The eastern clarion. [volume] (Paulding, Miss.) 1837-1863, 1861-07-26
Our Coast Defense.
EXECUTIVE OFFICE, JACKSON, Mss
Jnlv | 4th 1861.

EXECUTIVE OFFICE, JACKSON, Mss |
July Nth, 1861. J
70 the Editor Of the MiSsi8Sppiaa:
SHINY attention has been called to
an article in the Brookhaven 4 1ertjser,
in which a paragraph is quoted from the
N. Q. True Witness charging the Governor
of Mississippi with criminal ineticiency
in regard to Ship Island, and calling on
the people of Mississippi to select,a Gov
ernor who will make some effort to keep
the enemy from her soil. also notice in
the Vicksburg Southern Sun questions
propounded to the Ms8issppi0n on the
same subject, insinuating, very broadly,
that the authorities of Mississippi were
culpable in leaving Ship Island unoccu-
pied and in not having force there to
repel the enemy, and concluding with
the remark, Of responsibility attaches to
any one we would like to know who he
ISL" | also notice in the Mississippian, of
the 10Th, an editorial which, taken in
connection with the other seems to point
in the same direction, it is there stated
that 'if we Of Mississippi have not suffer-
ed the humiliation and disgrace ola Yam
llee invasion, it is because the enemy has
not ayailed himself of the opportunities
which were abundantly afforded, and
for months the harbor Of Ship Island was
wholly neglected. TO all these, | wish
through your columns to reply, by brief
statement Of. facts. Our State Conven-
ton gave to the Military Board entire
control Of all the arms and military
stores of the State, the Board passed an
order that no arms should be furnished
to any companies but those mustered into
the army of Mississippi. | had no right
or power to dispose Of the arms of the
State except in accordance with this order.
| called the attention of the Board to
Ship Island harbor at its first sessions, they
determined that we had not the arms of
sufficient range to defend it, and could
not therefore take possession of it. ask
ed that arms should be sent to the com
NAMES on the sea shore which were not
mustered into the Army of Mississippi,
the Board refused to permit it. ! contin-
ned TO call the attention of the Board to
fine condition of that coast until some
time in the month of April when the or
der was made, that the Governor be per
mitted to distribute to sea shore counties
not more than two hundred and fifty
flint lock muskets, and | have given the
orders for the distribution, as the Volun-
teer Companies there applied for them. |
asked for larger number Of better arms
to be sent there, and the language Of the
order shows it, whenit gives me permits
sion to send no more than two hundred
and fifty. did not stop here. Early in
the Spring, months ago, ! wrote to the
Governor of Louisiana, and proposed if he
would furnish 4 few long range guns !
would take possession Of Ship Island and
guard the coast of Mississippi and the
commerce of Louisiana. | afterwards,
and months ago, had a personal interview
with Gov. Moore, in New Orleans, in
which the same subject was introduced,
to all which, while he admitted the i'm
portance of the matter he replied that
he could not spare the large guns from
the defense of New Orleans The State
had no guns large enough to defend the
Island, and if they had been here, / had
no power to place them there under the
Ordinance Of the Convention and the or
ders OF the Board Yet did not give up
the hope of defending the sea shore, and
after the enemy came to the Island, |
wrote to the Governors of Alabama and
Louisiana, proposing that Mississippi