abandoned the contest, and, with her
companions, retreated towards..l,i,rfolii,
ILEMISIMM
76 1,783 1R3,271
136 518 71:297
.1 no. of I Guns. i Toils
Vessels.
ISO OSS 56910
SO 24J 32,828
IT3 659 ' 120,290
1,571 240,02,3
I No. et
Z Gnus. Tons
14,033
363.17
20,303
32,01
13 116
1)11
27 1
.296
12 60
32 • 74
659 120,%90
379 s7,cos
TWO CENTS.
Thus terminated the most remarkable naval com
bat of modern times, and perhaps of any age. The
fiercest and most formidable naval assault upon the
power of the Union which has ever been made by
the insurgents was heroically repelled, and a new
ern was opened in the li*tory of maritime warfare.
Before the occurrence of these events, entertain
ing a conviction that at least one of the models of
iron-eladl vessels—that of the Monitor, an original
invention of John Ericsson, of New York—would
prove.a successful experiment, and that it was par
ticularly adapted to our harbor and coast defence,
and service on the shallow waters of our sea
board, 10st - hunted, iu my annual report, last De
cember, for the immediate construction of twenty
iron-elad steamers. The House of Representatives
Promptly responded to this recommendation, and
passed a bill "authorizing and empowering the Se
cretary of the Navy to cause to be constructed, by
contract or otherwise, as he shall deem best for the
public interest, not exceeding twenty-one iron-ciad
steam gunboats." The Senate delayed action on
this bill until February, when, foreseeing that. the
country would suffer from longer inaction, I ad
dressed the chairman of the Naval Committee of
the Senate on the subject, and the result was the
immediate passage of the bill which had originated
in the House in December.
At the earliest practicable moment after the enact
ment of this law the Deparhnent commenced enter
ing into contracts for the construction of armored
vessels, moat of them on the plan of the Monitor..
The alena, a less formidable vessel, was for some
time under fire from plunging shot at Drury's Bluff,
on James river. As yet the I ronskies, recently com
pleted, has not been tested in action, but it is be
lieved she will prove a formidable fighting vessel.
That we might be prepared for extraordinary emer
gencies, it was deemed advisable to put armature on
One of our steam frigates, and the Roanoke was se
lected for that purpose.
Whatever success may attend the large and costly
armored ships of the 'Warrior class, which are !king
constructed by some of the maritime Powers of
Europe cruising in deep waters, they can scarcely
CALM Maim here, for we have within the United
States few harbors that arc accessible to them, and
for those few the Government can always he pre
pared when a foreign war is imminent. It has been
deemed advisable, however, that we should have a
'few large-sized armed cruisers, of great speed, for
Mean service, as well as of the class of smaller yes-
EC/S for coastwise and defensive operations.
In the construction of iron-clads of the Monitor
class,
the nautical qualities of the vessels have not
been the governing object, for with light draft and
heavy armament, high speed is not attainable. But
they arc adapted to the shallow waters of our coast
and harbOrs, few of which are accessible to vessels of
great magnitude.. While the larger armored vessels,
with their heavy armament, cannot nearly approach
our shores, those of the Monitor class can penetrate
even the inner waters, rivers, harbors, and bayous
of our extended double coast.
YARD AND DEPOT FOR Ali IRON-CLAD
NAVY.
In March last, turd again in June, I invited the
attention of the Naval Committees of Congress
the importance of taking prompt preliminary mea
sures for establishing a navy yard,, including, foun
dries, shops, and docks, adapted to the growing
wants of the service and the country. It was nat
that we needed an additional navy yard, but that
we required one of a different character, in many
respects, from any that we possess.
