The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1863-09-21

The News from sakiae Pass-Fcrry and
1 Canal BosssOpPOscd - Forttacstisas.
| II has long been an established fact that
wooden ships, armed even with the heaviest
ordnance, cannet be -scS-ssfully opposed TO
Notifications constructed OF stone, brick. or
even earth. When we speak OF wooden ships
| We refer to properly constructed men-of-wAr,
vessels that are a. perfect q can be made for
the purpose for which they arc intended. His
tory furnishes no Instances Of forts being de-
stroycA by ships where the guns ashore were
equal II number and calibre 70 thOse aRoat
The attack ON the fortiAcatsoas Of Sebastopoi
BY the combined squadrons Of France and
England fully demonstrated Tie folly Of A.
tempting to demolish. or even materially injure.
works Of such magnitude with ships, altAosgA
Of tho heaviest GLASS,
The bombardment Of the Fortress Of Kinburu,
N Russia, BY the same squsdrons. was moro
successful because, for the frst time In naval
warfare, iron-c,ad floating battAries were en-
ployed, which werc proof against any ordnance
Ia use at the time. The work Yves compelled
10 surrender, not, however, without indietipg
ssrious injury 70 hexoodeo vessels engaged In
che attack. Tho works ct Hatter~s Inlet and
Port Royal were compelled 70 surrender By an
attack made with wooden vessels, but only for
the reason Of the ships being kept in motion,
thus destroying the accuracy Of the Are from
the gums ashore, and on account Of the superior
number and cnlibre Of the armament brought
TO bear against forts that were armed only
en- barbeste exposing the gunuess to the hail
storm Of bullets that was hurled against them
With all the experience we have had, not
only in all former wars, but in the present. we
do not appear to have prodted mach by it
We yesterday gave IN interesting account of
the capture Of the United States steamers Cliff
ton and Sachem by the rebel forces at Sabine
Pass. because Of their having been disabled by
the fire OF heavy batteries on shore. That
the public may know the character Of the YES
sells composing the naval part OF the expedi-
ton for the invasion Of Texas. and how utterly
united they were for the work TO be per-
formed, it may be we'll to- say that the Cliff
ton was An old Staten Island ferryboat. the
sachem fiimsy propeller, the Arizona a side
wheel steamer. and the Granite City = cap
tursd English blockade runner. In all these
vessels the boilers aud machinery we're above
the water line, exposed to shot and shell, and
it was by reason Of iajury to these--the only
propelling power Of the two vesseis-that they
fell into the hands Of the enemy. n may
bar and into Sabine is very narrow and intr-
CATE and the water there shceis. aot being over
eight feet at half tide
Here We have = case in which the suc-
cess OF = military expedition, composed or
several Thousand men, depended upon the work
Of four small and comparatively worthless
steamers. They were expected to engage
silence aud destroy the Qualifications OF .ssad
bags-n none the weaker for that, however and
effect an entrance. in order that the tr0Ops
might land aud establish foothold. What was
the consequence. Not only was tue entire az
fair a failure but we lose two vessels, their
officers and crews, and furnish the enemy with
fourteen heavy guns wherewith to make their
position far stronger than ever u has been. ~
may be said. however, that there were no other
vessels in the Western Gulf squadron fitted for
the duty. This is true. But why make an
attempt with such material. when IL must have
been known that every chance was against
success We do not know who is responsible
for this failure, neither do we care to inquire ut
present. Rip Van Wrinkle Welles must he in.
formed on the subject, and all we ask is that he
may proft by the experience thus afforded, and
before permitting again any such wild goose
chase provide such vessels as are fitted to carry
on the projected operations with some slight
hope of being successful, aud not let us
hear again Of canal and ferry boats being OPP
posed 10 strong esrthwork Notifications.
DIFFERENCE IN THE TREATMENT OF UNION
AND REBEL. PRISONERS In another column will
be found q revolting account OF the manner in
which Captains Sawyer and Flynn--the two
Union officers under sentence OF death at Rich
mond-are treated by their rebel jailers. II is
furnished by young officer recently released
from the Libby prison. and is no doubt reliable.
These unfortunate gentlemen are, II appears
confined in sort Of wooden cage. measuring
six feet by eight, light and air being only adj
mitted through an aperture in the ceiling about
foot square, through which also their food is
passed. The condition of this den ia described
to be horrible, no arrangements being made
for either cleaning or veutilating it. What
contrast il this TO the treatment OF General Lee
ana Captain Winder, held by us as hostages for
the safety Of those unfortunate officers. Not
only have they every comfort in the way of
food aud clothing, but they are taken out
regularly every day for exercise and have even
their segars and tobacco furnished them. The
barbarous manner in which URion prisoners
have been treated since the commencement OF
the war will reflect eternal disgrace on the
Southern chivslry. Aud this il done under the
directions Of ruler who is always denouucing
Northern inhumsnity, and who rivals Oliver
Cromwell In his sanctimonious invocstions to