, 1862-05-29

sails, the only eentincIs along the miles Of de- |
serted leEee now roasting under locust heat.
IMPORTANT NEWS FROM RICH
M0ND.
The River Batteries.
EFrom the Richmond Examiner, HAY i3.l
Everything has been quiet at the river bat
te1fes since Thursday last, the enemy's gun |
boats not having made their appearance since |
the engagement Of that day.
1t is the opinion Of officers ofskill who hare |
made reconnoisaance at Drury's Bluf, that |
the position possesses number Of e1traordl- |
mary advantages, which make 1t tenable against |
all the enemy S guBhoats thst can be brought |
against It. One considerable advantage is, |
that owing to the sinuosities Of the river, and |
conformation Of the banks, the enemy must |!
t5nd it impossible to engage the batteries at =
therefore, NO fears need be entertained Of |
long raDge artillery. |
We learn that there is great need at the bat |
teries Of negro labor. There we're few ne
groes employed there yesterday evening, while |
hers, ard in all sorts Of arduous aud unsuita-
bic work.
MOVEMENTS OF GEN, JOHSSTON's DIVISION.
From the Richmond Examiner, Nay 1sth1
Gen. Johnston's forces have DOW occupied
line In the vicinity of Richmond, so as to
cover the <rlyer) batteries from any land At
tack.
We, Of course. do not enter into any details
Of the recent movement Of Gen. Johnston'B
forces, beyond the general statement that it is
supposed to have contributed to the safety Of
the city Of Richmond
Everything has been quiet On Gen. John
ston's line since their recent movement, with
ef
mish at Bottoms Bridge, in which NC suffered
no loss.
REBEL spEcuLAT1oss As TO THE UTILITY OF
GrSBoATs IN TIE ATTACK OK R1CHNosD.
From the Richmond Examiner, HAY 19th.1
The time has passed when Richmond could:
be taken by gunboats. Although much work
remains to be done On the Notifications to
render them secure from land attack aud siege
operations, It may be regarded as one certain
thing, that the enemy will not ascend the river
| in vessels. The position Of Drury's Bluff
| possesses natural strength scarcely to be
! it. No game Of long taw Is possible. The
turn Of the river that brings tho boats in sight
| is only six hundred yards distant. The bluff
Is a high ridge or comb. To shell even an
unca6cmented battery there from any distance
| would be a difficult, ii not an impossible ope-
ration. The river i, not q hundred yards wide,
/ and the entire banks appear to hare been cte
ated for the express use Of sharpshooters.'. If
| we cannot stop Yankees there we had just al
well give up all idea OF self-defeuse.
But when only three cannon were In POSI-
! ton the place Was too strong for the GaenA,
the Monikor, and five other crack yesaels-
| None of them were able to test the strength
I Of the obstructions in the channel for the Ga-
1tra alone, the heaviest iron-clad vessel of tho
United States navy, dared to come within two
hundred and fifty yards. Here she aoon got
| enough. was helped off By her comrades, aud
none Of them will be likely to re-occupJ her
| plnce-
surround and overcome tho Confederate troops
Who defetid the place it iS impossible. Two
! deductions may be made in the late aff1ir in
tho James. .First, that gunboats are impotent
in rivers with any bluff or bank sufficiently ell
eyated to throw something like vertical fro
upon then- Second, that Richmond must be
considered hereafter IS al Interior inland town,
not attainable By the naval force of the enemy,
| to be fought for and defended, lost or 1on, By
the operations Of the army alono.
Indeed, when the history OF this war Is re-
viewed, 1t will be found THAT the Chief service
the enemy has gotten from his gunboats has
been to frighten bad officers and worse troops
into surendering positions which they might
have continued to hold. Nowhere have The
eunboate effected either resi- damage or extern
si4e elrughter. Pert Royal Was taken BY the
heaviest ships in the navy coming up in deep
| water; at Donelson the gunboats were
emsshed; at Island No. 10 they did no harm
., Drugs they were beaten By three guns.
. Fortunately those guns had the ere" Of the
Mer1imac to work them, and not Jahoos,
i ignorant Of discipline and command and milf
tary business.
DAVIS McLNEs TOO MUCH TO FASTING ANE
rRArER TO SUIT soME OF HIS SUBJECTS.
[From the Richmond Examiner, May 1o.]
Tho President proclaimed last Friday to be
a day Of official prayer and religious cereao
ny, and it was so observed. The departments
~ frnFt = ~
ing period was brought to \ st.hd-still fol
twenty -four hours, Never has any ose yea
seen 70 maAy of these Affairs. It is hoped
that the latest Is the last. The country has
had quite enough of then. Religion is ths
| sentiment OF inaiyiduals, not 4 matter of mil
itars order OF formal injunc t1on and though
it Is veil that government should psy prope1
respect to the religious ceremony, that hi
teen done ard oveTdone by the ConfederacJ
: In truth, these devotional proclaHlasions Q
! Mr. Davis have Lost all good effect from rheil
| repetition, are regarded by the ptoplo as ei
ther cant or evidence Of mental weakness, 1ai
have become the topic OF unpleasant reflection
} i with intelligent men. Piety is inestimable
J | ptene1gY, common sense, impartial justice
~ courage aud industry arc also qualities Fer,
, useful to rulers and to nations. It is to th,
g dillgeat employment of tho faculties God hal
/; given ua, that We obtain Hi2 blessing, ant
: mt BY vaIa and affected supplicasions. '-.r:~
|. When We lind the President, standing in y
Il A1&A1t' 4AAo 1A0AAot oAAN &tIt4s5 ~
{ Miracle to saTe the count1y, Instead Of mount
q Ing his horse and putting fortn every Powe
. 'ot ine government 70 dsIeas me enemy; t IN
the ship springs Leak tho efi1cient captai
= Goes not oGaer I'll hanas 70 prayers, outto Tn
e gumpe- The aamo newspapers that arc bu1
r dcued with the evacuation Of Norfolk, an
nounce that PRESIDENT Davis has Jnst 6ee
confirmed !" In the Episcopal church. Pel
laps the authority Of IN eminent divine !
= name was MubIennurE, and one Sunday, j
- - 17S4, be CLOSED his last sermon with the word
- that there Eas "a time for ali things, tin
= to fight, and that time had noH come" H<,
& ,pg pronounced bensdictinu, he deliberatel
q Pulled otf biz bis go1n and appsaIed IN CON H plet
an1oIm. T. Ihsns Descending aE the paiplt ae o.
e f"r rec1ni,s % H;s rp;mrnt WA tSt AZ orr.
E izti for The cont,nenlal service: and both ii
st .SampIe md tie doctrine tIat there Il
+ TINE fur III things,'' may be well rocomnens
q I'd for the consideration Of al coaside1sl
r persona.
IL .,-,,~ ~, ,,n, -,,u ~,