NAVY, UNITED STATES. 



60 J 



stroyed during the same time were : steamers, 

 85; schooners, 114; sloops, 32; ships, 2; brigs, 

 2 ; barks, 4 ; small boats, 96 ; rams, 6 ; iron- 

 clads, 4; gunboats, torpedo boats, and armed 

 schooners and sloops, 11 ; total, 355 making 

 the whole number of vessels captured and de- 

 stroyed, 1,504. During the war of 1812 the 

 naval vessels, of which there were 301 in ser- 

 vice at the close, made 291 captures. There 

 were 517 commissioned privateers, and their 

 captures numbered 1,428. Nearly all the cap- 

 tures of value in the recent war were vessels 

 built in so-called neutral ports, and fitted out 

 and freighted for the purpose of running the 

 blockade. The gross proceeds of property cap- 

 tured sines the blockade was instituted, and 

 condemned as prize prior to the 1st of Novem- 

 ber, 1865, amount to $21,829,543.96; costs and 

 expenses, $1,616,223.96; net proceeds for dis- 

 tribution, $20,501,927.69. At the close of the 

 year there were a number of important cases 

 still before the courts, which will largely in- 

 crease these amounts. The Secretary of the 

 Navy estimates that the value of the 1,143 cap- 

 tured vessels will not be less than $24,500,000, 

 and of the 355 vessels destroyed at least 

 $7,000,000, making a total valuation of not less 

 than $31,500,000, much of which was British 

 property. 



As early as the fall of Fort Fisher, which 

 sealed the last of the Atlantic ports easily ac- 

 cessible t<3 blockade-runners, measures were 

 taken for the reduction of the squadrons on the 

 Atlantic coast. But this process, which was in- 

 tended to be gradual, was pushed forward so 

 rapidly after the overthrow of the rebellion in 

 April and May, that at the close of the latter 

 month the entire force remaining in domestic 

 waters did not exceed one hundred vessels. 

 Early in July, this force was further reduced 

 to thirty steamers, which, with storeships and 

 tenders, comprised the entire squadrons on the 

 Atlantic and Gulf coasts. In June, the North 

 and South Atlantic Squadrons were consolidated 

 into one, known as the Atlantic Squadron, and 

 commanded by Acting Rear- Admiral Radford, 

 who, in June, was succeeded by Commodore 

 Joseph Lanman. A similar consolidation of 

 the two Gulf Squadrons was effected, Admiral 

 Thatcher remaining in command. On July 31st 

 the Potomac Flotilla passed' out of existence, 

 and on August 14th the Mississippi Squadron, 

 which had been gradually reduced, was wholly 

 discontinued. Alluding to the extensive scale- 

 on which the reductions had been made, the 

 Secretary of the Navy, in his last annual report, 

 said : " There were in the several blockading 

 squadrons in January last, exclusive of other 

 duty, four hundred and seventy-one vessels, 

 and two thousand four hundred and fifty-five 

 guns. There are now but twenty-nine vessels 

 remaining on the coast, carrying two hundred 

 and ten guns exclusive of howitzers. Disposi- 

 tion has been made of all the others. Some 

 of the vessels are laid up in ordinary, some 

 with their crews are on foreign service, but 



many have been sold, and, with most of the 

 men that were actively engaged in hostile op- 

 erations, are now employed in peaceful occupa- 

 tions." At the commencement of December, 

 1865, when this was written, of the great naval 

 armdment which had been employed in over- 

 throwing the enemy and maintaining the na- 

 tional dignity abroad, there were in actual 

 commission but one hundred and seventeen 

 vessels of all descriptions. 



The domestic troubles of the country having 

 been appeased, measures were at once taken to 

 reestablish or strengthen the various foreign 

 squadrons. These, though not greatly increased 

 over former years, either in the number of ves- 

 sels or of guns, were, nevertheless, from the supe- 

 riority of steam over sails for naval war-vessels, 

 and the improvement and new patterns of ord- 

 nance, of greatly augmented efficiency and 

 power. Four foreign squadrons, the European, 

 the Brazilian, the East India, and the Pacific, 

 were on a permanent footing at the close of 

 1865, and measures were in progress to revive 

 the West India Squadron, on account of the 

 proximity of those waters to the United States, 

 and of our intimate commercial relations with 

 the islands therein. It was also proposed to make 

 considerable additions to the Pacific Squad- 

 ron and ultimately to divide it, in view of the 

 extensive limits of the station and the rapidly 

 developing interests of the United States in the 

 South American republics. 



After recapitulating the facts connected with 

 the expansion of the navy, between 1861 and 

 1865, from insignificant proportions to an al- 

 most unexampled size and power, and the prin- 

 cipal achievements performed by it, the Secre- 

 tary, in his last annual report, gives the follow- 

 ing interesting statistics : 



Three hundred and twenty-two officers traitorously 

 abandoned the service. The embarrassment caused 

 by these desertions in the moment of trial was tem- 

 porary. Better men from the merchant marine, edu- 

 cated and vastly more efficient, promptly volunteered 

 their services, in many instances at great pecuniary 

 sacrifice, to fight the battles of the Union. About 

 seven thousand five hundred of these gallant and 

 generous spirits have, after examination, received 

 appointments and been employed in the navy. Most 

 of the volunteer officers have received an honorable 

 discharge, and returned to their peaceful professional 

 pursuits. 



From seven thousand six hundred men in service 

 at the commencement of the rebellion, the number 

 was increased to fifty-one thousand five hundred at 

 its close. In addition to these, the aggregate of arti- 

 sans and laborers employed in the navy yards was 

 sixteen thousand eight hundred and eighty, instead 

 of three thousand eight hundred and forty-four pre- 

 viously in the pay of the Government, this is ex- 

 clusive of those employed in the private ship yards 

 and establishments, under contracts, constituting an 

 almost equal aggregate number. Two hundred and 

 eight vessels have been commenced and most of 

 them fitted for service during this period. A few of 

 the larger ones will require still further time for com- 

 pletion. Only steamers, the propellers also having 

 sailing power, have been built by the Government 

 during my administration of the department. 



Since the 4th of March, 1801, four hundred and 

 eighteen vessels have been purchased, of which 



