The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1862-02-19
The War News.

| have been endeavoring to arouse people to the
necessity Of furnishing men for the defence Of the
valleys Of Tennessee and Mississippi rivers, against
the hordes which threatened them, but many people,
not being perhaps as well advised of the danger and
the means of defence, have thought unneces
sarily alarming the public: but hope the actual
news We have given for the last few days Of tie pro-
gress of the enemy will satisfy them that we were
correct-and that we do need more men for our pro-
lection. Having anticipated the present state of things
prepared to expect some reverses and are by
Respondent, it Will serve to arouse peo
pie to the actual danger which Us, and when
once aroused to full sense of the danger we know
that the people of the whole Mississippi valley will
flock to the rescue, and turn the tide in our favor
We have been so often successful that have begun
to dcprccate enemies; and not altogether
satisfied that few rcyerses will not be Of service to
our cause in making us vigiant. The enemy has
the advantage Of Us in arms, in gunboats transports
and numbers, but must make it up in vigilance and
bravery. We must guard every to our country,
and contest every movement they make no matter at
what disadvantage. Now that the enemy are flushed
with few victories and have destroyed proper
ty in their raids, we find some few respondent who
j
alarmed but we hope no hearted southerner viii
suffer himself to be depoadent the tide will be turned
as as the people rise i'll their might. True ac-
cordng the dispatches they have taken fort Henry
and the railroad bridge the Tennessee river, 20
miles above, and have thus cut off communication be
tween Bowling Green by that route. We have still the
line Of tie Memphis and Charleston road, and the road
from Memphis to Columbus open, and will maintain
them at all hazards aud ourpeople must be aroused to
/ its necessity.
After passing fort Henry the enemy's gunboats had
no opposition to encounter till they reached Florence,
Alabama the foot Of the Musse shoals, where it
said they destroyed several warehouses and the citizens
burned several small boat to prevent their falling into
the enemy's hands. We do understand the neces-
sty Of this act on the part Of the people, fol il thu
draw Of the bridge had been opened these small boats
could have passed up the Shoals where the gunboats
could not have followed them, and been safe. This
bridge the Tennessee river at Florence mustnot
be confounded with the bridge OF the Memphis and
Charleston road which crosses that river at Decatur at
least sixty miles higher up. Nor DO we believe the
statement that the enemy were marching on Iuka to
destroy that road this would compel them to leave
their gunbeats to come into the interior seven or eight
miles which they not prepared at present to do,
but must conne their operations to the line Of that
river from Florence down. The point Of most danger
to that road Tuscumbia at which point 1t APP
proacheS within two miles of the river Corinth the
crossing of the Memphis with the Mobile road is more
than twenty miles from the river aud uka is twenty
two miles Of it, and then about seventy miles more
to Tuscumbia where it approaches to within two miles
of the river; Eastport Mississippi is on the west bank
of the river at the mouth of Bear creek-aud about
four miles east Of Iuka there is railroad bridge, which
is important for rs to protect but the enemy would
have to march eight miles from the river to
Iuka we satisfied they would make such attempt
They may take their gunboats down the river and send
reiniorcemcnts sufficient to make heattcnpt when we
must be ready for them they wi succeed and thus
cut of Of our most important lines Of communica-
ton. Cur military authorities, however seeing the
danger will provide for it immcdiatey-bnt this must
! be done from below as our friends at Bowling Green.
GAINESVILLE, etc, have their hands full in maintaining
fort Donelson and the bridge over tile Cumberland ana
the passage Of the gunboas up that stream the pos
session Of which would put the enemy in the rear of
Bowling Green They have now got possession of the
Tennessee river and with their guuboats will maintain
it and compelled to put forth all our means and
ingenuity prevent them from using that river to our
injury and trust our authorities WILL under no cir
eumstances allow them to get the same undisputed
possession of the Cumberland which would ieopardse
our whole army at Bowling Green. Let US therefore
watch the region Of country watered BY tile Tennes
see river and guardal our lines Of communication near
it, and trust army Bowling Green to protect
the Cumberland in their rear.
The news of the taking Of Roanoke island, which
is between PamIico and Albemare sounds along the
coast Of North Carolina shows too plainly that the
Burnside feet making its way up towards the rear
of Norlok-as Roanoke island is Immediately south Of
that city. The enemy will now have communication
through Albemarle and Curriuc sounds, to Elizabeth
City and Cur9ituck, not over 80 miles from Norfolk
and attack it in the rear whilst our strong lortifca
tons the north Of that city along the river to-
wards fortress Monroe. The enemy know they can
not approach Norfolk by water, and may have planned
an attack by land but although may have troops
enough now to prevent the attack they will be
there in time We are not very uneasy about our own
southern coast and feel less danger for New Orleans
than any other southern city but anxiety for this
southern portion Of the country is through the valley
way Of tile Mississippi river, we should bend all Our
energies to prevent any future raids by the way Of the
Tennessee river to destroy principal line of
munication, the Charleston road the destruction OF
which would Isolate the Mississippi valley from our kind
friends in the other States eas5-leavng Us but one
route by way Of the Alabama river from Mobile If
they should succeed in cutting off that route and they
will return and make the attempt sure the sun
will rise again. then they would concentrate feet at
Mobile, to get possession Of the river aud cut off the
only remaining line. We trust however, that seeing
the danger and being forewarned the people will no
/ doubt arouse, and drive the enemy back from every
point.
The following letter from Capt. Lindsay was receiv
ed BY our fellowcitizen J. W. Smith, Esq, and handed
to for publication:
CAMP BENJAMIN, Feb 10 1862.-The lst brigade
Louisiana volunteers have this evening received march
ing orders destination vet unknown 10 rs Int as we