The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1862-05-19
NEW YORK HERALD. MONDAY, MAY 1y, 1862.
The Repuise or Our Iron-Clad GunbOats
I'm the James River.

The Repuise or Our Iron-Clad Gunboats
i'm the James River.
The brief incomplete, but very suggestive
despatch which we published yesterday of the
repulse of our gunboats-the Monitor, Galena
Naugatuck, Aroostook and Port Royal-from
Fort Darling, on the James river, seven miles be-
low Richmond, passed like the shadow of an ugly
cloud over this metropolis. 1t was well for our
stockholders and fnanciers, specializing upon
another victory as the next thing in order. that
this ominous and sinister looking first report of
this repulse was published here on Sunday; for
had it come upon them suddenly this morning
the bears would doubtless have seized the
opportunity for panic and raid among the
astonished bulls and lame ducks of Wall street
AS it is we presume there will be no such
ridiculous sensation among them to-day.
In the absence of any official details in ex-
PLANTATION of this repulse, we think that we may
undertake to account for it, and to the satisfac
ton of our readers. First, the officers of our
little squadron were ignorant, until they reached
it, of the strength and perhaps Of the ex-
istence of Fort Darling. Secondly, while
it was doubtless. extensively armed with
ridel guns of the heaviest calibre
from the Tredegar Works at Richmond, our
squadron could hardly bring over thirty pieces
to bear against it. In the next place, our
gunboats, in the very narrow channel Of the mar
row river at Fort Darling, were almost in c,t
de sac, in which they could neither maneuvre
to assist each other nor get beyond the
point blank range of the enemy's batteries
without withdrawing from the contest; for we
have no doubt that the advance Of our ships
above the fort was prevented by distractions
in the channel Of the stream.
We dare say that this explanation Of this un-
fortunate affair will be sustained by the facts.
We speak only from some general knowledge Of
the lower James river in the neighborhood of
Richmond, and from the defensive preparations
there which have been recently limited at
by the Richmond newspapers 1t is evident
that the gallant men of our little feet
did all in their power to silence the enemys
works. If we were disposed to find fault with
the conduct Of our commanding officer. we
should say that, having ascertained the real
strength of the enemy's position, and the supe-
ror weight and pressure of his artillery, our YES
sells should have been called off to await the
assistance of . cooperative land attack. But
we have no complaint to make against any
brave officer, soldier or sailor who is slow to
be convinced that he is fighting against impos-
sibilities. It was this spirit of unshrinking
courage which carried the feet of Commodore
Farragut through impediments supposed to be
impossible to the city of New Orleans.
But the stubborn fact is before us that our
advance towards Richmond, by way of the river,
has met with . decided check, and that, in conse-
quence thereof, the restoration of the .old flag"
over that rebellious city depends only to .
greater extent upon the army Of General
Mcclellan. If we had dashing, enterprising
and vigorous man of war of the present day at
the head Of the Navy Department we should
say without hesitation that this repulse of our
iron-clad gunboats in the James river is only
the result Of q mere reconnaissance to ascer-
tain the position and strength of the enemy's
works, and that, having made these discoveries,
the necessary means by land and water will
be Immediately employed to reduce those
works But, as the venerable Mr.. Welles be-
longs to the old slow coach establishment Of
the last generation, we cannot undertake to
promise that be will do anything to restore the
prestige of his important branch Of the public
service At the very point where it has been 50
seriously shaken, unless President Lincoln
shall stir him up to his duty.
In default, however, Of any further attempts
to run the rebel gauntlet Of the James river to
Richmond, we are quite easy, under the con-
vction that the way will be opened by Gen
Mcclellan, although this repulse of our little
naval expedition will doubtless result in en-
couraging the rebel army to . very stubborn
resistance.