Newspaper Page Text
FROM ORLEANS!
Between Mayor
Monroe and Com. Farragut!
—
RrsMOXD, Va , April 2?.—The following is the
vScial correspondence between Mayor Monroe, of
«-e city of New Orleans, and Com. Farragut, of
Che Federal fleet, relative to the surrender of the
city:
C. S. Flag Ship Hartford, 1
Off New Orleans April 26, 1562. >
To His Excellency, the Mayor of the City of New
Orleans :
Sir: Upon mr arrival before your city, 1 had
foe honor to send to your Honor Capt. Bailey, of
the U.S. Navy, second tn command of the expe- l
dition, to demand of you the surrender of New |
Orleans t r me, as the representative of the Gov- ;
eminent of the United States. Capt. Bailey re- j
ported the result of the interview with yourself
and the military authorities.
It must i'ccttr to your Honor, that it is not within
the province of a Naval officer to assume the
duties of a military commandant. I come here to
reduce New Orleans v> obedience to the laws, and
rc vindicate the offended majesty of the Govern- ;
men* of the United States. The rights of |
persons and ot property stall be secured. ■
J, therefore, demand of you. as its rep*
Tesentative, the unqualified Surrender of the
ciir, and that the emblem of the sovereignty of
ibe Untted States be hoisted over the City Hall,
Mint, and Custom House, by meridian this day;
all fags and other emblems of sovereignty, other
than those of the United 'States, to be removed
trom all the public buildings by that hour.
I particularly request yen to exercise your an
■thorite, to quell disturbances, and restore order,
-and to call upon all the good people of New Or
leans to return to their avocations at once, and I
particularly demand that mo person be molested
in person or property for professing sentiments
• of their Government.
I shall speedily and severely punish sueh out
rages as were witnessed yesterday, by armed
men firing upon helpless women and children
for giving expression to their p.ensure at wit
nessing the oid flog.
I am, wery respectfully,
Your ob’t serv’t,
[Signed, G. D. Farragut.
Flag Officer Western Gulf Squadron.
Mayoralty or New Orleans, ]
City Hall, April 26,1362. )
To Flag Officer D. G. Farragut, U. S. Flag Snip
Hartford—
Sir . In pursuance of a resolution which he
thought proper to take, out of regard for the lives
of the women and children who still crowd this
great metropolis, ■ Gen. Lovell has evacuated it
with his troops, and restored to me the admin
istration of its government and the custody
of its honor. 1 have, in council with
the City Fathers, considered the demand
you made of me yesterday, for the unconditional
surrender of the city, coupled with the requisi
tion to heist the Sag of the United States on the
public edifices, and Haul down the flag that still
’ floats to the breeze from the dome -of this Hall.
It oecomes my duty to transmit to you an an
swer, wtioh is the universal sentiment of my
constituents, no leas than the promptings which my
own heart dictated to me on this sad and solemn
occasion.
The city is without the means of defence, and
utterly destitute of the force or material that
.might enable it to resist the overpowering ar
mament displayed in sight of it. 1 am no mili
tary mac, and pes-ess no authority beyond that
of executing the municipal laws of the city of New
Oi leans. Lt would be presumptuous in me to
lead an army to the field, if 1 had one at com
mand; and I know still less bow to-surrender an
undefended place, held, as this is, at the mercy of
your gunners and your mortars. To surrender
such a place, were an idle and unmeaning ceres
mony. The city is yours by the power
of brute force—not by my choice, or the
consent cf its inhabitants. It is for you
to determine what will be the fate that awaits us
here. As to hoisting any other flag than the flag
of our owe adoption and allegiance, let me say
io you that the man lives not in our midst whose
hand and heart would not be palsied at the mere
thought of such an act; nor could I find in my
entire constituency so wretched and desperate a
renegade as would, dare to profane with his hands
the sacred emblem of our aspirations.
Sir, you hare manifested sentiments which
would become one engaged in a better canse thaj
that to which you have devoted your sword. I
doubt not but that they spring from the noble
thoughts of a delud. d nature, and I -know how
to appreciate the emotions which inspired them.
You will hare a gai.ant people to administer
during your occupation of this city—a people
sensitive to all that can, in the least, affect their
dignity and se'Urespect. Pray, sir,do not fail to
regard their s’usceptibilities.
