The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1862-05-28
TbaL oss d New orleans-.-Whoi is Regpongiblel

Il may be impolitic at this time tc agitae or under
AXE to silt matter distasteiul TO many OF the Oil
GERS and people OF this Conederacy as the hXng OF the
responsibility for the loss of New Orleans The blow
is confessedly great one but it has been inflicted and
it must be borne with becoming maniness IL may not
now advance the cause OF the country to trace out the
responsible party orpares for this great disaster Let
us be content by INDUCING the hope that there IS to be
no repetition Of a similar humiiating spectacle.
The remarks which submitted on this subject last
Friday are thought by some do Gen. Lowell injustice
and in the present temper of the people, nothing could
be farther from wish than TO take advantage OF the
popular camor the prejudice Of that officer lie IS
entitled to fair hearing before lie IS condemned, and
if the circumstances which surround the affair render
this mpotic at present. then the best that the public
can do will be to suspend their judgment until such
fair hearing can be had
We have had the pleasure Of long interview with
an intelligent officer of the navy who has been perfectly
familiar with the movements of Gen. Lowell from the
time he assumed command Of the department TO the
evacuation of New Orleans. From him we learn many
significant and important facts which it is unnecessary
at present to divuge but which show that Gen. Lowell
has not been idle or careless about the defence of the
city It is claimed by his friends that he did all that
could be done up to the very hour Of evacuation.
There was formidable obstruction placed between
forts jackson and ST. Philip consisting of heavy logs
between forty and sixty feet in length ashed together
by large chains running across the river under the
logs and fastened on both sides of the river by plant
very heavy ancHOISs 1HGie WIS dlsU dDOul IiVI
let down into the bottom Of the river So powerfully
had this raft been built and fastened both Shores and
50 thoroughly had it been anchored that was believed
by those who constructed that nothing the giving
away Of the bottom OF the Mississippi itself coula
break it. Ii impossible for vessels to pass the forts
while the raft across the river held three months
but was swept away finally by the high water the rapid
current and the drift. steamer and men were con
stauty employed attend the raft to keep away the
drift &c. which however it was found impossible to do
This raft cost notless than $4,000 or 100000 and had
it not been for the unprecedented high water it Is sup
posed that it would have answered the purposed for
which it was intended
After the raft carried away another obstruction
was placed in the river possible, by anchor
ing small vessels, and running chains from one to the
other after their masts had been removed Ihe men
work ed night and day TO accomplish this The obstruc
ton thus made remained in position until within two or
three days Of the fight, whenit too was carried away
a storm bv five vessels breaking draft above it and
coming down against it. which they did with such great
violence, the current being very rapid aud the wind
blowing very hard Vessels were Immediately set to
work to put this obstruction in position again. but the
enemy would not allow them to do it, but fred upon
them whenever they attempted it, The distractions
between the forts cost not less than 100000.
There was in fort Jackson only three teninch column
biads-not one in fort St. Philip. These three heavy
guns the only ones III the whole department Both
forts together had ten eleven eighnch c0umblads,
and fort Jackson had one sevennch rifle gun loaned
from the navy. The last ten-iuch eoumbad arrived in
New Orleans but few days before the fight commenced
and was mounted Immediately III the fort. II Is only
within the last six weeks that there has been single
teu-inch coumDad in the department. At the works
below the city eightnch coumbads mad been used
without being subjected to a test the enemy having
opened upon the forts just they were finished. The
first ounce Of powder burned in them fred at the
enemy There was no time to test them. We learn
however that they worked well.
These facts show that Gen. Lowell was aware Of the
enemy and that he did, perhaps, all that he could to
prevent his vessels from passing the forts What he
might have done after the enemy passed to have saved
the city from disgrace is question for military men
to decide
We have thought proper to give these facts to the
public for the benefit OF Gen. Lowell it cannot be
any part OF our desire to attach unmerited blame to
him Tor a calamity which, for the time cast gloom
over the whole country. Time will show where the
responsibility really lies. Meantime it is perhaps not
fair 10 judge TOO harshy the action of this officer,
whom a cloud is now hanging. Mississippian,
We are indebted to a young friend in the army for
tue following letter
CAM NEAR YORKTOWN VA.
May /, 1862. I
Mr.. EpIroR Deening it doubtful whether a letter
sent by mail would ever reach Texas, and having
opportunity Of sending one by gentleman who starts
for Texas tomorrow, beg q small space in your col
for the pelusaI OF friends and relations in
laddo and Harrison.
The division Of the army to which we belong com
maHded by maor-general g. w. Smith, received orders
ON the night of the 18th ut to be ready to march by
daylight the next morning. The night of the 18th
a cold snowy night and the Sth, the morning Of our
departure from Fredericksburg but little better
the snow had turned cold chilling rain which con
tiuued without nteruisslon three days and nights We
received orders to carry little clothing as possible in
our kuapsacks, We had long forced march before
us. Cur blankets were put in the baggage-wagons and
owing the condition of the roads, they did not
take Us for more than DAYS, and our tents being
left behind poorly prepared for sleeping The
best could do to make fires OF what sticks and
brush could pick up, and sit by them in the rain
the whole night. We spent lights thus without
moments sleep, and that too after having marched
twenty miles each day preceding the nights passed
above stated have never experienced such suffering
before, and OF course many have sunk under it. The
company to which belong Capt. Bass') numbers 81
rank and file and of that number twentythree
the sick list. and the other companies of the regi-
ment report in the same proportion.
| cannot forbear a word of praise to the noble and
generous hearted Vircinans for their kind treatment
towards u.s. while on the march from Fredericksburg to
this place On march like that, many Of course we're
taken sick, while Others completely worn ont and
unable to continue the march. All such, who asked
the favor kindly taken in and cared for by the
roadside farmer, and not single instance DO know,
in which any charge was made. On one OCCASION a
friend and mysolE stopped at the house Of an aged
lady get dinner Size told she had already furn-
ished dinner to dozen soldiers that day. but so long
as she had morsel she willing to divide with
soldier Ny friend and l. feeling unwilling TO trampe
upon the generosity of the old lady arose to depart
but she insisted should wait until she could prepare
dinner for US which did, and in short time an ex
celIent dinner set before Us, to which did ample
justice When we offered to pay the old lady she re-
fused it, remarking that she had two in the army
and she only treated she would have mothers
treat her BOYS under similar circumstances.
We have been expecting attack here for some
time but yet nothing more than a few skrmishes
between pickets and the shooting of shells has taken
places but l think great battle is minent Cur
troops have been lying in the trenches for more than
two weeks, ready a. all times to begin the work of
DEATH The enemy's lines are not over q mile from
ours. By gIanciug at a map, the position Of the two
armies will DE easily known. Our left upon York
river right upon James river eleven miles distant
The enemy's lines parallel with ours mile or two
in front Our boys are all eager for the fight and our
generals confident of success
The Shreveport Greys and Greenwood Guards are in
this vicinity, but permitted to leave camp
so have not seen any of them but understand they
are in good health and spirits.
The CONSUMPTION bill goes hard with many of the
tweIvemonth troops; not because they desire to cult
the service, but the idea of being ''conscript" is
somewhat humHatiug to the high spirited volunteer
Another reason for obectng to the BILL is the precedent
established besides conflicting with the cherished doe