New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1862-05-01
Letter of Gen. Lowell.
We give place to the following letter of General
Lowell, which we find in the Delta: ,s,

Editors Deaa-Dear sirs In the Evening Delta.
in an article headed " Fallen, But Not Dlseraced'
this expression occurs e The lack OF energy and
earnestness on the part of the agents of the Con.
federate Government" etc.
This includes me in its sweep. and think un-
justly. When came here, but a few short months
since, found the State completely defenseless:
its ports blockaded, and its young men gone to
other parts OF the Confederacy in the army. With
out anything but what was created, every inlet
was put in q position to offer protracted and gal
lant defence. Forts were armed, powder and mu.
nitions of every description were made, and gal.
were cast and materials of all kinds extemporized
by incessant labor and activity. TIE river az The
forts was twice bridged by Instructions which
would have resisted anything but the formidabla
rush of the great Mississippi in ts swollen wrath
NV troops, at the call OF their country rushed
to Corinth, and the deeds of the Louisiana regi.
ments on the 9Th and 7th of April, indicated their
courage and their training. Our foundries were
beginning to turn out heavy guns OF the best
quality, and a newly erected arsenal furnished us
with various implements of war. All this has been
vessels for river defence, eight Of which are now
defending the upper river, and eight have been
destroyed in the vain attempt to keep back the
enemy's fleet of war vessels below. This has been
done with no host of generals and staff officers of
experience to assist. Almost alone, with but few
exceptions have worked day and night, for more
than five months, to defend this great city. The
responsibility of its fall is not due to any want of
q energy or earnestness' on my part.
In short time more should have had guns
enough. and men enough, to defend the numerous
approaches on that element on which the enemy is
so preeminently power ul; and I therefore beg
that you will do me the justice to say to the people
of New Orleans that did all that one man could
do to preserve them from an insolent and powerful
foe; When their fleets passed all our batteries,
withdrew my infantry forces beyond the city
limits, in order to permit the people of New Or
leans to decide whether they would subject their
wives, their children and property to lombard
in fbn nHpav vnr Tn ms ojpfo fhoi,
intact; and returned to the city to-day to learn
their decision and to offer myself and my command
to stand by them to the last moment, in case they
should decide to undergo bombardment I know
that there are many gentlemen here who will bear
me witness that all that is here set forth, and
much more, has been done to avert this sad
disaster.
An examination of my letter and order books
and telegraphc dispatches will show hat no sIoue
has been left unturned by me to save New Orleans
from this humiliat on; and feel we'll conviuc-d
that few short weeks would have rendered the
position impregnable. All I ask is simple Justice
and nothing more. In cOnclusicn, | will add that
terrible as the blow has been, | am pei,her dis
heartened nor in despair The war of ndepend
gled on against the massive power OF Great Bri-
tain, when Boston, New York, Philadelphia,
Charleston and Savannah were all in possession Of
the enemy, and gained their liberty.
1t is moral aud physical impossibty that we
can be conquered. Let US but be true to ourselves
and our cause-never firing, never despairing-
but rising, Acteon-like, with renewed Vigor from
every fall. and we shall yet be -sesarded with sue
cess. Above all, we should not crush down the
spirit and the energies of those who are using all
the faculties, menial and physical, that God has
given them, by making light of their labors be-
cause, with limited means and under adverse Cir
cumstances, they have not been successful in
resisting at all points great, wealthy and power.
fare both military and paral, in great abundance
at his control, We have never yet seen such dark
days as those which enyironed George Washing
ton at Valley Ferge and, should such be lot,
trust that iae spirit will animate US to work
| ont the ssne successful results.
| w Respectfully your obt servant zfssss
| NJ. LOWELL,
H.E Major Gene al @. s. A.