In view of the importance of posSessing', some
where in this country, a navy and dock yard for the.
purposes of au iron navy, the suggestions of the De
partment received the favorable consideration of
Congress. The city of Philadelphia, the commercial
Centre of th 6 iron and coal regions, became inte
rested in the question, and was induced to make a
free offt.r of League Island, a body of land of about
six hundred acres, near the confluence of the Dela
ware and Schuylkill rivers, to the United States, for
naval purposes. In consequence of this liberal of
fer, Congress authorized the Secretary of the Navy
to receive and accept League Island : provided, how
ever, that it should not be accepted until the title
shall be perfect to low-water mark, nor if upon a
more thorough examination and survey of the pre
mises by a competent board of officers, to be ap
pointed by the Secretary of the Navy, he shall dis
cover that the public interests will not be promoted
by acquiring the title as aforesaid ; that the board to
be appointed shall, before proceeding to any decision
of the questions referred to them, make a survey and
examination of the harbor of New London, in Con
necticut, and its surroundings, with reference to its
fitness for a naval depot. and navy yard; and that
they also make the same investigation in regard to
the waters of Narraganset bay.
Pursuant to the requirements of the act of Con
gress above referred to, I appointed, on the 12th of
August. a board of officers consisting of Rear Admi
ral Stringhtun, Commodores Van Brunt and Gard
ner, and Captain Marston, of the navy, Professor
Bathe, and Engineer Sanger, to make the required
examination and report. The board was assidu
ously engaged for over two months upon the duty
assigned it, and after completing the survey and ex
amination, revised their labor; and, upon a full dis
cussion of the subject, the members unanimously
rejected any proposition for the contemplated navy
yard on the waters of Narraganset bay. In' regard
to the two other locations, League Island and New
. ..London, and which is best adapted to the purposes
of such a navy yard and depot as is contemplated by
the law, the board was divided in opinion, and pre
sented majority and minority reports. The majority,
comprising four members award to New London the
preference over League island for a navy yard. The
minority as fully and emphatically give their pre
ferenee to League Island as possessing important re
quisites which the other does not, and as being bet
ter adapted to the special wants of the Government
and the objects of the law authorizing the appoint
ment of the commission.
Without attempting, in this place r to analyze these
voluminous reports, or to reproduce the arguments
adduced by each, I have considered it my duty to
bring the subject to the attention of Congress, and
to reiterate my opinion in favor of a new yard and
depot, better adapted to the construction of irqn
vessels and iron-clad vessels than any we now halt,
and where this description of vessels may be repaired,
or, in time of peace, laid up in ordinary. In select
ing the site for such a navy yard there are two es
sential and. controlling considerations that must
govern. One is the very great advantage (if not ab
solute necessity) of fresh water over salt water for
the preserVation of iron vessels. The other is, se
curity from an attack by a foreign enemy.' These
two primary qualities are to be had at League
Island. Iron and-coal are also in close proximity to
that location.
New London has a commodious harbor, and, -
were it less exposed, some good qualifies for a navy
yard, provided it be the intention of Congress to
establish another similar to those we now have for the
construction °L.:wooden vessels. For an iron navy,
and - for iron 'purposes, I - am not aware that it has
any advantages over Brooklyn, or Charlestown, or
Portsmouth ; and if not, Congress must determine
whether another such yard shall be established.
The Department has not suggested or contemplated
the acquisition of a yard and depot of that descrip
tion, but called attention to the growing necessity
of an eAablishnient for an iron navy. The law,
while requiring an examination of other places by a
board, authorizes' no action by the Department for
the acceptance of . any other than League Island. and
I do not, therefore, propose to canvass the merits or
demerits of New London or Narraganset bay.
League Island has the requisite of fresh water,
which is indispensable for an iron navy yard ; and Is
remote from the sea, whielprenders it a place of se
curity. The objections to it are its low alluvial soil,
the cost of raising it to a proper grade, the depth it
will be necessary to penetrate before reaching safe
bottom, and the expense of piling, on which to erect
superstructures. These arc weighty objections, and
it will require no inconsiderable egpenditure to
overcome them. In addition to those above enume
rated, is the fact that the navigation of the Delaware
river is sometimes obstructed by ice. and injury is
sometimes caused by floating ice; but there is no
river east or north of it where the objection is not
much greater.
