New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1862-02-11
Aeu 0rIeaus Dailp Crescent.
TUESDAY MORNING, FEBRU AIRY IL. 1852.
THE NEWS AND THE SITUATION.


; THE NEWS AND THE SITUATION.
We have been in the habit, and with good reason,
too, of calling the Lincolnes the greatest boast
ers and falsiers in existence, but we must do
them the justice of saying that they sometimes tell
the truth and carry out their promises. More than
two months ago they publicly boasted that they
were preparing to ascend the Cumberland and
Tennessee rivers, and declared through their
newspapers, on innumerabfe occasions, that they
would do 80. So far as the most important
river is concerned, the Tennessee, they have win.
dicated their pledges, for their gunboats are now
in Alabama, Mississippi, and the lower part of
Tennessee-in the very heart Of the Southern Con
federacy
We congratulate the Generals in command on
the consummate management displayed. We have
not the slightest doubt but that they have made
Bowling Green impregnable--that Columbus is
prepared to repulse any sort Of attack-and il the
enemy had marched right up to the Notifications
prepared for his reception, that he would have
been slaughtered without remorse of conscience,
and great victory gained! But, as the unappre-
ciative foe concluded to pass by Bowling Green
aud Columbus, without even making passing call
upon either Generals Johnston or Polk, it does
seem to US, as it could have been done with com.
parative ease and absolute certainty, that the
channels of both the Tennessee and Cumberland
rivers should have been closed so that gunboats
could not possibly pass! We may be wrong we
are unacquainted with military strategy-bnt If
there is any common sense in holding Bowling
Green, at the sacrifice Of the Southwest and rail-
road communication with the Atlantic States, we
are unable to discover it. t. -. .ef-
But, as there may be a great deal of profound
science behind all of this, we are not disposed to
complain very loudly. Still, regard for truth
eompels us to say that the people are rapidly
losing confidence in their military engineers, with
out even mentioning those high in command. Be-
fore the attack on Hatteras was made, we were
told that all was safe-that the engineers had made
all right. Gen. Buffers fleet knocked Fort Hat
teras to pieces with little or no.trouble, and seve
raj hundred gallant men were taken prisoners.
Before Port Royal was attacked, we were assured
that the Notifications there could not be success
fully assailed. Gen. Sherman's feet smashed
things generally and promscuously in few hours,
and took possession Of the forts and much valuable
property. On The Tennessee river, we were in
formed that scientific engineers had reared great
work, called it Fort Henry, and filed the stream
with torpedoes and submarine batteries. Four or
five of Lincoln's gunboats shell the fort for an
hour and half, take it with little difficulty, and
encounter neither torpedoes nor submarine bat
teries. We thought we had sure thing on Roam.
oke Island, but according to the latest dispatches
at hand, Burnsides fleet and soldiers cleaned our
troops out thoroughly, and took three thousand
prisoners. .... .,y.. ,s-..... r-
The highest authority in all the land told the
writer, in the early part of July last, that in times
Of peace we always heard a great deal about
fleets silencing and passing forts and batteries,
but that in times of war such things were un-
known. If he HASN'T changed his opinion ere this,
we opine he will before he retires to rest tonight
So far in this war, the reverse has been the case,
for the enemys fleets have silenced and taken our
batteries and forts, whenever they have made the
attempt. Either the theory is wrong, or else a
wretched set of engineers has been foisted upon
the exalted parsonage alluded to. If the theory is
wrong another should be adopted, and if the
engineers are incompetent new corps should be
constituted with the least possible delay. Between
the two the public veal is being endangered.
The enemy, according to the dispatches of yes
terday, had landed large force of cavalry at Sa-
vannah, Hardin county, Tennessee, on the morning
of the 9th inst. Hardin county borders on Missis-
spp and Alabama, and the Federas boasted that
they would have the whole railroad in less than
two weeks! If, after taking possession of, or de.
stroying the railroad, they would return and at
tack Bowling Green, there would be some consola
ton in the thought, although our feeble intellect
would still be unable to comprehend Or appreciate
the profound strategy displayed. Scores upon
scores of brave fellows have died in erecting splen
did defensive works at Bowling Green, and it is a
crying sin and a scandalous shame that an unscien
tific enemy should be allowed to pass them by with
out even making call.
Well, if the worst comes and railroad connec
tons should be broken in North Carolina and Ten
nessee, the rolling stock will have to be taken tc
places of security or destroyed, and the tracks
torn up as far as may be necessary. The foe
will be obliged to leave his ships after awhile
get beyond the reach of their protecting guns, anl
fight us hand to hand on our own soil, along line
of frontier, including our seacoasts, of severa
thousand miles. Neither the possession of com
manding points, nor the occupation of cities, will
| give him any permanent advantage He mus
| fail in the end From the fastnesses of our noun
| tains, from the recesses of our sWamps, from ou
| impenetrable saYannals and broad prairies, W.
will emerge to take vengeance, and only retire tt
emerge again. And, ere long, our yellow-hairet
friend will not only raise the blockade, but viii
make the whole country, from Memphis down,
graveyard to Northerners. So far as the ultimate
| result is concerned, we entertain no doubt. Thu
triumph of the South is certain as that the sui
will ever rise again, no matter how long it may b.
protracted by the vagaries of science. The peo
pie Of the South, being deserving of freedom vii
never consent to be slaves, and will, consequently
fight the battle through to successful termination
! despite the odds and circumstances.
! FROM THE LOWER PoToMAC.-- The New Yorl
Herald has the following note of affairs on tn
Lower Potomac:
The steamer Hecla, o Philadelphia boat, whicl
on her last trip with stores. ETC., about q weel
| ago, had ninety-fve shots fired at her from tn
| rebel batteries, all of which missed her. ran tn
blockade again last night but was not saluted wit
| a single shot, the rebels thinking, no doubt, the
! had wasted enough ammunition on her already.
| A few days since a schooner going down in
| heavy fog which prevailed was becalmed off Cock
| pit Point, and when the fog lifted the batter
opened on her. The shots dropped all round he
| and her situation was very CRITICAL when Dr. Bad
| ger of the Anacosta, sent some boats down an
| towed her out of range.
REs1GNED.-In the Richmond Wing we find tn
| following: .s4- .f-'<
We regret to hear from the Charleston Mercur
| that Gen. Bonham has resigned his commission i