The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1862-05-24
Rebel SPecuIGtions as TO the Utiihty or
Gunboats I'm the Attack on Richmond
from the Richmond Examiner, May 10.

Rebel SPeculGtions to the Utiihty CT
Gunboats Ina the Attack on Richmond
from the Richmond Examiner, May 1871
The time has passed when Richmond could DO taken
by gunboats Although much work remains to DO done
tho Notifications to render them secure from land
attack and siege operations it may be regarded IS one
certain thing that the enemy win ascend the river
in vessels. Tho position OF Drurys Bluff possesses
natural strength scarcely be conceived by who
have not stood upon No game of long possible
Tho turn Of the that brings the boats in sight is
only sk hundred yards distant. Tho bluff is high
ridge or comb To shell an uncasemented battery
there from any distance would be difficult, il not i'm
possible. operation. The river Is not hundred yards
wde and the entire banks appear to have been created
for tho express q sharpshootcrs stop
the Yankees there had just well give up all idea Of
sefdofonce.
But whom only three in position the psce
too strong for the Gaena the Monitor and five other
crack vessels. Mono Of them able to test tho
strength off the distractions in the channel for the Ca
lena alone the heaviest iron clad vessel Of the United
States navy. dared TO come within two hundred and
atty yards Here she got enough, was helped or
by nor comrades and OF them will be likely
occupy her place.
Without land army Of sufficient force to surround
and overcome the Confederate troops who defend tho
place 1t is impregnabe. Two deductions may be made
from tho late affair In the James. FIRST that gunboats
impotent In rivers with any bluff bank sufficiently
elevated to throw something like . vertical fre upon
them. Secondly, that Richmond must be considered
hereafter interior inland town. not attainabe BY
the naval force Of the enemy be fought and de-
lost by the operations Of the army alone
Indeed when the history OF this il reviewed It
will DO found that the chief service the enemy gotten
from his gunboats has been to frghen bad officers and
might have continued to hold. Nowhere have the gum
boats effected either real damage extensive slaughter
Port Royal taken by the heaviest ships the navy
coming up in deep water. At Donelson tho gunboais
were smashed at Island No. 10 they did harm: at
Drury's they beaten by three guns. Fortunately
those guns had the Of the Merrimac work them
ana not Yshoos, ignorant Of discipline and command
and military business.
Davis Inclines Too Much to Fasting and
Prayer to Suit Some or his Subjects.
GFrom the Richmond Examiner, May 1871
The President proclaimed last Friday to be day or
official prayer and religious ceremony, and it OBJ
served The departments closed and the necessary
work Of this trying period brought to stand still
for twenty four hours Never has any year
many OF these affairs hod that the latest the last
Tho country has had quite enough Of them Religion is the
sentiment Of individuals, not matter OF military order
or formal injunction and though is well that govern
mont should pay proper respect TO the religious
mony that has been doro and 0rdone by the confede
racy In truth these devotional procamations OF Mr.
Davis have lost all good effect from their repeti-
ton. regarded by the people either cant or eui
dcnce Of mental sOeakne, and have become the soric of
unpleasant reflection '~ intssiOent Piety Is esti-
ma0e; but energy, common sense; impartial justice,
courage and industry are also qualities very useful to
rulers ana to nations It is to the dgent employment Of
the faculties God has given US that W obtain His
blessing, and not by vain and affected applications
When we find the President standing in Q corner telling
his beads, and relying miracle 10 the country
instead Of mounting his horse and putting forth cuery
pomer THE copcrnuent 10 defeat the ecny, the effect Is de-
pressing tie extreme When the ship springs aeak tho
efficient captain does not order all hands to prayers
but TO the pumps The same newspapers that are
burdened with the evacuation OF Norfolk announce tina.
President Dduis has just been "corfmed the Episcopal
chsrch Perhaps the authority Of eminent divine in
that church may have weight with him. His name was
Muhlenburg, and Sunday in 1774 no closed his last
sermon with the words, that there time for all
things; time to fight that time had now come
Having pronounced benedction deliberately pulled
Of his gown and appeared before his astonshed congre
cation in complete uniform Then, descending the pull
he ordered the drums at the church door beat for
recruits. His regiment the first organized for the
Continental ssrvce and both his example and his doc
trinc, that "there Is time for all things, may be
we'll recommended for the consideration Of oil cousds.
rate persons
Moro s'Handwriting ON the WALL"
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