American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1851-1863, 1862-05-09

new Governor
TIE SURRENDER OF FORTS JACK
SON AND ST. PHILIP.
From the n. o. Delta. lstI
The circumstances which led to the
surrender of Fort Jackson. after It's gall
liant defense, are most melancholy and
Notifying. We can well appreciate and
sympathise with the feeling of Indignation
aud disgust with which the senior officers
refer to those circumstances. The first
of these causes of our defeat & as the want
OF command. organization and energy in
our squadron. The commanders refused
or failed to watch and defend the chains
I and other distractions below the forts
they would not. even under the protection
of the guns of the fort. perform this duty,
and the enemy actually succeeded in cut
ting away these distractions. which they
could not have done if the gunboats had
taken the PLACES they were directed to
take in order to guard the chains. The
Louisiana. with its powerful battery, was
rendered of no use by the refusal of
the commander in charge of her to place
her in position where she might have
been effective, and where she would
!. have materially aided the forts, and. in
the opinion of experienced officers in the
forts, would have prevented the passage
of the United States ships. The next
delinquency of the gunboats was in fail
ing TO keep the river lighted. As long
as this drty was confined 10 the fort it
was promptly and regularly done, but
when the ships undertook it, is was
grossly neglected
On the night Thursday when the en-
envy effected his passage, it was entirely
omitted. though it was perceived by the
commandment of Fort Jackson that the
enemy were preparing to force a passage.
There was no light by which the ships
could be seen until they were near the
fort, and the smoke from the first dis
, charge of the guns of the fort obscured
the lew so that little time was allowed
to play upon them. There was from the
beginning q iamentable want of system,
organization and discipline in the squad
ron, which, under proper command. it
is believed might have been arrested by
our squadron alone. Under these cir
icumstances we are not astonished that
the men in the fort became dispirited.
But there was nothing to justify their
|. open and violent mutiny. For this they
merit universal denunciaiion and execra-
ton. L was true some of the enemy 5
ships had passed the fort. but it was sill
in good fighting condition, and if the men
had stood by their officers. the remainder
of 81 L.,
from passing. and the ships which had
passed would have been left in an isola-
ted and perilous position.
The enemy had already offered hon
orable terms of surrender. which Col.
Higgins declined. Capt. Porter com
manding the mortar fleet, had written a
letter, acknowledge the heroism and
stubbornness ofthe defense, and soliciting
a termination of conflict, tire result oil
which was only a question of time. This
demand, the second made by him, showed
the enemy's anxiety to bring the fight to
close There was no difficulty in in
terpreting its meaning and motive. 1t
was rejected, and the, commander of the
fort set to work TO repair damages for
a renewal of the combat. In expecta-
ton of such renewal. Gen. Duncan is
sued an address complimenting the gar
: risop for its heroic perseverance. thank
ing them for their patience, fortitnde and
resolution, and urging them to further
efforts and sacrifices, and the result
would be a glorious victory. By some
traitorous means it had been communi-
Gated to the men that the city had sur
rendered. that further resistance would
be unavailing. and that if the conflict
was continued, and the garrison captured,
they would all be put to the sword.
Under these influences the men arose
at midnight, spiked some of the guns. dis
mounted others, and openly resisted and
f de6ed the authority of the officers. There
was one honorable exception to this dis
graceful and shameful conduct The ST.
Mary's Cannonneers, a country volun-
teer company, took no part in these mu-
tinous proceedings, and were faithful to the
last. Every officer of the garrison stood
! toa1tS most They were all file II