In regard to the location of naval depots, and the
necessity of having them secure from foreign ene
mies, I cannot more distinctly and clearly present
what are the requisites than by quoting from the re
port of a very able board of eminent officers and
engineers on seacoast defences, made in 1820:
" Security against an attack by sea or land is un
doubtedly the first condition required ; for the de
struction of an establishment of this nature involves
with it the destruction of all those elements of a
naval force which have been collected ft long time
beforehand during peace, to the incalculable loss of
the public.. Such a misfortune must be severely felt
during the whole course of a war, and cannot well
be repaired whilst it continues. This indispensable
quality (security) must be obtained, as well as loca
lities will admit, without having recourse to arti
ficial fortifications; for 'these,. must be very costly,
anti, if that. expense can be avoided, the same sums
will be much more advantageously laid out in im
proving and aggrandizing the establishments Of the
depot. Thus, if equal in other respects, a place
whose site is naturally strong, and whose position
with respect to the general frontier is well covered,
Should be preferred to another that requires to be
fortified." '
"The great essential here specified of security from
attack by a foreign enemy, appertains to League Is
land, which,has, in that. respect, strong topographi
cal advantages. Its interior location might have
constituted nn objection at a former period, when
only sailing vessels were in the naval service; but
theintroduction of steam has wrought a revolution
in this respect, rendering the movements of our war
vessels independent of wind and tide. Immediate
contiguity to the ocean is no longer deemed an ad
vantage, but a disadvantage. Steam, rifled cannon,
and modern improvement in ordnance, have ren
dered harbors and depots immediately on the sea
board insecure. In a recent debate in the British
Parliament, it was emphatically urged that Ports
mouth and its immense and costly works must he
abandoned, for the reason that a naval depot should
not be within the range of five or six miles of an at
tacking force. If, then, fresh water belndispensa.ble
for a navy yard for the construction, repair, and
dockage of iron vessels, and vessels that are clad
with iron, there is no position east of the Delaware
where the' difficulties from ice do not exceed those
urged against League island, nor has any place
been prcipoSed that presents equal advantages, or is
so secure from an attack.
- • .
While there are some obvious and admitted objec
tions to League Island, no place has been proposed
that combines so many advantages, unless it be the
contracted and altogether inadequate yard at Phila
delphia. That yard may, perhaps, be extended so as
to double its present capacity, but, besides involving
a large expenditure, it would then be insufficient for
our future iron navy.
The occupation of League Island would not in
crease the number of navy yards that we now have,
for, when once in operation, the discontinuance of
the present site at Philadelphia would take place as
a matter of course, and the avails could be, and
doubtless would be, diverted to the improve
ment of the new location ; whereas, the adoption of
any other site would be the addition of another navy
yard similar in character to those we now have,
which is not 'required.
The conflicting reports, and the conditions an
nexed to the law authorizing the Secretary of the
Navy to receive and accept Leagrue Island, have
occasioned embarrassment, and 1 have therefore
deemed it respectful to delay action until Congress
should convene. As neither the harbor of New
London nor the waters of Narraganset bay are
adapted to the purposes and wants of an iron navy,
whatever may be their advantages in other respects,
and as League Island has the requisites of fresh
water. teenrity from external enemies, and proximi
ty to iron and coal, I propose to receive and accept
for the Government the munificent donation of the
city of Philadelphia, unless congress shall otherwise
direct.
MATERIAL
The time has arrived when, in order, to maintain .
ourselves and our true position as a nation, we must
have a focmidable navy, not only of Ilght-deaught
vessels to guard ouf extensive and shallow, coast,
but one. that with vessels always ready for te.ser
vice, and of sufficient size to give. them speed, can
seek and meet an enemy on the ocean. In order to,
ebtnin the enormous steam power essential to Beat
speed, we must have vessels of The. greatest magni
tude.
vessels of wood will always. be built ;_ htif the
causes that have operated to retard the introduction
of iron vessels are. disappearing.. The working of
iron has been much simplified,;. its application.faeill
fated ; new tools and machinery for working.i; are
constantly being invented na4 in)procAl ; artisans
skilled in Its manufacture are becoming more. coin-
mon; and the material more easily wrought
t The progress of events renders Itcertaint4at iron
will hereafter enter hugely into the structu,ro of ves
sels for marine service, although it will never entire
ly supersede wood, Our country produros the ma
terial in abundance, and we havenoocension to seek
it front abroad. While our forests are disappearing,
inexhaustible resources in bon are- being developed.
That it is for the interest of the Clovernment to be
prepared to meet some change In the material and
structure of our naval vessels need not be repcatei.
