Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-05-13
GEN. LOWELL.

We publish below a letter from Gen. Lowell
which presents a clear and satisfactory vindica-
ton Of his course in the defense of this CITY.
The statements of Gen. Lowell, we believe. are
fully sustained by the facts. In vindication of
ourselves for the allusiOn to which the general
takes exception, we beg to say that he never was,
in the contemplation of the writer, in reference
to lack of energy and earnestneSs on the part
of the agents of the Confederate government.
We believe on the contrary, that Gen. Lowell, so
far from being obnoxious to the charge of a lack
of earnestness and energy, accomplished with
the resources placed at his command, results of
character which have excited general surprise and
admiration. There were other parties, who were
in our view, in the allusiOn to which the general
takes exception, who did not prove equal TO the
occasion,
We would further add that in the several allu-
sions to the evacuation of the city by General
Lowell, we do not think it was intended by any
sober thinking person to convey any censuTe, or
any doubt, as to the p~ropTety Of Gen. LovelIs
conduct in Withdrawing his troops from the city
after our Qualifications had been forced by the
enemy Left with only an infantry force, Gen.
Lowell remained in the city after the enemy's
feet had anchored in front of the city. He was
willing and ready to share the fate of the city
but it was evident that he was not only impotent
for defense, but the enemy, with his command
of the river, would have had it in his power to
reduce the city to starvation, by cutting OH all
communication with the interior.
Besides, the continuation Of the troops in the
city would have exposed it 10 a commandment
in which the enemy would have been justified
by the laws of war, a garrisOned town being
| always subject to such a tate. II Gen. Lowell
had FIVE or ten times the infantry force which he
really had, he would not hayeInade any ade-
quate defense against the enemy's powerful feet.
His retirement was, therefore, not only an act of
sound policy and wisdom, but one of absolute
necessity for the salvation of the city from the
most terrible disaster, as well as Tor the security
of the army which Gen. Lowell has saved to lead
to other fields, where their valor may be made
available for the maintenance and defense of our
cause:
NEW ORLEANS, April %, 1862.
To JUDGE WALKER-Dear Sir: In the Even
ing Delta, in an article headed /" Fallen, but not
Disgraced," this expression occurs " The lack
Of energy and earnestness on the part of the
agents Of the Confederate government, - etc.
This includes me in its sweep, and | think
uniustly When l came here, but a few short
months since, l found the State defenseless IT'S
ports blockaded, and its young men gone TO other
parts of the Confederacy in the army. Without
anything but what was created, every inlet was
put in a position to offer a protracted and gallant
defense. Forts were armed, powder and mum
tons of every description were made, and a
gallant body Of troops organized and drilled.
Guns were cast and materials Of all kinds ex-
temporized by iucessant labor and activity The
river at the forts was twice bridged by obstrue-
tions which would have resisted anything but
the formidable rush of the great Mississippi in
its swollen wrath
Ny troop, at the call OF Their country, rushed
to Coriuth, and the deeds Of the Louisiana reci-
ments On the 9th and 9TH of April, indicated
their sourage and their training Our foundries
We're beginning to turn out heavy guns Of the
best quality, and q newly erected arsenal urn-
ished US with various implements of war. All
this has been done since October, besides pre-
pairing sixteen vessels for river defense. eight of
which are now defending the upper river, and
eight have been destroyed in the vain attempt
to keep back the enemy's feet of war vessels
below, This has been done with no host Of gen-
erals and staff officers Of experience to assist.
Almost alone, with but few exceptions, l 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 " energy or
earnestness " on my part.
In q short time more l should have had guns
enough, and men enough, to defend the numeT-
Gus approaches by that element on which the
enemy IS SO prominently powerful and ! there
fore beg that you will do me the justice to say to
the people Of New Orleans, that I did sll that one
man EDAiQ 90 70 preserve II6M IOH Ill lNSOkelE !
and powerful foe. When their fleets passed al our
batteries, l withdrew my infantry forces beyond
the city limits, in order to permit the people of
New Orleans 70 decide whether they would
subject their wives, their children and property
to bombardmsnt, In the endesvOT to maintain
their freedom 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
a commandment
1 know that there are many gentlemen here
who will bear me witness that all that is here set
forth, aud much more, has been done TO avert
this sad disaster. An examination of my letter
and order books and telegraphic dispatches, will
show that no stone has been left untuTned by /
TO save New Orleans from this humiliation |
and l feel well convinced that a few short weeks
would have rendered the position impregnable.
All esk is simple Justice and nothing more.
In conclusion, I will add, that terrible as the
blow hes been, l am neither disheartened nor in
despair. This var of independence is not yet
fought out. Our ancestors struggled on against
the massive power of Great Britain when Bos-
ton, New York, Philadelphia, Charleston and
Savannah were all in possession of the enemy,
and gained their liberty.
It is a moral and physical impossibility that
we can De conquered. Let us be true to 0ur
selves and cur csUse-never firing. never des-
paUrg-DuJ rising, ActeOn-iike, with renewed
vigor from every fall, and we shall yet be re.
warded with success. Above all, we should not
crush down the spirit and the energies of those
who are using all the faculties, mental and phys
ical, that God has given them, by making light
Of their labor, because, with limited means and
under adverse circumstances, they have not been
successful n resisting at all points a great,
wealthy and powerful enemy, with all the ap-
planes Of modern warfare, both military and
naval, in great abundance at his control. We
have never yet seen such days as those which
George Washington at Valley Forge;
and should such be our lot, j trust that the same
spirit will animate US to work out the same sue
cessful results.
Respectfully, your obi servant,
M LOWELL, Mejor-Gen. c.. {. 4.