The obligations which I shall assume in their
names, shall be religiously complied with. You
may trust their honoi, though you eaight not
count on their submission to unmerited wrongs.
In conclusion, I beg you to understand that the
people of New Orleans, while unable t® resist
your force, do not allow tbemselves to be in
an.ted by the interference of such as have ren«
dered themselves odiotn; by the dastardly
desertion of our cause in the mighty struggle
in which we are engaged, or
.such as might remind them too painfully that
they are the conquered, and yqu the conquerors.
Peace and order may be preserved without a re
sort to measures which I could not at this mot
ment prevent. Your occupying the city does not
transfer their allegiance from the Government of
their choice to one which they have repudiated,
and that they yield simply that obedience which
the ccnquerer is entitled to extort from the con
quered. Respectfully,
Signed.] John F. Monroe,
Mayor.
Fort Macon, N. Surrendered ’
(first DISPATCH.] »
ilmikstox. N. C., April 29.—Fort Macon sur
rendered conditionally on Sunday last. A portion
c Ute garrison arrived here at 12 o’clock last
night. It is reported that Col. White saved all
<-be public papers. Tbe officers were allowed to
carry out their side arms. We will give the par
j-mars as soon as we can gather them. Seven
our men are reported to be killed, and a num
ber wounded.
rhe above is from the Wilmington journal.
r SECOND DISPATCH."
snrJnJ ,S T K ’ c ’ April 29th.—Fort Macon ,
. ere 0D rr! day, April 25th, instead of on
un ay, as at first reported, after a bombardment !
x> len an a half hour?. The batteries were '
planted behind heavy sand banks. The breach*
ing battery was 1,100 feet distant from the Fort;
the mortar batteries were 1.400 feet distant, and
entirely concealed from the Fort. The garrison
was allowed the honors of war, the officers re*
raining their side arms, and all were parolled.
Our loss wasT killed and 18 wounded—" 2 mortally.
The enemy’s loss is not known. Col. White and
155 of bis command arrived off the bar yeeterday
afternoon, on board of the Federal gunboat Chip
pewa, and transferred to a river steamer under a
flag of truce, and reached h-re, as stated in a
former dispatch. The others were sent up the
Sound from the fort.
"torn the N. (>.. Picayune.
LATEST FROM CORINTH.
Corinth, April 22.-Dispatches just received
here state that Gen. Buckner and Col. Roger
1 Hanson, who were taken prisoners at Fort Donel-
■ son, are to be exchanged lor Gens. Prentiss and
■ McMicken.
The enemv’s forces are reported as '.ear ng
Fort Pillow and moving up the Tennessee.
The report of Gen. Beauregard of the battle of
Shiloh has been completed, and will be forwarded
to Richmond to-morrow by a special messenger,
Gen. Beauregard has issued orders for com
manding officers to report ail cases of distinguish
ed gallantry among out troops, as well as acts of
cowardice, tbut they may be gazetted.
Sparta.
FROM RICHMOND.
Richmoxd, Va., April 29.—Timothy Wsb
ster, a spy, convicted by a Court Martial, was
hung to-day at Camp Lee, near this city.
16 Yankee soldiers, captured by Jackson’s
men, and 8 Unionists, arrived this evening
from the valley.
LATE NEWS FROM THE NORTE.
Norfolk, Va., April 29th.—From the New York
Htraid and the Philadelphia Inquirer, of April
2Stb, we learn that Abraham Lincoln was re*
ceived on the 26th inst., on board of the French
frigate Gassendi at Washington,with all the hon
ors extended to crowned heads. Count Mercier
was present.
A negro from Portsmouth oarried the Peters
burg (Va.) Express, of the 27th inst., to Gen.
Wool, informing him ol the capture cf New
Orleans.
Chicago, 111., papers of April 27th. state that
i Gen. Beauregard is evacuating Corinth, and going
to Memphis. Buell and Beanregard have effected
an arrangement for the exchange of prisoners.
Gen. Butler was busy preparing an advance on
New Orleans.
The Federal General, Chas. F. Smith, has died
from an accident.
From the Sava nnak Republican.
FURTHER FROM NEW ORLEANS.
Memphis, April 28.—1 give you below the cou»
dition of affairs at New-Orleans, as obtained here
from what is considered reliable sources:
The Federal gunboats passed up to New Or
leans without reducing Forts Jackson and St.
