Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1862-05-15

and be would probably have intercepted part
OF the rebel General Johnston's army.
Il ought not to omit to mention the gallant
attack by part Of the western Aotilla, under
Lieutenant Gwin, upon the enemy at Pittsburg
on the Tennessee river, where fifteen hundred
rebel infantry aud cavalry were completely rou.
ted, with loss of twenty killed and one hun.
dred wounded
The next fact of importance in the campaign
at the West, and indeed the most important of
all was the evacuation of Columbus. Why was
this stronghold, which cost 30 much labor and
money, abandoned without firing shot? IL is
not for me to underrate the ADVANTAGES Of posi-.
ton secured by the valor of our troops at Fort
Donelson yet l undertake to say, from the
knowledge have been able to obtain of the de.
lenses at Columbus, that there was nothing in
the mere tact of the capture of Donelson and
Nashville, and exclusive of our command Of
the river, which need have caused the evacuation
except after long and bloody siege. From
the letter OF correspondent writing on the spot,
l obtain the information that the forts ut Col
umbus-
"Were SO located and constructed as to be
almost impregnable to an assault by storm. The
capture of one by no means involved the cap
ture of the balance. fresh assault must be
made in each instance. At the main fort and
AAA"hy ~ tlS S"tsu WOihS, StuChduCS CAooSCu tuO
trenches, exposing the assaultirg party to a
storm Of bullets from rifemen firing through
loop holes Every ravine and ditch was thor
oaghly protected and the various appro &C hes of
the river commanded for long distance in
every direction. 1t is sufficient to say, that an
unusually strong natural position was seized
upon, and SO improved by rare engineering skill,
that the equal of the Columbus Notifications, in
evtent and perfection of detail combined, can
hardly be found in the United States.
Another correspondent, describing the fortif.
cations after the evacuation, says:
1.-THE Notifications were strong-perhaps
stronger than any Others in the South-but they
were injndlcousiy constructed, and could not
have stood an hours bombardment by the gun.
boats and mortar feet The water battery stood
out in such relief from the bluff that a we'll
directed mortar shell would have buried it under
hundred tons of earth from above. There
were no casemates to protect the artillery from
the CALLING fire of seven gunboats and how
long could men, unsheltered, have stood a
continuous hail from twenty one guns, throwing
eight inch shell?"
1t is well understood that Commodore Foote
was opposed to giving the rebels an opportunity
to leave Columbus. He felt sure of his ability,
with his gun and mortar boats, to shell them
into speedy surrender, but was compelled to
give way 70 the counsels of military comman.
ders
When we couple the strategic position acquir.
ed by our occupation of the Tennessee and
Cumberland rivers with the completion Of the
mortar boats and the absolute command Of the
remains 'i 1a smyssery about me evacuation Or
Columbus. The two arms of the public service
are equally entitled to the credit of frighten ing
the rebels from their strongest position on the
Mississippi river, if not the strongest in their
whole military Jurisdiction.
Yesterday the intelligence reached us tn at the
western fotilla, composed of ten gunboats and
ten mortar boats and started for new scense OF
canhict and to achieve, doubt not new and yet
greater trumphs. The country is assured that
whatever can be accomplished by gallantry and
nautical experience will be performed by Com.
modore Foote and the brave officers and men
under his command. We await the announce
ment of new victories
/ have thought it proper, dr. President, as
western Senator in some degree charged with
Il examination of naval affairs by the body, to
bear this testimony TO the worth of that branch
of the public service in the western campaign,
and to the noble deeds of the flag officer in tn at
command. No one can overestimate their
services to the country, and to the Northwest
in particular and in the name of that great
section and of the whole country thank them
one and ALL officers and men.
But would avail my self of this occasion to
| accomplish another purpose. l am anxious
that the people of this entire country may feel
| that the exploits of the Navy wherever perform
ed are their exploits that its glory is their glory,
and that while they are taxing themselves TO
support it, they are supporting the night arm OF
the national defense. l desire the citizen of the
| 40 g., ho &c "
protected and equally honored by the brave
deeds of our naval officers with the citizens OF
the Atlantic coast wish the men of Iowa
and Minnesota to know that they are as effectu-
ally defended in their liberties at home and in
their honor abroad, by the achievements Of
Du Pont and Goldsborough and Strlngham and
Foote on the water, as they can be by any
victories won by our armies on the land.
Mr.. President ours must be great maritime
nation. Heaven has ordained that 1t should be
such, and we could not make it otherwise If We
would. We lave coast, both on the Atlantic
and Pacific oceans, which, with its numerous
indentations, is many thousand miles in extent
occupied by a hardy, nautical population. ant
flanked on either side by soils and climates tina
furnish the most valuable productions OF tn
globe, and which must be supplied to othel
nations. On the north we have succession
great lakes alfeauy bearing upon tneir oooom
a registered commercial tonnage of nearly hal
million, and navigated by race of daring
industrious, northern seamen. Unlike any
other maritime nation, ours is traversed BY
navigable rivers, thousands of miles in length
floating an inland commerce unequaled by tina
of any country in the world, except possibly
that OF China, and capable of navigation b.
armed vessels ofgreat capacity. With countr!
of such extent, soil and climate furnishing
such productions, and population along oul
ocean, gulf, bay, lake, and river coasts, accus
toned to navigation, who does not see that our
must, from the very necessities Of our geograph
ical position, and the conformation of our con
} tinent, become a great commercial people
Our products must be borne to remote nation
in our own ships. navigated by our own seamen
add protected whenever they 60 by our Owl
vessels of war.
l know not with whom originated the phras
I" the Navy is the right arm of the public de
fence )" but l know that truer sentmen
was never uttered. In my opinion it will Away
be in this country the most efficient and far tn
least dangerous arm of the public service D.
which to maintain the national integrity an
; defend the national honor. History teaches u
, that every nation that has depended upon