Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1862-05-30
NEWS FROM THE SOUTH.
MOVEMENTS OF GEN. JoHNsoNs DIVISION.

attack We, of course, do not enter into any
details of the recent movement of Gen. john
sons forces, beyond the general statement
that it is supposed to have contributed to the
safety of the city of Richmond Everything
has been quiet on Gen. Johnsons line since
their recent movement, with the exception of
an unimportant cavalry skirmish at Bottom S
| Bridge, iii which we suffered no loss
sPEoULATIoNs AS TO THE UTILITY OF GUNBoATs IN
THE ATTACK ON RICHMOND.
From The Richmond Examiner, Hay 10.
The time has passed when Richmond could
be taken by gunboats. Although much work
remains to be done on the Notifications to
render them secure from land attack and siege
operations, it may be regarded as one certain
thing, that the enemy willnot ascend the riy-
er in vessels. The position of Drury's Bluff
possesses natural strength scarcely to be
conceived by those who have not stood upon
1t. No game of long-taw is possible. The
turn Of the river that brings the boats in
sight is only six hundred yards distant. The
bluff is high ridge or comb. To she'll even
an uncasemated battery there from any dis
| lance would be a difficult, if not impossible,
operation. The river is not hundred yards
wide, and the entire banks appear to have
been created for the express use of sharpshoot-
ers, II we cannot stop the Yankees there, we
uNu Juot a. NsAl 6AfS w d. AuS@ Va stll-ue-
fense
But when only three cannon were in posi-
tion the place was too strong for the Galena,
the Monitor, and five other crack vessels
None Of them were able to test the strength
Of the distractions in the channel, for the
Galena alone the heaviest iron-elad vessel Of
the United States navy, dared to come within
two hundred and fifty yards Here she soon
got enough, was helped off by her comrades,
and none Of them will be likely to re-occnpy
her place
Without a land army of sufficient force to
surround and overcome the Confederate troops
who deien0 the place, it is impregnable Two
deductions may be made from the late affair
in the James. First, that gunboats are impo-
tent in rivers with any bluff or bank sufii-
GENTLY elevated to throw something like a
vertical fire upon them. Secondly, that Rich
mond must be considered hereafter as an in
| terror inland town, not attainable by the
naval force Of the enemy, TO be fought for
and defended, lost or won, by the operations
of the army alone.
Indeed, when the history Of this war is re-
/ viewed, il win be found that the chief service
the enemy has gotten from his gunboats has
been to Brighten bad officers and worse troops
into surreudering positions which they might
have continued TO hold No where have the
/ gunboats effected either real damage or ex-
| tensiye slaughter. Port Royal was taken by
the heaviest ships in the navy coming up in
/ deep water. AT Donelson the gunbouts were
| smashed at Island No. 10 they did no harm F;
1 at Drurys they were beaten by three guns
/ Fortunately, those guns had the crew Of the
Merrimac to work them, and not Yahoos, ig-
norant Of discipline and command and mill
tary business.
RICHMOND TO BE DEPENDED.
The Richmond Despatch publishes the fol-
lowing resolutions, which were adopted by
| the Legislature on the l4th instant:
% Resolped, BY the General Assembly Of
| Virginia, That the General Assembly hereby
express its desire that the capitol Of the State
/ be defended to the last extremity, if such de-
Tense is in accordance with the views of the
! President OF the Confederate States and that
/ the President be assured that whatever de-
struction and less Of property Of the State or
/ individuals shall thereby result will be cheer
/ fully submitted to-
! " ResolUed, That a committee Of two on the
part Of the Senate and three on the part Of
| the House be appointed to communicate the
adoption Of the foregoing resolution to the
| President
AN OFFICIAL DECLARATION FROM JEFF. DAVIS.
On the 18th instant joint committee ap-
| pointed by the Legislature Of Virginia to COM
municate with jeff Davis in relation to the
defense Of Richmond, made the following re-
port:
The joint committee appointed By the two
| Houses 10 communicate to the President Of
| the Confederate States the joint resolutions
Of the General Assembly in relation 10 the
defense Of the city, have discharged the duty
coniided to them and respectfully report that
! their interview with the President was in
4 the highest degree satisfactory, and bis views
as communicated with entire frankness to
/ the committee, were well calculated TO in
/ spre them with confidence and to reassure
/ the public mind.
After reading the resolutions, he desired
US TO say to the General Assembly that he
/ had received the communication Of those re-
solutions with feelings Of lively qualification
and instructed us to assure the House that it
| would be the effort OF bis life TO defend the
soil Of Virginia and to cover her capitol
He further stated that he had never enter
/ tanned the thought Of Withdrawing the army
I from Virginia and abandoning the State that
I If, In the course Of events, the capital should
/ fall, the necessity Of which he did not see or
anticipate, that would be no reason for with
/ drawing the army from Virginia. The war
could still be successfully maintained on Viz
gina soil for twenty years,
All which is respectfully submitted
GEN BUTLER WIRING THE SOUTHERN HEART.
| Cqiro, 1qy 24--The Memphis Appears Co.
rinih correspondent says that Gen Buffers in
4 famous order bss Cred our army. All the
/ Southern papers condemn what they cali But
i ler's cowardly and Infamous order which is
/ given IN the following General Order Of Beau
regard, found by one Of our piclzets;
FOR THE INFORMATION or THIS ARMY.
The following General Order, No %, TO the
Federal officers VI Major-General Butler, com
handing at New Orleans, viii be read at dress
parade.
! HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE GrL,
New Orleans, May 10. I
/ As officers and soldiers Of the United States
have been subjected 70 repeated insults from
The women, calling themselves ladies Of New
( Orleaps, in return for the most inscriptions
non-interierenoe and courtesy on our part, tits
ordered hereafter that when any female shall
By word, gesture, or movement, insult or
show contempt for any officer orpryate Of the
/ United States, she shall be regarded and held
liable TO be treated as q woman Of the town,
! plying her ayooati0n.
BY command ofMajor- General Butler
GgO G.. STRONG, A a. c.