Philip. General Lovell retired wjjh the military
and able-bodied men, after which the Mayor sur
rendered the city on a. pledge that persons and
property would be protected. The specie in the
banks and the public property were all removed
from the city. All the cotton in the city was
burnt.
General Lovell is at Pass Mamchoe, on Lake
Ponchartrain.
The ram Louisiana and one gunboat are at Fort
Jacksen; the rest are destroyed. The enemy lost
several of their boats
General Beauregard has issued orders for the
destrnction of all cotton within the enemy’e
reach.
The armies near Corinth are very active, and £
battle is considered imminent at that point.
The weather out here is .good and favorable t-e
military operations.
The bombardment of Fort Pillow continue*:,
but with what resuit has not transpired.
P. W. A.
THE FORT PULASKI PRISONERS.
Savannah, April 30.—Thirty letters were re*
ceived here to-day from the Fort Pulaski prison
ers. They are at Fart Columbus, Governor’s
Island, New York harbor, all well and, they say,
kindly treated.
From the Mobile (Ala.:> Atfuerlisor, April-28.
LATE FROM NEW ORLEANS.
We are indebted to the Telegraph Office in this
city for the following details furnished by Col-
Tanner, Superintendent Southern Telegraph :
Eat St. Louis, April 26.—Arrived here to-night
on Derrance, on which I turned back from the
P-igoltts this morning, and as tbe Yankees were
waiting for us in the pass opposite Christian,
Capt. Hopkins and the Root. Watsen from the
pickets near New Orleans to-day anchored in the
mouth of Jordan river.
The forts on the lake shore were all evacuated
last night, in taste and with considerable loss of
supplies, dismounting but not destroying their
guns At Fort Pike ail the buildings were burnt
yesterday, including onr telegraph office, I
connected the wires through, but suppose the
same caution was not observed ar Fort Macombs
as we could not get anything fr.m the South at
2 P. M., yesterday.
I sent Rud (an operator) up this morning to
open an office outside of the city, if we are not
permitted to keep open in the city. Everything
of ours was saved in tbe city and at the fort.
The news from the city "his morning wrs com.
fiicting. There was a large fire in the lower part
of it yesterday evening, perhaps the burning of
cotton and goods, as the stores were being emp
tied and their contents burnt. Sugar and molas
ses were being thrown into the streets and river
from the levees, and the city was to be formally
surrendered to*day at 2 o’clock P.M., but 1 learn
the time has been extended.
The Mobile boats Whiteman, Brown, and an
other, name not remembered, with several others,
are removing troops, stores, and ordnance to
Manchac, after which I fear these also .will be
burnt, as the Yankee fleet at Ship Island is again
reluming to that station. Thirteen vessels opA
posite New Orleans, and some have gone up the
river.
It is reported the Louisiana was sunk by the
enemy, with all on board, and that the Chalmette
was destroyed with heavy loss.
All the gunboats on the lake have been burnt
by our own people.
Our army has fallen back to Camp Moore.
The forts are not taken.
From Me AfoiiZe .Repi«Z«r <£ Advertiser, April 28.
LATEST FROM THE WEST AM* .NORTH-
Corinth, April 26.—Dispatches just received
from Tuscumbia convsy tbe intelligence that Col.
Scett, of the Louisiana Cavalry, with the two
companies of Captains Cormon and Campbell,
drove out a regiment of the enemy’s infantry from
‘hat place. In the tight several of the enemy
were killed and wounded, and forty prisoners
taken.
In retreating, the enemy burned their stores ot
provision supplies, etc. They were pursued by
the Confederates, but with what final result is not
vet known.
’ Western papers of dates to tbe 19th inst., have
oeen received at this point. They state that the
prisoners captured at Island 10 have been sent
to Wisconsin, except Gen. Makall and others,
who have been sent to Fort Warreu.
Tbe New York Herald's Washington dispatches
of the 17th state that there are strung indications
of anotner change in the Lincoln Cabinet. It was
also probable that Congress would take action to
modify the censorship of the press.
Proposals had been issued by tbe Lincoln Na
vv Department for the construction of more gun
boats for tbe Mississippi and Gulf service-
The Herald reports that tbe Confederate steam
er Nashville, with her name changed to the J. L.