It must provide the necessary yards and establish
ments for eneh, and have them properly located, in
whibli to build its milips•of-war, and at least one nt*
them should be specially adapted to iron. Nu la d
% ate establishment can quilertahe such heavy
THE WAR PRESS.
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as the Government requires for its armor and steams
purposes. Possessing advantages that no other na
tion enjoys, we should avail ourselves of them. Our
iron and Coal arc found in the same region, and wo
have fresh-water rivers in which iron vessels can he
docked and kept clean, and from which ,all encanica
can be excluded.
In the construction of the iron and iron-clad yea
acts which the Department has now in progress every
ellbrt has been made to have them promptly com
pleted. It is believed that nearly every rollingmill
has been engaged that is able to do the work and
yet these vessels are several months behind the time
within which they were to have been completed.
The Department is convinced that the contractors
have done their best ; and yet it is with great diffi
culty that these comparatively small vessels and the
moderate-sized iron required can be procured for
them as soon as wanted, so much does the demand
exceed the capabilities of the mills to supply.
These facts demonstrate the necessity for publis
works where vessels of great magnitude are to be
Constructed.. had the Government been prepared
for this heavy work, much of the delay Which has
embarrassed naval operations might have beoa
avoided. Private establishments would have bees
relieved, and enabled to furnish a larger quantity
within the scope of their Own manufacture.
' It is as important that the GoVernment should
build its own ships of iron as of wood. if the ap
parent cost in either case is greater, the actual valut
is also greater. It is of the first importance that the may.
tonal, whether of iron or wood, should be of the beat
quality; and as regards iron, this can be insured and
made certain only by its being received and reworked
at Government establishments. The large quanti
lies required will always enable the Government to
purchase on economical terms. It is well understood
that the qualities of iron vary greatly, and the use
of inferior kinds will be both injurious and expen
sive. Experiments with shot in target practice do
monstrate that some-'qualities have much greater
browers of resistance than others, and are therefbre
etter for armature. Other qualities may better re
sist corrosion and be more suitable to, the action of
sea water, anti still others may be adapted to the inter
nal parts exposed to different chemical action. These
qualities and denominations will be ascertained by
observations and tests that the Government Ma
alone well make and faithfully apply in the construe
tion of its war vessels. Contractors and private ea
' Mblishments will not be equally viglant and careful
in making the proper selections and assortings.
An establishment such as the Department. has ha
view, and has heretofore recommended, will enable
the Go% ernruent to have all the advantages of the
best and most suitable descriptions in the constella
tion of vessels of iron and iron armature. Steam
machinery, anchors, chain cables, and heavy irea
work for the naval service, would be manufactured
at the same establishment to advantage.
The necessity of such a dock-yard and establish
ment is becoming so important that I deem it proper
again fo present the subject to the consideration of
Congress. As yet we have but few iron vessels, and
these chiefly of foreign construction ; but we have
built and are building iron-clad vessels at private M•
bid biliments—not one at our public yards.
In sustaining our position hs a naval power we
must be prepared for reverses that may befall us M
battle or by calamities incident to ocean service. A
wise precaution will always provide a reserve of
ships to take the place of those that may be injured
or destroyed. Vessels shOuld be in different stages
of progress of construction, thereby giving constant
employment to a certain number of skilful trio
chanics. Stores of material canwell be accumulated
in days of peace for the emergencies of war.
Such was the former policy of the Government,
and for many years an annual appropriation was
made for the gradual increase of the navy. Under
this policy there were, in times of peace, large accu
mulations of material at the different yards. It was
from the stock thus collected and seasoned that our
vessels were mainly built.
Gradually this policy was changed. Successive
Administrations, with a view to the appearance of
economy, and a show of small expenditure, restrict
ed the estimates for supplies to amounts barely suf
ficient to keep Its few ships afloat.
