Newbern weekly progress., 1862-11-15
The Threatened Asinek ON Mobile.
[From tho Mobile Tribune, Oct. ~

From many sources come intimations Of an At.
tack upon Mobile. There can be no reasonable
doubt that the Yankees have their head steadily
fixed on this coveted cotton mart, and will soon
send against it powerful armament.
Hitherto the gunbeats of the enemy have
drawn too much water for successful approach
through the shallow and toltuous channel Of cur
bay. 1t is said that gunboats Of a lighter
draught have ben for some time in progress Of
construction and with these new engines Of
destruction the hopes to penetrate within she'll
ing distance Of the city.
Last week intelligence was brought hither
that as soon as the Ironsides arrived in this part
Of the Gulf the Yankee feet would commence
operations. That vessel sailed from Philadelphia
on the Doth ultimo. The plan, as stated by the
blockading officers off Fort Morgan. is, that
whilo the iron clad engaged the fort the Yankee
gunboats would run by and pass up the bay.
The pc -iinent question now is: "Are We pre-
pared ~ IL the channel so obstrdc,ed as 70
stop, beyond peradventure, the gunboats Of thB
enemy n Are the troops fully armed Are the
batteries in the best possible position, supplied
with ammunition for a seige, and, strong as they
are, capable Of raining such iron FIRE upon the
enemy as to make him beat an inglorious re-
.reati III
For months prior TO the attack on New Orleans
the citizens Of that unfortunate place were Llled
into false security. The newspapers assisted n 70
bring about melancholy oi
- lIlI6st disn6s uas plased II alEs ',.a.3k
fdenouneed 40 pfusasA---- Enna fdinisle Wesi
Point hrd its way, aud West Point lost the city.
I he citizens woke up from their false security
too late. The Committee Of Safety, formed at
an hour when capture was foregone conclusion,
saw that had they not relied wholly upon the
military OF the government the great calamity
might have been averted.
Mobile should take warning from the past.
rhe inactivity of the enemy has given ample
time for fullest preparation. The peculiar stu
alton Of the city Is Of itself a natural defence.
Without the slightest hesitation we affirm that If
our military Authorities, assisted by our citizens,
do their duty, the city cannot fall, II it fals,
than the calamity is due solely to incompetency,
inacfion and neglect. There is not the ghost ot
q doubt of il.
There are some two thousand people W no could
organize themselves into comp anies for tempo.
rary service This should be done at once. There
s no necessity that such companies should 20
into camp until their ser ices are positively need
ed. They can dnl in the city without inconve-
uience 10 the business and families Of the mem
bcrs thereLf
The military authorities may rest assured that
Yankee attack will be matured, persistent and
tremendous The enemy will come in great
strength, and sensible men will not underate his
power. II behcoves us to be on the aleit, and
spare neither pains. nor work, nor expense. to
give invincibility to orr arms and security H.
the city Defeated and terrified into a conscious.
ness Of the impregnability Of Mobile, we should
hereafter be ia no danger Of a second bombard
mcnt.
from the Richmond Examiner, Oct. 10
Our exchanges speak with great anxiety Of the
prospect Of an attack upon Mobile by the enemy.
which attack might involve important conse'
quences, as the capture Of this point would give
the enemy immediate possession Of the Alabama
and Tombigbee rivers. march Of the enemy
into the interior Of Alabama wonld succeed 10
cutting the confederacy more completely in two
than the enemy could hope 10 do even by the
possession Of the Mississippi river through its
entire length, as it would. destroy the line ol
contamination now passing through Montgom.
cry, which has been of incalculable benefit io
the people Of the entire South.