Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1862-02-14

ptA- When, months ago, we urged the
vital Importance OF adequate sesences on the Cum
berland and Tennessee rivers, as the keys to the
Southwest, and the necessity of preserving the
bridges 5ss those streams as the means of inter
communication between our armies as well as a
channel of commercial intercourse, we were de
nouncsd a creaker--a pretender acknowledge
out of o,r line In vain We fortified our position,
by quoting, from Northern journals, article after
article urging upon the Lincoln Government the
Importance of possessing those rivers MS highways
leading into the South. Appeals and arguments
were alike unheeded, until the course of events be-
gan to awaken the authoritcs 10 truths that should
have been palpable from the beginning aud when
so awakened, system Of iortifcation was COM
meneed little calculated for defense against iron
clai gunboats as pop-guu against park of artl-
icry. This is no idle opinion, but a fact clearly and
painfully demonstrated by experiment within the
last few days; and we invite attention TO it now,
not as flult-hndcr, but with the hope of awaken
ing the people and the authorities to the necessity
for wiser couusels and more energetic measures for
the defense of or common country.
IF it BE- true, that the gunboats are inpervious
to any projectile at our command, and that We had
not the means Of building similar ones with which
to encounter them, the facts ought to have been
known long aga 70 those skilled in such matters,
aud, instead of spending time and money upon For
tiGcations and heavy artillery, it would seem the
wiser course to have thrown effectual distinctions
into the riversf this practicable, and if not,
then to turn their attention to the protection of the
interior leaving the river settlements to the chan
ces Of low water and the policy of the enemy. To
this, il has come at last, and the utter inadequacy
Of our defenses can only serve to bring reproach
upon Southern skiS AID energy, and to stimulate
the Yankees to pcrsevere in struggle that threat.
ems to bring them in contact with such trivial OBJ
stncles to ultimate success. An indefensible forti
6eation requires much time and money for its erec.
ton for its defense troops diverted from point:
where they might render efficient and valuable ser
vice, their lives and liberty are hazardcd without
probable equivalent, the armaments of such forti6-
cations are at the mercy of the enemy, and with the
loss of these, goes the loss of prestigea most
valuable consideration.
! We make these remarks iu no querulous spirit
Il may be that the parties concerned have done the
very best they could under the C circumstances, and
If others could have done better it is the country
misfortune thatthey were not vested with the pow
er. Our Young government has very much to do
and little to do it WITH and with this fact befor,
It's charity should prompt us to ascribe to absolut,
necessity much that wears the semblance of uegec
or Incompetence, and patriotism should prompt tb'
people to make up for such shortcomings by in
creased zeal and energy. Every reverse ought t.
inlnse new atdor into the popular heart and ever!
blhnder teach additional wisdom to those in au
thprity. N.