The war found us literally destitute of materials
in our navy yards, as well as with but few ships to
sustain the national integrity. From mistaken eco
nomy, or from design, the Government was, in its
need, deficient in ships, and destitute of material for
their construction. No alternative was left, when
resistance was made, but for the Department to build
its vessels as speedily as possible, and of such timber
as could, in the great haste andemergency, be pro
cured. As a consequence, vessels that-should have
lasted for years will soon perish, and must, in the
meantime, involve heavy expense for necessary re
pairs in order to keep them afloat. - -
As vessels of wood will always , be - used to some
extent for naval purpoies, and as they can, for the
present nt least, be constructed more speedily thaw
of iron, it will be wise economy to hare a reasona
ble quantity of timber always in store.
A special appropriation annually for the purpose
of accumulating a stock of material must always be
advantageous to the Government. In that way the
navy can be best and most economically supplied;
can make better purchases, and have more time to
examine and test the deliveries.
WESTERN DEPOT AND ESTABLISHMENT.
It will lie advisable at. an early period to estab-
lisp a naval depot on one of the ricers in the Tailor
of the 'Mississippi, where we now have a squadron*
equal in numbers to the whole navy of the United '
States at the commencement of this Administratioa.
The want of an establishment in that quarter, whore
vessels may be constructed, armed, and Armored!,
equipped, and repaired, has been severely felt, an
in the absence of such an establishMent the Deparb
molt has been compelled to resort' to expedientiit
that may have been sometimes disadvantageous.
For an iron navy the great rivers of the West are
well adapted, and the immense resources in iron and
coal, that are distributed throughout that region,
indicate what must be the undoubted policy of the
Government, at no distdnt period, in relation t•
such an establishment. The time may not have
arrived when the selection of a permanent location
for a navy yard and foundry Audi be made, but it
must be i n the near future, and until then the De
partment will be dependent, in a great degree, OR
private establishments, and such temporary arrange.
ments as can be secured.
HARBOR DEFENCIES.
A long period of peace had rendered the Goveen
ment inattentive to the defence of the harbors and,
under recent alarms, the municipal authorities of
many of our eities'have made application for naval
vessels to protect "them from apprehended danger.
Although solicitous to relieve any portion of our
citizens even from unnecessary alarm, the Depart
ment could not furnish the force required for every
place exposed, nor haS'it been anticipatatlitit sunk
force would he expected of the navy. It has bee*
the understanding that the fortifications were to be
-relied upon as furnishing the required seourity,
while the navy performed a different service. Ne
longer ago than May last the chief engineer of the
War Department in a. communication to Uongroes
states that, "as a general rule, with hardly an ex
ception, the permanent defensive works of the
United States were designed.to forbid the passage
through the waters subjea: to-their fire of hostile
vessels, or to prevent the use of such waters by as
enemy in his vessels, or to. secure the-use of the
waters for our own vessels. So- long as:these forte
fulfil these conditions, our fortified ports, navy yards,
.and harbors of refuge will be secure against injury
from an enemy's ships, and the waters protected by
then will be available for the use of our vessels and
forbidden to those of an enemy.. That is to say,
these forts are designed as defences against any
hostile military Power afloat." •
While there may be difference of opinions as to
the views here expressed, there is none whatever
that the fortifications at our principal ports should
be, and doubtless are, adequate defences against any
cruiser or cruisers that may be afloat in the cause of
the insurgents. It has not therefore entered into
the estimates and arrangements of the Navy Deparb
ment to furnish vessels for the defence of our ports,
nor to detach them from other imperative duties for
that purpose, when other provisions have been made
by the Government, and have been eniformly relied
upon for their protection.
DOCKING
Our facilities for docking shipti. are altogether
inadequate to our naval wants, and Ina foreign war
with a formidable Power our condition. would be de
plorable. ire have but one dry-dock at each natal
station, and three of our six. docks. are of wood,
being both perishable and combustible. The ca
pacity of these docks is much below the size re
quired for some of the vessels we are now building,
and such as we must build for, the future. Other
nations, finding themselves in a similar condition,
are now enlarging their dry-docks.; and we, having
but three permanent ones, and they designed 'for
vessels of less dimensions than some we now build,
should have new and suitable ones, and their con
struction should be forthwith commenced. Some of
them should be at least MO feet in. length, with &
breadth of 80 feet, to admit of large increase. Docks
of wood are too perishable, and. require greater
depth of water for heavy ships4han our harbors can
furnish.
