Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-05-29
~. =. wALLACH:
THE LONDON TIMES ON THE FALL OF
NEW ORLEANS.

The following speculations on the capture of
New Ofleans-probably because they are favor
psge Of the London Times, but under the sim Die
bssd Of " American News.n The extract IL from
the Times Of May 14th:
:. With the surrender or capture Of New Or
leans, with the hostile occupation Of the river
on which the Crescent City, as Il 10 called from
It's form on the bend Of the Missfssippi rests the
FedersIs gain rich and populous city, full Of
accumulated property, stores, machinery and
materials useful In war, which could not De de-
siroyed. They got possession OF the coast as
the banks Of Ihe Mississippi are called above
New Orleans Tor sixtv or seventy piles. 1t In
doubtful II either at Baton Rouge or at Vicks-
burg there IS any Intention or preparation TO re-
sist the Federal gunboats On both sides Of the
river are the plantations OF the richest men in
Louisisna-qu'te at the mercy Of the FederaIs
II IS impossible to assemble an army anywhere
along the levees to oppose the march OF columns
along both banks OF the river far the roads fol-
low the course Of the lsveeS, which can be covered
bv the gunboats to she'll the enemy In advance
Nor couid the banks oe depended On TO bear can
non One thing could be done with them-they
could be cut. and all the plantations could be
overnowed- In that case the gunboats, however,
could operate without any fear Of moes.ation from
the banks. The whole country would be flooded
az far as the backwaters, or bayous and creek
lined with virgin forests, which constitute the
rear Of the plantations But there 10 no necessity
for the Federals to advance up the river at all,
unless they NAV md IL desirable 10 disperse any
camps about being formed to threaten them ii
theyca pass Baton Rouge, the Red River, which
flows from the northwest right through the state
Of Louisiana, IL open to them. II they can pass
VIcksburg the whole State Of Arkansas is open
20 them by the river Of the same name, on which
Is situated the capital, Little Rock. There may,
of course, be great moral results obtained by
showing the fierce and ignorant populations
which dwell in the remote parts Of these States
such striking proofs Of the existence and vitality
Of the Federal government, but there will be
always much hazard In making them, In conse.
~ kbor rarfAl 81 4.
the hostile character Of the population.
1.-The most important result Of the surrender OF
New 0rlesns will be the great Blov gir,a 20 "a.
prestige Of ths Confederation all oreT ths SoEth
next will be the military complications which il
will involve and the great changes and embar-
rassments IL must produce In the line of defense
In the first place, the Confederate hotilll In the
Mississippi is left, as Il We're, In the air; It is
beyond Memphis, and the Federal gunbosts al
New Orleans. We do not know the number or
power Of these gunbOats; but, after all we have
heard about their rams and their vessels
Il will be discreditable to the Confederate oficeIs
IL they do not come down stream and try the
effect Of a sod len dash on the Federal vessels
mortar boats and all. The position and oppor.
iunit7 are most tempting, and II the Federals
were caught between this feet, swooping with
the stream Of the Mississippi down on them and
the forts held In their rear and cutting of thei,
retreat, New Orleans might be saved and General
Buffers force annihilated. Nelson or Cochrane
would try, but the man who bombarded Grey.
town ia not likely TO emulate them.
However great the danger Of the Confederate
Aeet unless ii has recourse 70 such exploit 10
free itsef fls consequences Of the Fedora! success,
20 fss IrsSfsTp army EadeT BsGETegdrd are Still
more serious. When Mitchell, by his daring
movement on the line between Memphis and
Charleston, a. Huntsville, cut OF the communi-
cations between Corinth and the West, already
damaged by the destruction Of the railway bridges
below Eastport, over Bear creek, the only line of
communication left TO the commander at Corinth
was sOUthwards with New Orleans, by way OF
Memphis, and further south and east with Mobile
via Columbus. Should FOOss Tsres AIS ioay past
fss forts and take Memphis, B.GETsgdrG toilI be
f1Tesd TO retreat, with Halleck after him and
Mitchell hanging over him from the line Of rail-
road; and IL 10 not easy % perceive whittier be
Will turn his steps, unless he makes another des-
perate attempt to break the Federal line which,
4 successful, gpay prove Of enormous i'm Importance;
II not, he must either retreat towards the arid and
uuinvirng interior Of Central M iEissIppi or take
up position in Georgia As TO Foote'S success
ultimately, there can be little doubt, though the
process may be long one"