Wragg. had cleared from Nassau for St. John s,
N. 8., under British colors.
Skirmishing in front of our lines here at Cor*
inth :s still kept up.
Beauregard’s address.
Tbe following address to the people of the
Mississippi Valley has just been issued by Gen.
Beauregard :
“The casualties of war have opened the Missis
sippi river to our enemies. Tbe time, therefore,
has come to test tbe earnestness of all classes, and
I call on patriotic planters owning cotton within
reach of the enemy, to apply the torch to it with
out delay or hesitation. G. T. Beauregard.
From the Saoannah Republican.
LATEST FROM THE WEST-
Corinth, April 29. —The enemy have been rein
forced sufficiently to restore their confidence, and
are now advancing upon our line. Heavy skir
mishing is going on daily, and quite an affair tic*
curred to-day this side of Monterey. Clear the
decks, and look out for war on a grand scale I
The editor of the Memphis Avalanche, Dr.
Foulks, was arrested tc*day, for publishing an ar
ticle calculated to array tbe planters against the
government. P. W. A.
New Orleans.—We regret to say that the news
we have this morning is by no means agreeable.
Official dispatches received yesterday canfirm the
fall of New Orleans, contrary to our belief and
the belief of nine-tenths of tht. community. Trie
enemy’s fleet approached tbe city and demanded
a surrender. General Lovell refused to surren
der. b’st evacuated tbe city, with his troops, fall
ing leeck to Camp Moore, on the Jackson Rail
road, after destroying coiton and stores which he
was unable to remove. The iron clad steamer
Mississippi was burnt to prevent her falling into
the possession of the enemy. Nothing is said
about the Louisiana, bat the* supposition at pres
ent is that she was scuttled.
Camp Moore is at Tangipahoa, 78 miles from
New Orleans, on the Jackson Railroad. General
Lovell could have paused at Ponchatoula, forty
eight miles from the city, on tbe same road,
which is a high and healthy locality.
The public would fain be informed of the caus
es of the fall of New Orleans. One rumor says
that the iron clad bomb proof steamer Louisiana,
was sunk tbe first "fire from the enemy’s mortar
boats, and it would be a relief to know whether
in fact she played any part in the matter. It was
believed here that she was tested with fifty
rounds of ball of one hundred and fifty four lbs.
■ weight, without doiug her anv damage, and
1 much was therefere expected from her. We ex
i press the universal sentiment when we say that
I the mystery attending the fall of New Orleans
should receive a speedy *olution.
Richmond Dispatch'
From the Nevi Orleans True Della,
HEAVY CONFIDENCE GAME.
We have already announced that on Monday
evening a gentleman was “done” out of a large
amount of monev in Confederate notes- The par
ticulars we withheld lest it might put tbe confi
dence on his guard, and enable him to elude the
vigilance of our Argus-eyed detectives. But this
precaution on our part was thrown away, inas
much as the whole affair was pretty well circula
ted over the city two hours after its occurrence.
The confidence man introduced himself as Geo.
W. Harris, which is doubtless one of many alias
es. Mr. W. A. Maloney is the name of his victim.
The met at Atlanta, Georgia, where Mr. Maloney
went from Tennessee to sell a lot of salt pork to
the government, for which he received over $lO,-
000. Harris represented to him that he was com
ing on to New Orleans for the purpose of purcha
sing sugar for shipment to Georgia, where it
would command a price to make the investment
profitable.
Not having any immediate use for the money,
upon consultation with his partner, it was agreed
that Maloney should come to New Orleans, and
invest it in sugar. Thus Harns became his trav
eling companion. Being a good talker and a
man of the world, he made himself quite agrees
able. He also professed a considerable acquaint
abce in this city, which gave his victim more
confidence in his representations. That Harris
had been here before there is no doubt.
On arriving in the city, Harris t'«ok Mr. Mas
loney to the Louisiana Hotel. Where he stopped
is not known. The interruption in the line of
transportation broke up the sugar speculation,
and Maloney had determined to return home, and
bad procured his passport for that purpose. Hars
ria came to the same determination, but it is not
known that be got a passport.