The importance of constructingmet basins at such
of the navy yards as are sufficiently capacious to
admit of it, adverted to by the Chief of the Bureau.
of Yanis and Docks, is commailed to the considera
tion of Congress.
REORGANIZATION OP TIM. DEPARTMENT
• AND THE.NAVY.
The act of the sth of July last, reorganizing the
Navy Department, creates flute additional bureaus.
This insures a much betterdistribution of the labors
and very much simplifies and.fikeilitates the business
of the Department. The law has so recently gone
into operation, and the ottleers have so lately en
tered upon their duties, that the results and benefits
are but partially developed. laM satisfied, how
ever, even in this early stage of the proceedings that
the change will be produative of efficiency and eco
nomy, and be advantageous in every respect, while
the energy and talent of the chiefs who have been
brought into the counsels of the Department will in
spire it with additional
The greatly increased labor imposed upon the De
partment in consequence of the greatly increased
force both of men awl vessels in service, with a vast
ly more active employment, calls for additional
clerical force in order that justice may be done to the
service and the Government.
13y the law of December 21, 1861, it was enacted
that any naval ofticeroeheee name had been borne
on the Ravel Register forty-tire years, or who had
attained the age of six...ty-two years, shall be retired
from active service, and hia name be entered on the
retired list of officers-or the grade to which he be
longed. The Presideut, by and with the advice and
consent of the Senate, was authorized to detail re
tired officers to active duty, mid might, on their re
ceiving a rote of thanks from Congress, upon the
recommendation of the President, be restored to the
active list, and not ethenvise.
By the same law the President was authorized to
select any officer from the grades of captain or com
mander and assign him to the command of a
squadron, with, the rank and title of "flag-officer,"
and the officer thus assigned was to have command
in full as if he were the senior officer of the squadron.
The officers of our blockading squadrons and of
the Mississippi flotilla were recognized flag-officers
until the passage of the act of 16th of July
establishing' the grade of rear admiral, when they
received that appoiutment.
The net of July 16, 168'2, "to establish and equal
ize the grade of line officers of the United States
navy," does jestice in conferring ranks and grades
that had until that time, been withheld from as me
ritorious and gallant a class of officers as ever de
voted their days and penned their lives for their
country.. Though the. justice to which they were en
titled has been long delayed, it was gracefully and
generously rendered by the present Congress, and
has been and is appreciated by the brave men who
are its recipients, and all attached to the service,
as a just recognition of the worth and ability of the
officers of the American navy. It is a gratifying
fact, also, that our countrymen have responded with
such unanimity to the actios of Congress, and that
the unworthy prejudices against .naval titles and
honors that once existed have so generally disap
peared.
-The commanders of OW squadrons now hold rank
with those of other nriv.Powers on the ocean, on
distant service, and wiwrever they carry ow flag or
appear as the representatives of their country.
The operations and working of the law': may be
improved and modilked, in sonic respects,. without
changing the generet principles of the brj,WhiCh are
correct.
Votes of thanks• having been rendered Flag-offi
cers L. 111. Geddsborough, S. F. Di.s Pont, D. G.
Farragut,- and V, Foote, they WC3.bnominated to
the. Senate for the place of rear admiral on the day
subsequent to the approval of the sot. At the same
- time the metes of Captains Charbis Stewart, George
C. llead I.l.llllani It. Shubrieh, Joseph Smith,
fleorge W. Storer, Francis H. klregory Eli, A.. F.
Lavallet te, Silas H. Stringham,and Hiram Paulding
were sent in for confirmation se rear admirals on the
retired list. The nominations. not haring been, nub,
witted until the closing 1100-3 of the sessinnt, were
Lot acted on by the Sent s /e, but the offirers have
NIT continued in the educes to which they were
l a emoted. Officers efofintanding squatVons, wito,
vac net of Decenarr last, were entitlecit to '%he
i:;n1: and title of Mu-officers, hare, sirce.the,NaYsage
f the act of July; 16, been awarded, while on duty,
the position 0( acting rear ndmical, thereby coat r
:lig o 4 tkiCTA f;t4U VATC4I, ) Q4EIiint Wig tAVIt f r lt 9.th•