Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-01-21
w. d. WALLACH.
TALK ON ,cHANeE NEW ORLEANS
tFrOm the N o. Crescent, Jan. Iol

From the N D. Crescent, Jan. I0l
The aags were portentiously silent yesterday;
possibly the weather had some influence; the
movements were in unison-dull and sluggish
The storm commencing on the 7th, and which
appeared to have ran its course at the setting
Of the sun last evening, was the 6rst regular
old gray nor hesster We have had this season.
II held up sufficiently on the sver-memorsble
6fh 10 sllow Of the parade and inspection of
Major General Lewis division of Louisiana
trOopsi they cannot, from the good turnout, be
termed militia. In years gone by, the old
public Cathedral Square-now Jackson Square
was sufficiently large to accommodate all re-
views Of the uDunifOrmed troops of our city.
The turnout and numbers day before yester-
dsy were Of different character. We cannot
say how many miles he lines Of troops covered
The general impression was that If those Yam
kee regiments lowering about Ship Island
quartsring at Biloxi and Mississippi City, will
only come on, that is, land on the lake shore,
west side, anywhere from Isle 'Pitre to Milne
burg and Bayou st. John, they might be more
than decimatea
Talking of the action Of our Government in
several matters brought up some incidental
remarks in regard to the Navy Department al
RishmoDd. We are asked If Ii has already
degenerated into a circumlocution appendage
of the Confederate Government. A cammu.
nieation before US implies that the command-
Ing officers Of the Naval Department on this
station have had their hands tied, as it<1rere
since the removal Of the seat of Government
1t is as plain as the MONDAY sun that after
the clearing out of the Hessians from the
mouth Of the Mississippi, on the 18th of Octo-
ber last. the port of New Orleans the mouths
Of the Mississippi river. could have been kept
open TO the commerce Of the world by a very
moderate outlay of money. In June last, the
confederate Congress appropriated $500, 600
Tor the defence Of this good city of New Or
lesns, to e applied for naval defence.
True, there is a nondescript in course of
erection at the temporary nsvy-yard above the
city. But ii il useless TO say that after the
great success Of Com. Hnllins With the Manas-
sas snd other boats, the mouths Of the Missis-
sippi could not have been kept open Some
two dozen of our public spirited and influen-
tIal merchants associated and psid out $50 900
for the Ram or Manassas. She has proved a
decided success, and 1t is now three months
since her inVincI bility was proved. Our lib
eraI and enterprisiDg merchants would have
advanced the money 10 have built two or more
nondescripts; but we are asked. What en-
couragement have they?" MIR Secretary NAL
lory appears TO throw cold wDer, as il we're
on all suggestions. Twelve or twenty gunboats
could have been fitted out in this civ since
July LAST, and have bid defiance to the Hessian
navy, 90 far IS the mouths Of the Mississippi
were concerned
There was some talk about the bill before
eur Legislature spprOpriating two million:
and half Of dollars for naval purposes Thi:
sum is not required to protect New Orleans
Ii 1t is a bill to buy mp all the old hulks Iyine
At Algiers, 1t Is time for our taxpayers Il
begin to talk about il. Money can be Judi
clously expended for the defense of Louisiana
without pandering to some few individuals
We beg our legislators to pause before passing
the two and a half million naval bill 1t 4
almost on an equality with the cotton loar
bill.
There was some talk about the Hessiar
movements in Mississippi Sound that they
have landed sn the mainland, and taken pos
session Of Mississippi City, Barnes Hotel
Tegarden's Hotel, the Court House and priyai,
residences for officers quarters, and so on
which is no more than We expected, and vha
We have predicted since July last. We hav,
talked frequently Of the exposed condition o.
the ses coast, and Governor Pettus will recol
lect We called his attention to it. and now W,
call his attention to the capital Of Mississippi
the City Of Jackson.