might be in denominations less than five dollars. $50,000,000 of this issue to be reserved to pay temporary loans promptly in case of emergency. POSTAL CURRENCY.-Act of July 17, 1862-Anthorized an issue of Resolution of Congress, Jan. 17, 1863.-Authorized the issue of Act of March 3, 1863-Authorized a loan of $300,000,000 for this UNITED STATES NOTES (new issue).-And a further issue, if nec- Act of March 3, 1863-Authorized an issue not exceeding $50,- Total... § Act of February 12, 1862, authorized an increase of $10,000,000 demand notes, included in above statement. Fifty million dollars at 89.32 to make an equivalent to seven per cent investment. $68,482,686 1,098,798,181 1,222,113,559 *Price of emission-Par. Thirteen million dollars at a premium of 3.25; balance at par. REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY AND THE CHIEF OF THE BUREAU OF ORDNANCE. THE reports of the Secretary of the Navy and Chief of the Bureau of Ordnance contain many interesting facts. In regard to the blockade, the Secretary of the Navy states that it now extends over a distance of three thousand five hundred and forty-nine statute miles, with one hundred and eighty-nine harbor or river openings or indentations, presenting a double shore to be guarded. In addition to the coast blockade, a naval force of more than one hundred vessels has been employed, during the year, in patrolling the rivers, cutting off rebel supplies, and co-operating with the armies in the suppression of the rebellion. The distance thus traversed and patrolled by the gunboats on the Mississippi and its tributaries is 3,615 miles, and the sounds, bayous, rivers, and inlets of the States upon the Atlantic and the Gulf, covering an extent of about 2,000 miles, have also been penetrated and watched with unceasing vigilance. In the last report, the Secretary mentioned that the naval force at the commencement of this administration consisted of seventy-six vessels, and of these only forty-two were in commission. In the following table an exhibit is presented of the actual number and description of our naval vessels, at the date of the last report and at the present time: COMPARATIVE EXHIBIT OF THE NAVY, DECEMBER 1862 AND 1863. VESSELS OF THE NAVY LOST SINCE DECEMBER, 1862. GENERAL EXHIBIT OF THE NAVY WHEN THE VESSELS UNDER CONSTRUCTION ARE COMPLETED. There have been added to the navy during the past year, by purchase, some thirty tugs, over fifty steamers for blockading and supply purposes, and over twenty other vessels for tenders and store-ships. At least twenty of the steamers were captured in endeavoring to violate the blockade. THE ORDNANCE OF THE NAVY, 1861-63. From the record, it appears that the ordnance of the navy, at the commencement of 1861, consisted of two thousand four hundred and sixtyeight heavy guns, and one hundred and thirty-six howitzers, of the following calibres: Exclusive of howitzers, which were then seldom used as deck pieces these guns were distributed in the batteries of our ships, as follows: The remainder were either on board vessels in ordinary, receiving ships, or parked in the several navy yards on the Atlantic coast; not a gun belonging to the navy was to be found upon the Mississippi or its tribu *The Roman numerals are adopted by Rear Admiral Dahlgren to distinguish the guns of his design from the old system. taries, and nearly ali of our cruisers were absent upon foreign stations. To add to the general embarrassment experienced in every department of the Government and increase the difficulties of its position, the Bureau of Ordnance was abandoned at this crisis by many of those who from long service in it, ample experience, and a thorough knowledge of its business, could have best served the country at that critical period. Fortunately, however, the men who succeeded them clearly understood the necessity for immediate action and unceasing effort to place in the best condition and equip for effective service every available gun, in order to arm the vessels then belonging to the Government, and meet the requirements of those that were being rapidly purchased. Consequently, the somewhat obsolete ordnance of the old system of armament was necessarily placed at once in service, while, at the same time, orders were given to the only foundries then prepared to do such work to fabricate, as rapidly as possible, IX-inch, X-inch, and XI-inch guns. The necessity for prompt measures was greatly increased by the calamity at Norfolk and the occupation of the navy yard at Pensacola by the insurgents, whereby a large amount of ordnance stores and a considerable number of IX-inch and XI-inch guns, which then constituted the most effective pieces in the batteries of our ships, were lost to the navy. The following tabular statement affords a comprehensive view of the facts embraced in the foregoing remarks, and illustrates the rapid increase in the number of effective guns of smooth bore, and the addition of rifled pieces, which has been made in the ordnance of our navy: Made On hand On hand since. Nov. '63. 83 Howitzer, 12 pounder, rifled.. 32 pounders, 27 cwt.... 32 pounders, 32 cwt. 32 pounders, 42 ewt. 32 pounders, 46 cwt. 32 pounders, 51 cwt. 32 pounders, 57 cwt.. 8 inch, 55 cwt.... 8 inch, 63 cwt... 8 inch, 106 cwt... 8 inch, 90 cwt.... 10 inch, 87 cwt... IX inch Dahlgren. X inch Dahlgren... 150 pounder Parrott... XV inch smooth bores. 20 pounder, rifled (Dahlgren).. Total.... 2,966 2,811 5,777 The old system of armament is represented in this table by the class of 10 inch, 8 inch, and 32 pounders; the new system by the rifled pieces and the smooth bore IX inch, X inch, and XI inch guns of Rear Admiral DAHLGREN, and the rifled guns of Mr. PARROTT, to which are added the ponderous and powerful XV inch guns introduced by Assistant Secretary Fox, as the special armament of the Monitors and other turreted vessels. Of the now system, it is probable that over seven hundred guns of different calibres that are now in process of fabrication will be completed and added to the number given in the table by the end of the current year. In arming our vessels, the primary object has been, recently, to place on board of them the heaviest and, consequently, the most effective guns which they could safely carry without reducing their speed or endangering their seagoing qualities. The following general statement of the batteries of vessels of different classes, exemplifies the manner in which the guns of the navy are at present distributed: The armament of purchased vessels is conditioned according to their character, varying from fifteen guns in the VANDERBILT. Two 100 pounders, rifled, pivot; twelve IX inch, broadside, and one howitzer. In the active little tug Dandelion, two howitzers. For the turreted iron-clads, we have in the ROANOKE, Two XV inch, two XI inch, and two 150 pounders, rifled. And for the Monitors, in the One XV inch, and one XI inch. WEEHAWKEN. Finally, as the representative of an iron-clad frigate, in the IRONSIDES. Two 150 pounders, rifled; fourteen XI inch, smooth; two 50 pounders, rifled, and two howitzers. The armament of the Western gunboats, built for special service, is shown in the CARONDELET. Four IX inch, four 8 inch, one 32 pounder, and two rifled guns. |