On Monday Harris went to see Maloney, and
told him that he had a considerable amount of
Confederate money, which he intended exchange
ing for Tennessee funds, as it would be saiter, as
there was no telling what might be the result of
the war in that State. He stated that he had
found a mercantile friend who would make the
exchange. Maloney thought the plan a good one,
ajd expressed a desire to make a similar ex.’
change. Harris promised to see if bis friend
could do it, and would let him know in the course
of the day. In the evensng Harris went with
Malonev to the St. Charles Hotel, took him into
the parlor, where they sat and talked for some
time. This was between 6 and 7 o’clock. After
talking awhile, Harris said he would go to his
friend’s room, and see if he was in. He returned
after an absence of fifteen or twenty minutes
and reported his friend out, but that he had left
with his wife some SIO,OOO or $12,000, for hinu in
case be called for it. Maloney proposed to go at
once to the room of Harris’ friend. To this that
individual objected, on the ground that he dis
liked to take a stranger to the room of his friend’s
wife. But to make Maloney secure while he took
the money and got it exchanged, Harris very
promptly left him his draft on one of our banks
for $20,000. Being thus secured, Maloney des
livered to Harris a package containing one bun.
dred SIOO Confederate bills. Harris asked h.tn
if that was all he had. He replied it was not
and took out his pocket book and handed him
six ?.'>O Confederate notes. Previous to this he
bad handed him S2O. Harris then left, and since
neither he nor the money have been seen or heard
of, notwithstanding the detectives were made
aware of the transanction within an hour a ft er
its occurrence. About ten minutes after Harns
left him, Maloney was very forcibly struck with
the idea that he had been taken in and done lor.
Harris is no doubt an expert and accomplished
scoundrel, and he may have been smart enough
to procure himself with a passport before he exes
cuted his design upon bis unsuspecting victim,
If he did not, he will find escape from the city
somewhat difficult. If he is in the city, which
is quite probable, it will afford our detectives an
excellent opportunity to exercise their powers,
particularly as there is an incentive of two
thousand dollars. *
FALL OF FORT MACON.
We have the following details of thia event
which took place on Friday last, when the enemy
opened (ire from stuong batteries of heavy Par
rot and other rifled guns and mortars planted
within 1.400 yards of the Fort, and behind very
high sand-banks, which prevented their being
seen by the garrison until tbe fire was opened.—
After ten hours tire of shot and shell the Fort
was breached and completely torn to pieces. The
fleet outside did no damage whatever to the Fort.
Moat of the guns in the Fort were disabled, in
cluding all that could buve been brought to bear
upon the enemy.
Under these circumstances Col. White surren
dered the Fort with the honors of war, the offi
cers retaining their side arms. All the baggage of
the officers and men was saved. Col. White and
155 of bis command was brought to tbe main
Cape Fear Bar yesterday (Monday) afternoon,
on board the U. S. gunbeat Chippewa, where
they were transferred to one of our tiansport
steamers under a flag of truce. They reached
town at 12 o’clock last night. The remainder
of tbe men composing the garneon were’ sent
through the Sound, to Newbern, we presume.—
They *te all on parole. .
The loss on our side, seven killed and eignteen
wounded, two of tnem mortally. The latter two
were left’in the Foat.
p gWe have just learned that tire upon the
Fort was opened at a quarter before six on Fri
day morning, and that the engagement between
lhe Fort and batteries was kept up until about 7
o’clock that evening, when the Fort became whol
llv undeniable and was surrendered as above.
’All the guns on the side of the Fort opposite
to that attacked were dismounted. All but three
of the gnns bearing upon th s enemy’s batteries
were dismounted. The enemy’s central battery
of breaching gnus was within eleven hundred
yards. The right and lett flanking mortar bat
teries were mure distant.
It turns out that the report of fifteen of our
men having been killed in a scout undertaken
some time a since against the enemy’s pickets is
untrue. One man only was even wounded and
none killed until Friday last, the day of the at
tack.— Wiisniuqton Daily Journal, April With.
FromtheN.O. Bulletin. April toth.
ttVu. BELOW.
We published yesterday a despatch from Gen.
Dunean, dated al,Fort Jackson on Wednesday nt i
BA. m., which indicated unabated confluence of j
his being able to hold the forts, whatever might
be the force brought against them.
Wa have since received a private letter from an
officer of the garrison, written at a later hour on
the same day, from which we maxe tha
ing extracts:
Fort Jackson, April 23, 1862.
