Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1862-02-20
From the Norfolk Day Book, 18th inst.


From the Norfolk Day Book, 18th inst
trhe Roanoke Island Disaster-the Inactien OF the
Navy Department.
The fact cannot longer be concealed that criminal
negligence is chargeabe somewhere for the disastrous
overthrow of our brave and gallant men at Roanoke
Island.
The fact cannot longer be concealed because it is up
on the tongue of every rejecting man. AS public
ourna devoted to the public cause, cause IN which all
possess and realise the deepest interest," this paper
averse the suppression OF grievance OF such magni
tude from any scked sentimental fear that injury
to to the true interests OF people by Tree
comment and exposure Thus to WELD the engine OF
the press we regard as the true glory and noble aim OF
the press of free people. When it ceases thus to
speak, the benefits of its mission lost unattained
and it becomes but the panderer to power This is the
position which it now occupies under the heel of the
Northern despotism.
Ii the public press is to be muzzed or to muzze it.
self from fear of bringing down upon the heads of those
in authority the merited condemnation which malad-
mnisraton Justly demands-if it is to maintain silence
from fear of exposing even to our enemies the patent
fact that Of 10 authority are derellct IN
duty and lack the qualifications which their positions
demand-then, the printers type may be as well sent
back to the foundery abuse of power in high places GO
xpOsed the perpetrators continue their ma-admnls
ratio the public interests be suffered to anguish. be
dsregarded and crimnaly imperilled. The brave men
WHO fought the enemy at Roanoke Island, and many OF
whom poured out their blood like water in theute at
force sacrificed to criminal neglect to reinforce
them This is the fact which has impressed itself upon
the public mind and to which hesitate not to give
utterance and an objective form.
Notwithstanding the knowledge possessed by every
man 10 midst and within the bounds of the Confed-
eracy, of the fitting out of tie Burnside Expedition
Notwithstanding its reported presence lowering of the
Carolina coastnot wthstanding its proclaimed arrival
Oft Roanoke Island disclosing the manifest intention Of
the enemy attack that devoted Island and possess
| as STR base
tant operations Notwithstanding the TACT known to
our men in power, that this important post not
sufficiently manned-that he force there inadequate
to defend it against the attack by which it had been
menaCed for MISUNDERSTANDING this aud more,
WHICH might be stated yet that hanful Of brave and
devoted suffered to remain there nsuficienty
reinforced and to await the moment when apparently
uncared for they to be buchered to make - a
Northern holiday and to furnish the demOralze d
pres CT the savage and sOuless NOrtb tit theme for
their rucuent boastings and endish huZzas Such is
the culpfbe neglect which demands ventilation and
calls for remedial nerpoSti0n OF the executive Of
the government at Richmond If the vulnerable points
on our extended coast to be defended at ALL let them
be defended effectively Or at least with some rcasona-
bic regard the 07erpOWering forces have hith-
erto been concentrated against them To garrison them
with force SO inadequate that which fought to the
az ath at Roanoke Is to convert them into slaughter
peDs aud crminally sacrifice the lives of brave and
devoted men. Such, it is melancholy to reflect, WIS
tan band of whom escaped to bring the tdngs of
their untimGy doom.
But We ought to have bad in the Sound
twenty gunb0ats more-such even as could have car
RED, each, one effective ria4d gun.
+ Ten months have elapsed since the Navy Yard
here came provdentiay into pos3essionsby deser
tlon-and fifty such gunboats might Lave been easily
constructed there, armed, Manned and placed at the
mouths of the and small streams in the sound
and elsewhere. But there has not one single one such
been here constructed. This is startling fact and
evnces what the public regard culpable negligence
Although within few hours ride of this great aud in
estimable depot to the Confederacy, Mr.. Secretary
Mallory has not visited the Navy Yard since he
warmed his official seat, has he manifested that ad
illustrative energy in the matter Of these gunboat
which the time demands from him and from all who have
been placed in positions of importance such he aad
others occupy in these perious times The disaster at
Roanoke Island by means consists alone in its mere
capture nor in the loss of the band of braves there
rificed
lis most important and designed results are yet in the
womb of tuturity and unless they at thwarted
by diligence foresight and energy, manifested in the
proper quarters the intentions and hopes of the Burn
side expedition may yet be fully effected and realized
Let it Dever be lost sight of for a moment at time
that this point-this Navy Yards one Of incaIcula
bic Importance to the Southern Conederacy.