American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1851-1863, 1861-10-19
Hon. O. 2. EfngIeton.
City Defences.

The city Of New Orleans is assuming
the aspect Of a huge camp. Every
where and all the time, the din Of mar
tal preparation is going on--the tramp
of tie soldiery. the inspiriting sound Of
the martial music, and the rumble Of
wagons, carrying camp equipagcs, mu-
nilions and artillery 10 the points selected
by military science for the public delences.
The possibility of wild attempt by the
malevolent enemy TO make descent up
on our coasts, or force his way up the
river, is calling out the whole population
to arms. The summons for the militia
has had the two-foId effect of preparing
q large reserved organization for the con-
lingencies Of an actual invasion, and OF
filling up the volunteer companies with
the best material for soldiers. We viii
not speculate upon the number of defeud-
ers who might be rallied for case of
actual deiences; but we will venture the
opinion that no possible force which Lin
coin could bring to the coasts, even if
they could effect landing. would ever
reach the city except as prisoners. By
land we are inPregnable, and the coast
and river assailable points are suscepti-
BILE Of that degree of defence that floating
wood and iron cannot make an impress
sion.
Is We have no right to assume that
there has been any neglect in this mat.
ter, but ca the contrary, right to pre-
sumo, from the common zeal, which
seems to inspire the whole community,
that everything is doing to close these
gates and block up the highways through
which a daring enemy might attempt to
penetrate, and in SO doing cost US at
least bloody struggle to repulse the at
tack. We are fully persuaded that all
that loss and its consequent suffering
may be avoided by the diligent use of
time and money in making the attempt so
evidently hopeless, that the enemy will
notventure upon the experiment.
The defences Of New Orleans are ca
pable Of being made SO perfect, that Lin
coin ships looking upon them, may think
1.-THE part Of discretion to let them alone.
We have no details of all that has been
done TO effect this The assurance of
those who have better knowledge than
We have, is that The works are going on,
and have arrived at that stage. that there
need be no .misgiying as to the result.
There should nothing, however, be left to
fortune and tie event Of conflict which
can succeed by making the attempt as
utterly hopeless, and being cautious mere
ly without skill. to pronounce upon the
result OF what the authorities have done
and are doing. We trust that every hour
will be improved to heap defences upon
@defences, Batteries upon batteries, and
point the mouths OF cannon at every
point, upon all the avenues of ap-
preach, that tie Lincolnite conmodores
may so back as completely baffled as
Com. Napier from Crenstadtl The lines
and defences may not be as costly and as
grand as those of the Russians, but they
may have Che same essential quality of
being impenetrable We trust that this
IS looked to with the unwearied
attention which the immense interests at
stake merit from those in authority. and
we mustsbeheve that every one has the
z same intenseinterest in it which occupies
the Thoughts of all we mees-N o.
Pisggune. zsw sal svs,sr 81