The bombardment cf this Fort is still going on
furiously. Up to this time, it is estimated that at
least twanty three thousand shells have been
thrown at us, a tout seven thousand of which have
fallen within the main work and the outworks of
Fort Jackson. Notwithstanding this, there have
been remarkably few casualties—only four men
having been killed and twelve wounded, which
can only be ascribed to the watchful care cf our
merciful Father in Heov.en. Our trust is in Him,
and we confidentlybelieve that He will give us the
victory- Considerable damage has been done to out
works, but very few of our guns have been dis
mounted, and we can, I think, stand severtl days
more of the terribly hard pounding that the
Yanks are now giving us. If the Louisiana and
the boats constituting our river fleet, only do their
duty and eo-operate with us, you mav look for
the’discomfiture of tbe enemy’s’ tremendous naval
force. The Yanks have over fifty vessels wiihin
three or four miles of us, twenty-one of which
are mortar boats. These last named vessels
all lie without the range of our heaviest guns,
and keep up an uninterrupted tire upon us, their
immense shells, weighing 197 pounds each, be*
ing thrown with remarkable accuracy. You will
have some idea of the precision of their firing
wnen I tell you that there is scarcely a spot in the
Fort ten feet square which has not received a visit
from the huge Yankee pills. Some of these shells
are filled with liquid fire, and besides being very
destructive, emit an unpleasant and almost stifling
odor. We all feel here that the fate of New Or
leans is depending on our defence of this Fort,
and you may rest assured that it will not be given
up without a most severe struggle. God Grant
that victory may crown our effbr’S. Gen. Dun*
can is doing alfthat human ingenuity can devise
and human energy* accomplish to repair the dam*
ages done to the Fort and put it in a condition to
withstand the furious attacks of the enemv, in
which he is ably seconded by Lieut. Col. Hig
gins.
But we have later discouraging accounts, which
we copy from the Evemng Delta, as follows :
Quarantine Station, Anril 24—A- M.—Several
of the enemy’s gunboats have passed the Forts,
and are being resisted.
Two steamers have already passed this point,
and are scanning every place.
The Star has been burnt, but do not know of
auy other damage,
Two or three vessels are now burning.
The Doubloon, has got ti| safe.
(Signed) A E Tclda, Operator.
Pointeka-la-Hache, April 24, 1862.—The enemy
with strong force are up io Quarantine.
left my station at Q tarantine when the enemy
got within a quartet .f a mile of me and shot
through me.
I regret'to say that /seven of our vesseles were
fired when they were overpowered, and I believe
everything belonging to us has fallen into their
hands.
1 ana on my way up to the city.
F. B. Renshaw, C. S. Navy.
To Com’r Whittle, C. S. Navy, New Orleans.
The operator at Poiute-a-la-Haehe telegraphs
that Capt. Grant, when passing that station, res
ported that he believed one of the enemy’s ves
sels was c(®ning up the river, but was not cer
tain.
In scrutinizing tbese it will be observed that
tbe hour is not stated iu their respect:ve dates.
The despatch from the Quarantine,'(some six or
eight miles above the torts.) states that two
steamers had passed the point, and the battle was
still raging at the forts. Tbe despatch from
Pointesa-la-Hache, (a considerable distance above
Quarantine,; gives merely tbe writer’s opinion of
what had transpired at Quarantine after his de* i
departure from it, and leaves us at least room to ;
hope, that he may have been misinformed.
A Ray or Hops.—The fallowing dispatch was re
ceived in this city yesterday morning by Adjus
tant-General Cooper from Gen. Lovell, dated
Camp Moore, April 27th :
“Forts Jackson and St. Phillip are still in a
good condition and in our hands. The steamers
Louisiana and Mcßae are safe. The enemy’s
fleet is at the city, but have no forces to occupy.
The inhabitant are staunchly loyal.’’
The public would no doubt have been equally
pleased to have learned from Lovell why he took
such a hasty departure from a place which he was
left to defend. The “enemy’s fleet,” alluded to
by him as in front of the citv, consisted probably
of the two gunboats that passed the forts. Even
had they desired to do so, they had no men to
send ashore and take what was so precipitately
abandoned to their use. Had the < fficials en
trusted with the defence of the Crescent Citv
shown half the bravery’ of its citizens, all would
have been well.
