Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1862-01-14
Harvey Browne Report-Gunboafs-FF
vhIeerk.

rrron.y MORNING., JAN. IA, 1892.
Harvey Browne Repors-Gunhoa's-Fft'
vateers. 49,
We publish IN this days issue the ome"
account given by the enemy's commanas
officer. of the bombardment at Fort PicKenson
the sad and Esd of Novemberlast ls mas not
heretofore appeared, we believe IN 4 oon'eos-
rate newspaper.
In this report Harvey Brown 1t Will De
seen. uses epithets with the coarseness and
duency of 9 h%shwoman, while evinclng the
s,ouisi,e sentimentality Of the miss who reads
novels At midnight. The rebels who stole the
guns of the United States had also dared to
insult "tbe flag Of me country" BY a noctur'
nal attack on those excellent gentlemen, Billy
Wilson's Zou.yes,-so he informs US, IN sub
stance. They had, indeed, been disgracefully
beaten and terribly chastised at the time, so
We are taught to believe, but yet this man OF
war sas unappeased. The flag Of my coun.
try" aud my eountry's flag" were not
avenged for the "insult" of attacking it. The
sentimental Mr.. Brown, therefore, opened a
bombardment, and kept 1t up for two days
aided by ships Of war. In this bombardncnt
his fort WIS preached and battered, and bis
ships driven of, cne Of them in nearly a sink
ing condition, while the damage on our SIDE
was but slight. Mr. Sentimental Brown, how
ever, appears to have had his burning indig-
nation Quoted BY the process, for, says he,
'the insult to our glorious flag" was ''fully
and fearfully avenged" The whistling of the
Confederate balls and the knocking Of his par
apets about his ears bad the effect Of modsra'
ting the sentleman's ideas, and of making him
very easy to please. His vengeance seems to
b, ss ethereal as his sentiment 1t is "fear-
ful" to think Of, no doubt but his deeds
make but slight excursion beyond the regions
Of the ideal.
But our purpose in noticing this report is
mainly to call attention to some OF the practi.
cal lessons which Brown learned from the de-
fects 10 his own FIRE and the efficacy Of ours,
in the bombardment referred to, and from his
experience generally. They will be found in
. sort Of supplement to his report The eighth
of his facts, particularly, contains what, to US,
should prove q profitable suggestion.
1t will be remembered by our readers that
several very able communications appeared in
this paper some weeks sgo, under tbs caption
of Big Guns and Little Ships. They were
FROM the pen of an accomplished sailor. They
took the same ground to Thich Brown says
he has been brought by his observations at
Pickens.
Brown says, that in every river sud hsrbor
of the Gull, 8 gunboat drawing six feet water,
and we'll armed with good rifsd guns, can do
moro and better service than a forty gun ship,
such as the Niagara and Richmond. This is
doubtless true, and true, not only for purposes
Of fence, but alss for defence. One such gun.
boat in 4 river, with a good shore battery to
which it could retire for cover against a sups.
rior attack, would secure it's banks against
depredating parties, and against any de.
moustration Of the enemy not made in large
force. By requiring this concentration Of the
eneny's naval power, it would reduce it to
q condition similar to that Of the grand army"
near " ashington, where q whole brigade or
even a division, Is ordered out sud marches in
grand array, when it is proposed to steal q
stack of fodder. 1t would greatly diminish
the number OF the thieving expeditions; and
into such, the enterprise Of the Northern army
and navy has solely resolved itself. 1t would
also greatly increase the diff ulties of the
blockade; for if one such gunboat would be
An over-match for such ship as the Niagara,
il would require several of these to keep watch
against her. As the construction of'vessels Of
smsll size is within the compass Of our means,
We hope to see them multiplied in our rivers,
bays and sounds, as rapidly as possible, and
armed with guns Of the longest range and truest
projection.
While upon the subject of the Navy III will
remark that we participate to a considerable
degree in tho feeling Of disappointment that our
operations upon the water during the present
war, have not been more extensive. We had
hoped largely from privateering. The omner
cial vessels ofthe enemy present attractions to
captors which We supposed would have covered
the seas with our privatesrs. This has not
been ths case. Privateers are seldom heard
from. Only q few little vessels have repre-
scented US at ses. The Sumter aud the JEFF
Davis have, indeed, produced CONSERVATION
among the Northern shippers, and have run up
the figures Of the Insurance companies. But
they have barely been sufficient to show what
We might do if more numerously represented
on the big waters
Why it is that privateering has been so
slack, is due to various causes, which We think
it would be wise in our Government to find
out, and 80 far as possible remove. We were
not, indeed, = sea going people before tha war
but there are doubtless many moro among Us
accustomed to bend the sail and to hold the
helm, than have hitherto proved available to
our cause. Let these hardy tars BIO induced to
come to the help Of the country, and to bear
our flag upon the ocsan, by such legislation
Is may be necessary to enlist their zeal.
We have received a letter from q citizen
who in former years made his home on the
deep, and whose, nautical sympsthias have
carried him into our naval service COW. He
makes o suggestion which we earnestly COM
mend to the notice Of our legislators now in
Congress assembled, and We cannot better
present it than in his VI language:
scts of our Congress, relating to letters Of
marque, &C., and you will see a defect, and
doubtless agree with me that an amendment is
all important
rh> seta IN Tho snhiact uill ha found IN