Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1862-12-12
Rryra asD nARpoR 6EFESsEs.

well known that it is mainly owing to that OMISSION
to the failure to obstruct the Tennessee aud Cumberland
aud other ryerthst the enemy have been able to pen
citrate our territory far especially in the Mississippi
VALLEY Many of our reverses on the Atlantic and Gulf
coast are also owing the astonishing negligence or in
competency OF those having charge of such defenses
which inability or omission has beee cause OF much
Justly severe criticism throughout the whole Confederacy
The responsibility of such negligence rests somewhere
aud, having been in Bchnond long enough to observe
the workings of some of the departments am satisfied
In my own mind to where Improperly belongs-which
Is simply in not kazing the right -sR in chacgs nfo
nationals deenses of this character That there is not
engineering skill ingenuity enough in the Confederacy
to have long since sealed all ofour smaller river and bar
Dor channels against the enemys vessels no one will be-
eye Had those defenses been entrusted to half dozen
railroad engineers accustomed practically to overcome
all engineering problems of that character there no
doubt whatever but that the rivers would haveong ago
been DISTRACTED in proof of which do not hesitate to
that contracts could have been entered lnto-and
can NOV be madeand bonds given for the eectua per
Torrance Of the work. for obstructng any and all the
rivers Of the Confederacy excepting the Mississippi
far prevent their passing fortified points and for
very moderate sums Had the government advertised
proposals for this work these open doors the enemy
would have long since been closed. 1t is not an engL
neeriug difficulty to plan distractions which could not be
removed under the FIRE of battery every prac:icf
civil engineer kaows. The ordinary difficulties of bridge
work Golfer dams &C. present far greater obstacles to
surnount What then, has been the cause OF this sur
pring omission which has been, and Is now being SO
disastrous in It's consequence Simply In not having
proper organization or system Of carrying out such de-
lenses. Most Of those OF any practical experience
in the engineer corps are upon other duty, upon
fortiScatons or with the armies in the field, leav
ing none bat the junior appontees, appointed gen
erslly through inauence-for il is useless TO deny
that appointments in this department. as we'll as others
are made throughinAuence are, as has been shown
At great cost to the country totally incompetent TO orr
guate any effective plan TO solve any engineering pro-
bem Of that character put upon this important work
condition of things which has, in the failure 10 per
form this work of such vital importance before oh.
served cost the country disasters tnau have
been produced from any other short coming, Of the
war II {, the great weak point Of the whole which
no adequate effort has been made to protect and Tor
which negligence, iucompetency, whatever may be
te cause sosae1ody should be held responsible. Some
the rivers but II efectiye-which they do not seem
bet will be like shutting the stable door after the
horse is stolen for the work should have been done
year ago, and might have been.
There is also another effect Of this state Of things ard
which is peculiar to the engineer department. in that
the parties whose duty tits DO have DONE this
Indispensable work. ore only wholly unable TO effect
themselves but they block the way to others who
competent to do what they unable perform; and
practical plans submitted by OF long experience and
ability and who would give bonds for the
efficiency of the work largely criticised and thrown
aside by men who, perhaps designed plan in their
lives, aud would not he competent to decide to the
merits OF plan for ahencoop Thus, mich OF the ef
6cIency of deeue- in the present crisis il owing to
this difficulty ia bringing to bear the skill and practical
ability of the Couieisraoy for this and other objects
wholly los; for sho capable are NOT likely TO be
seeking Office in the departments at Richmond for the
sske of Office This difficulty could be remcdied by
tblishing Bureau for the examinations and il necces
sary experiment. OF designs of this character or for
other military purposes useful 70 the Government and
country or by appointing competent persons to examine
and report upon plans aud designs Of the character
ferred to- ~ s there persons coming here from
ali parts of the Confederacy often great expense in
time and money and without douh, generally actuated
by patriotic motives Who so TO the head Of what they
deem the proper department who j. necessarily much
engaged with pressing duties of different character
that he has Time he competent to decide upon
the merits of design plan, and who, therefore, re-
fers the matter to subordinate Who Also has his espe
eal routine Of duties TO perform, Who may bo, aud gen
orally il, in addition 20 lazy indifference peculiar TO
subordinate incumbents totally incompetent for any
thing but TO copy and register what is placed before
him And in this way the designs and labors of the
patriotic citizens ofthe ConiederScy disposed Of while
thc result OF it. our lsoPe are being murdered and pill
LACED along the lines Of rivers all from the imprac
tcable schemea of the visionary to the plans and de-
signs OF the most skilliu and practical Of the Con
elerate States whose shoes, to speak these lazy
referees would not be worthy TO lsce,-vhich might
be of nestimAbe value TO the country, all go the
way and are not given second thought The eonse-
ouence Of This system, Of bringing 10 bear the tai
ent ard ingenuity of the Coufedersc are before the
country; in the West the rivers and the East, on
the Atlantic seaboard end may be- the worst is yet to
come If the Conederacy succeeds il will be purely by
hard ghng for it has no. had the auxiliary adj
yan,ages Of engineering skill and engineers appliances
except in the Geld aid it is bumIating to have
to confess that the loss Of much of territory that
has been lost and our most serious reyerses on the bat
tie field and In tie loss of cities and towns are owing
to the want of sufficient engineering skill or manage
uen,, TO solve the simple problem of obsructiug our
riyers-a problem which would have been solved in
week upon the Northern rivers, had been the nva
derS of their waters.
I,I -lr nIv
che Engineer and ordnsno" Departments us they are
the principal departments which are responsible and to
which plans aud designs othe character in question are