Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1862-10-29
\ For the Standard.
A GOOD MOVE.


those in Virginia, are exhibiting some degree of |
anxiety As to their present safety and some Of them
are already fastening towards the centre of our own
State in search of lands. To some the rolling lands
of this section appear uni uvting but it is because
they are used to level plane and unacquainted |
with the usual composition of billy and red Soils
These are, by experience, known to be the most du-
rable lands, and for cereals are very superior, re-
quiring little manure, and when plowed deeply, al
most certain of crop. Comparing the price of low
and up country land farmers will find quite as
cheap, and in addition, the healthiest country.
But suppose it were not so, it is not o matter OF
choice now whether our Eastern people stay or leave
They see the danger of remaining, from what others
suffered last winter, and the same, if not greater
danger, threatens them the coming winter. Many,
by being hurried of last fall and securing places Of
safety, lost nothing, and now own property along
our Rail Roads Of increased value Others will no
doubt initiate them the present TALL; yet many from
their SLOW movements, are likely to be caught with
their negroes, cotton, corn, cattle, DC. But can
:heyaeomplain? They see soWe provision should be
made for their safety and support as refugees, and
yet stay inviting the Yankee Army to come and
take them!
For the Standard
Mr.. EDrroR:-H the war now in the course of
prosecution between the South and the North has
taught the former one lesson more than 1t has an
other, it is ths-that the Confederacy is but too
vulnerable through the many rivers which flow
like many arteries from the ocean to its vitals,
and that unless those rivers are we'll fortified and
INSTRUCTED the enemy has it in his power to lnfct
incalcuable injury upon US whenever the waters
are sufficiently high to admit of the ascent of his
gunboats. Already have we lost millions of pro-
perty and thousands of lives by leaving these
nues open to piratical incursiOns and one would
suppose that such dearly bought experience would
have awakened both government and people to the
necessity of applying the proper remedy. But,
alas strange sort of lethargy seems to have fas-
tened itself upon the public mind in reference to
this important matter, and but little comparatively
has been done towards securing ourselves in the
future against this danger, which is even now loom
ing up the Northern horizon. Some are of
opinion, notwithstanding the past teachings of this
war, that forts alone sufficient to prevent the
entrance of the enemy's fleets. But be not de-
ceved. Vessels propelled by steam have passed,
and will continue to pass such defences with ease,
particularly If their crews sheltered from
fire, Is the case in vessels of the Monitor kind.
Besides that, it is next to an mpossibility to hit
moving object desgnedty with the heavy pieces of
ordnance which necessarily constitute the arma-
'ments of forts They cannot DC managed with the
facility with which sportsman handles his fowl
Ing piece and brings his game to the ground; nor
can a vessel of war be disabled by one shot or by
many, unless shell chance to explode in her
magazine and blow her up and this is occurrence
that rarely happens. And what if in consequence
Of some extraordinary lucky shots our part, the
enemy loses one-tourth even Of his gunboats lie
expects to make such sacrifice when he enters
into battle and is well satisfied in getting the
balance safely by and reaching the city other o.
ject of his desire No, as | said before, be not de-
ceived Batteries atone, unless Immediately sur
rounding the place sought to be captured as Vcks-
burg, for example, (and it is we'll known that the
batteries there were passed by Farraguts feet are
Insufficient projections to the country above, un-
less there distractions also the water close
under their guns, strong enough to bring the at
lacking force to halt, and thus enable its oppo.
nen,s to fire with accuracy Of aim. Nothing but
the combination of battery with obstruction saved
Richmond; and there is not river in the ConGede-
racy, will not even except the Mssissippi) which
cannot be obstructed in one way or the other, and
made impossible to the enemy. Most of them
can be made impossible with massive RATS strongly
bound together and kept in position by stout chain
cables or other appliances, or by cribs filled with
stones and placed few feet asunder to allow the
current to flow tnrough or by very large and tight
diamond shaped boxes Of timber, filled with sand
or gravel, then dccked over with holes bored in
their decks to allow the escape Of air in sinking)
and sunk wherever desired, beng taken to Sc.
cure them. by proper means, against displacement
in the of ircsiiets.
1t is useless, however to specify any further the
various ways in Shich the blocking UP of water
courses may be accomplished. They will occur to
any practical, Intelligent man. who is cOgnIzant Of
the powers of vessels of for offensive purposes.
will, therefore. conclude by saying that if posi-
BIZ. batteries should be located on bluffs, and the
distractions placed so to be Immediately under
their CONTROL to prevent removal by the enemy, and
that battery should be without its corps Of sharp
Shooters as they Of inestimable value in demon
alizng the crews of uncovered vessels, in especial
| by picking them OF" at their guns.