A rumor prevailed yesterday at the War Of
fice that General Bragg had been ordered to New
Orieans from Corinth. If this be so, we may
reasonably look for at least a contest for the
possession or the richest and largest city m the
Confederacy. Experience by many a sad reverse
and untimely disaster has shown the danger
arising from incompetent officials. Let us hope
that the veteran and gallant Bragg may be able
to repair the disaster arising I otn this source at
New Orleans. — Richmond Riffiiiteh, itth.
A report was brought w town last evening, by
passengers on the Charleston Road, that the Fed
era! gunboats had shelled < ih the garrison from
a small battery of two guns. a. few’ miles below
I ocataligo. General Evans, it was su'd, had sent
reinforcements to look after the matter and drive
out the Fede ais, should they be found in pos
session. We give the rumor far what it is Worth.
H-—On further enquiry we learn that the
battery captured was the one near White Point,
22 miles from Cbarlestou, known as the Pine
Grove Battery.
Savannah Republican, April 30f/i.
THU BsfoRT*OF THB iSvSsiia AT&n mw
MHTSE ON THE
We do not believe in the philoaonhv nf
over “.pilt milk’’—or in blabbering over* 3“s
smashed eggs, Roanoke Island bag for Jonthf
been in tbe enemy’s hands, where it ought neie?
to have been, and where it never would have bX
but tor the grossest and most shameful nestart JL’
Pari of the| Confederate government fbrTt
should be recollected that immediately unon
secession of North Carolina from th’ Virion he
government of that State transferred Ter Z
senate army, navy, andjeoast defences to the Con
federate government, and upon the latter thTc«
fore devolved the duty of putting the coast in a
proper defensive condition, if it was deemed im
portant or advisable to adopt such a policy The
Confederate government then,' in view of thes’
ads, is wholly responsible for the disaster which
dhn T Islttnd " “ 18 not wort b while to be sad*
dlmg bla-ne upon any subordinate authority It
was the business of the then Secretary of War
and of the Navy to have exerted themselves to the
utmost for tne pieservation of that vastly minor,
tant point, more especially after the capture of
Hatteras, which was, we believe, in September
when it (the Island) began to be imminently
threatened. An interval of upwards of four
months elapsed between that date and the attack
wbleb b r
skil.ful exertions it could have been sufficiently
secured against all danger. Batteries, gunboats
and men could have been in reaaiuess and strength
to resist any aitempt to capture it that might be
inude after the Ist Feb. b oe
We have before us a copy of the report of the
Committee oi Inuesligatioa which we appointed
specially to enquire into all the facts and circum
stances connected with the surrender of ihe Isl
and. It has just been published, and we defy any
man to read it without coming to the conclusion
that the whole blame in tbe premises is upon the
Army and Navy Departments in Richmond. The
immense value of Roanoke Island may be judged
from the following passage in the report, everv
word of which is true:
The enemy immediately appeared in force in
Pamlico Sound, tke waters ot which are cou®
nected with Albemarle and Cnrrituck Sounds by
means ot the two smaller Sounds of Croatan and
Roanoke. The Island of Roanoke being situated
between these two latter sounds, commanding
the channels of each, become, upon the fall of
Hatteras and the abandonment of Oregon inlet
second in importance to Foriress Monroe. That
island then become the key which unlocked all
Northeastern North Carolina to the enemy, and
exposed Portsmouth and Norfolk to a rear apx
proach ot the most imminent clanger. In the
language of Brigadier General Wise, “that such
is the importance and value, in a military point
of view, of Roanoke Island, that it ought to’have
been defended by all the means in the power of
the Government.” It was the key to all the rear
defences of Norfolk. It unlocked two sounds—
.Albermarle and Currituck; eight rivers—the
Northwest Pasquotank, the Pasquotank, the Lit
tle, the Chowan, the Roanoke and the Alligator;
four canals—the Albermarle and Chesapeake, the
Dismal Swamp, tbe Northwest canal, and the
Suffolk; two railroads—the Petersburg and Nor*
foik, andthe Seaboard and Roanoke. It guarded
more than four-fifths of all Norfolk’s supplies of
eorn, pork and forage, and it cut the command of
General Huger oft' from all of its most efficient
transportation. It endangers the subsistence of
his whole army, threatens the Navy Yard at
Gosport, and is likely to cut off Norfolk from
Richmond, and both from railroad communica*
tion with the South. It lodges >he enemy m a
sate harbor from the storms of Hatteras, gives
tnem a rendezvous and large, rich range of sup*
plies, and the command of the seaboard from
Oregan Inlet to Cape Henry. It should have
been defended at tbe expense of 20,000 men and
of many millions of dollars.
