The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1862-01-11

AlyMuNu 0tardtty.
sUkNiSu......JAN. II, 1891.
TIE NAyr.-We earnestly hope that the
foundations Of Confederate Navy will be
soon isid and an opportunity given to on
gaIlsn, officers of that branchof the nations
serviee to cope with their enemies upon terms
somewhat approaching equality. It istc ms
sad aud touching spectacle to see so many high
spirited and heroic gentlemen cast ashore, like
the wrecks of stately vessels, and, instead OF
breastng the ocean wave, condemned Z"
ac, only an passive hreakwaters agsihht
she advancing tide. Few landsmen can
form All adequate conception OF the par
eatoriai pangs which seaman sane''
when confined 10 the shore ana PR
vented from exercising bis talent and training
upon his peculiar element hsh oat OF
water is the mos, expressive type o! his age
nice. No officers of the old army can by any
possibility have made as gres. sacrifices 10
leaving the United States service as those of
the navy. The former have given up Il
service In which, as class, they would have
been condemned for a long period TO
subordinate position, aud had no such
opportunities of promotion and honor rs
their present posts in the Southern Army.
We do not underrate their 6isinterestedaess
Ut their sacritises. but we may aver, without
injustice 10 them. that they are not 10
lie compared with the sacrifices made
by the Navy. The officers of tina branch
left Gove.nment in which they
would always have had active employ
Inent upon their own element for one wLicL
had no such attractions, and if their chances
Of promotion in the old service was not more
than equal 10 those Of the army, they had in tie
new no chance, even Of the professional ell
terprise, by which promotion is obtained. Nor
can any one but sailor adequately appreciate
the surrender of personal pride and comfort i'll
being transferred from the spacious decks ami
frowning batteries of magnificent sbip-of
war, 10 some miserable little tug with scarcely
room enough in her - tnrn round in, or bat
terry enough 10 sink :errapin. A Command
er-ln- Chief compelled 10 descend from the
back OF q gloriogA war horse, and straddie Il
pony. with his heels dragging along The
ground. il bu; Il faint picture vi the condition
Of naval officer in the Confederate service
just think of such Il veteran OF the doep as old
Catnall, whose fame is co-extensive with the
world, and whose broad flag has
ioatea over "A squadron Of as superb
vessels of war as ever pioughed the deel
reduced 10 the command Of n musquiso iluet
in narrow bayou. This is but one specimen
If the sacrifices made by our glorious naval
officers, who have been content, for the sake
of their country, to ham iGate themselves:
and serve her even ia "a barge, scow, tug OF
canal boat, rather than serve despot in the
most splendid pomp and circumstance of their
profession. We insist that such men deserve
the public favor and the support of their Gov
eminent, and that it cannot act with too great
promptness and energy in giving them field
worthy of their fame Their services upon
Land have been thus far as cheerfuily rem
dered as if they were atloAt, and have proved
of the creates. value. The following commu-
nioation to the Norfolk Day Book FROM a
naval officer thus vindieates the services
rendered on land by the gentlemen Of the
navy:
"Of1cers of the Navy have been censured
for the losses sustained at Port Royal ana
HAtteras, while it is well known that at tn {
former no naval officers had ever been sta
toned, and therefore, had nothing TO do,
either In the erection Of the batteries the in
stTuction OF the guns crews, or the working
OF the guns during the fight. T.e only part
horne By the navy In that vicinity ,wss by the
little feet OF flag officer Tatnall who, with the
slight force AT his disposal, succeeded IN au =
Aoying the enemy, and without loss accom-
piishel all that could have been reasonably
expected OF him.. and well sustained his
previous daring reputation. AT Hatieras
naval officers were never elm yloyed, and those
who Were captured there, only arrived at
night after Tue first days bombardment,
when 1t was toe lafe to accom- piish an Y IN In z
in the way OF defence and after volunteer
Ing their assistance, Capt. barron only as
sumed command at the request of the Colonel
commanding, when discovering the made
Quacy OF means to resist the overwhelrni IL z
force against them, a surrender was agreed
upoH, and upon him ana bis naval associates
slone is the attempt made, uHjustly, to rest
the responsibility of a loss of forts they ne d
never seen until the night before their occu-
patton by the enemy.
"At every battery where ma val officers b ave
had command, and been employed TO instruct
the men In the exercise OF the guns the enc
my has been repulsed whenever an attack
has been made. And Aqua Creek Evans.
port, Sewell's Point, Pig Point and ship
Island will ever testify to the zeal and ability
Of their naval comm an Gers and though grcs
Injustice has been done the navy in relieving
Ur euperseding some ~ Tvs officers at hatte-
ries, where for months they have been ac-
lively engaged in bringing them into state
Of t0clency. Those who have been allowed
70 retain their commands, will endeayor to
give good account Of themselves when the
hour OF trial comes, AZ trust their reputa-
lions To toe work accomplished.
"In addition tb duty At batteries, naval OH
0ft3cienftv an,t Nlrx- md tx.
boats At New Orleans and the upper Nissis-
etppi, oh the coast OF North Carolina and
James river, on board the Sumter and Nash
Vile, at Navy Yards. at M anassas az d at Va
nous points in the south, experimenting the
construction OF guaboats.
"While 1t is a source of dee . regret to all
naval officers that the Confederacy il without
ships to meet the enemy on the ocean. they
ere certainly rot 70 blame If tho deficiency
hus not been supplied
Let ns hope that these gallant gentlemen
WIZ soon be pnt to work upon their own ele.
mont Their vocation il noble one, full Of
adventure, enterprise, romance, and chiyalry.
There is no life "a grand and inspirinp "a
that on the ocean, none in which man ia
brought in such close contact withthe wonders
and greatness OF God, none making such con.
slant demands upon his courage and fortitude.
No naticn liz great in the worlds respect
whose Tag is seldom seen upon the seas or in
foreign ports, and whose navy is insignificant
aud unable to venture out of its own har
bors-
SOUTHERN POPULARITY ABROAD. - The
south has every reason TO believe that she
commands the sympathies of the world in her
present struggle. Not only is this tho esse