Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-03-01

THN HOlI DuNELEUN UVHHNNpNN.
--ro-, ~ Rl.hmopd Disnatoh Feb 10

Prom The Richmond Dspatohi Feb Isl
After three days Of the most desperate
fighting ever Witnessed on this continent
100 declares q veteran regular oficsr) the
most deperats fighting against the most ire
msndOus odds-in which, day after day, the
multitudinous host Of invaders was driven
back past their own camp our glorious Spar
tan band, from sheer exhaustion, has been
borne 1oWn by q new avalanche Of reinforce
ments, piled upon the already enormous
weight against which they have hitherto
struggled with complete success and has suf-
tered one Of those misfOrtunes which are
common to war, but which entail no dis
honor on eur cause, and which viii only ami
mate 70 the most stern and undying resist
anee every true Southern heart.
DESPAIR AT CHARLESTON.
From the Charleston COurisr, Feb. Isl
We have been callei to bear reverse and
a disaster. Fort Henry and Roanoke Island
have fallen before the gunboats Of the enc
my. We have sustained heavy loss in mu-
nitions Of war, our country has been de-
prived of the services Of several thousand of
her best disciplined and brave soldiers, and
parents and wives weep In the bitterness Of
grief over thoss who will never again bless
them with their smiles. The enemy pushes
on, flushed with victory, to win more tri-
umphs aud cause other hearts to bleed.
Wefeel these reverses. We acknowledge
them openly. We would rather overrate than
underrate their importance and magnitude.
Truth demands that we chronicle the battles
and their results, Withholding nothing, con-
oealing nothing.
HOW eUSBoATs CAN BE TAKEN.
[From the New Orleans Delta.l
The experience We hsve already had has
demonstrated the impracticability of destroy
ing the iron cased and strongly built gan
boats Of the enemy by the cannon Of forts
While large ships of war may be easily re-
PEELED and destroyed by the Ere Of forts,
these small boats, with few guns and Sc
cured by iron easements, can approach near
to the object of assault, defy the heaviest ar
tllery, and throw shells into an open fort,
which will render it untenable. The only
efficient mode of resisting and defeating such
craft in the absence Of like vessels on our
part, is to board and capture them. They
usually carry small crews, are not fast, and
when once reached and boarded, osn be easi-
ly taken.
From the Richmond Examiner. Feb al
UNION MEN IL TIE REBEL GOVERNMENT
WORKSHOPS.
We announced in our yesterdays issue
that forty Of the employees in the Govern
ment workshops had, on Tuesday last re-
fused 10 take the oath Of allegiance, and
We should have published their names but
for positive order to the contrary, given
by Gen. Winder to gentlemen st the artil-
lery works, who has the list Of the recus-
ants in his possession. Yet though these
names are kept secret, the fact that so
large q number Of traitors have been hith-
erto employed in those important depart.
ments, the laboratory and the artillery
works, has given rise to much angry ex-
citement snd indignant comment. Men
collected yesterday end compared notes, Of
rumors which have from time 10 time come
to Us regarding the quality Of the smmu-
nitisn furnished by this city to our army
on the Potomac.
1t hes been told here, and never contra
dicted, that the Richmond fixed ammuni
ton was 80 mean, and even dangerous, that
the Washington Artillery refused to use it
after the 6rst experiment; one Of the Shells
designed to be thrown half 8 mile, having
exploded within ten feet OF the gun. A
she'll is also said actually to have exploded
before leaving the barrel Of cannon Of the
Pendleton Artillery. And, further, it is
said that not one in ten Of the Richmond
shells exploded ct all, 50 defective are the
fuses. Since the discovery Of this large
party Of our enemies In our midst, our peo
pie think they perceive ready explanation
ef the complaints Of the artillery corps in
the field.