Some ot the particular and more immediate
causes which led to the capture of this vital point
testify still further to the extraordinary neglect
!of the Government. In the following passage
| will be seen how the public interests embraced
I m tbe defence of the Island were coufounded and
I paralyzed by the course pursued.
That Island, upon the fall of Hatteras, was taken
possession of by Col. Wright, under instruciion
from Gen. Huger, and the principal defences cons
strucied under authority and directions of Gen,
Huger, who assumed jurisdiction over tbe
although it was in millitary command of Gen.
Gatlin. Afterwards Brigadier General D. H. Hill
was assigned for a short time to the immediate
command of that post, who immediately entered
upon his duty, made an examination of the defen*'
ces in person, and was making active preparation
for putting the Island in a state of defence, when
he was suddenly superseded, and Brigadier Gen.
Branch given the command. It does not appear
in evidences that Gen’l Branch ever visited the
Island, or made any move towards its defences.
■ He however, was superceded by Brig. Gen. Wise,
about the Ist of January, 1862.
I These repeated changes in the command at a
! crisis when such vacillations and caprices could
i not but be otherwise than deeply injurious to the
; service in that quarter tally explain the reason why
tbe necessary preparations for defence were not
completed, and point out clearly where the blame
lies. But the following passage, whilst it wholly
exonerates, settles, beyond the possibility of a
doubt, the question as to the really guilty party :
General Wise, finding that his written appeals
for aid in the defences of the Island to Headquara
, ters at Norfolk and to the Department at Rich.,
I mond were neglected and treated with indiffer
i ence, repaired in person to Richmond, and called
upon the Secretary of War, and urged, in the
most importunate manner, the absolute necessity
of strengthening the defences of that Island with
additional men, armament and ammunition, lhe
Secretary of War replied verbally to his appeals
for reinforcements, that he had not the men to
spare for his command. Gen. Wise urged upon
the Secretary that Gen. Huger had about 15.000
men in front of Norfolk lying idle in camp for
eight months, and that a considerable portion or
them could be spared for the defence of the rear
of Norfolk, and especially as his (Gen. n ise s)
district supplied Norfolk and his army with nearly
or quite all of his corn, pork and forage, that re
inlorcemonts at Roanoke Island were absolutely
necessarj’ to the defence at Norfolk as forces in i s
front, and that particular or special posts should
not be allowed to monopolize nearly all the men,
powder and supplies. In reply to ad his urgent
appeals for the means of delence General W se,
on the 23d of January, received the following
military order No. 17; B innal
“Brigadier General Henry A. W . ,se ’ p Roanoke
Army, will immediately proceed to K(iaD °se
Island, North Carolina, and assume o.
the Confederate States troops at that place.
By command of the Sec y ofWar.
1 fe| g ced J Asß - t Adj’t General.”
Ad f n her by the government or the press
glad foat has been published for peopl
will know how it was that Roanoke Island passed
into the bands of the enemy.
Lookout fob Helper —A correspondent
dressing us from Williamston N. C., says tnat
the notorious Helper, of the {“P^
ascertained to have P“ B9ed f th p^^ kel j'nd A
centiv from the direction o. Roanoke tslana. “
wounded soldier assures onr informant that he
saw Heiner exchange goid *°r Confederate notes
•Mh“«.eo, of buodred dollars while... Ike
island, doubtless for the purpose of sac 1 at.ng
his transit through the Confederacy, People
would do well to keep a lookout for tb m.u-
We are beset with spies ana traitors, and ’tie
watchfulness of individuals and of corporaUons
s bon’d never sleep. No stranger should b£
lowed to pass upon our high-ways or byway
unchallenged AfM
Mail Robbery.—The mail-boy J’ et^ in
place and Newberry, who ttaS 7^; n riddintr sun«
of John Shaw, has been detecte muc ij inonev
dry letters of their contents. Ho* “"J™” 8 *
be has thus stolen is not known no - ' S
The boy is »