Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1863-12-18
THE CASE OF GEN. LOWELL.
ADJ'TAND INSTR GEMS OFFICE
Richmond, Nov. "a, 1863.

GENERAL ORDERS
No. l52. o..
1. & Conirsof IuGuiry having been convencn
90 jackson, Miss, BY Special Orders No Il,
fmm this Office, da!ed February is, 1863,
amended by Special Orders No -, of Fcb-
rnary 20, lS63,+to examine and report the
facts and circumstances attending the capture
Of the city Of New Orleans by the enemy, ii
April, 1862, and the defence of the city by the
Confederate troops under command Of Major
Gen Mansfield Lowell, together with their
opinion thereon; and the court having dis.
charged the duty assigned them, their opin-
ion is published for tho benefit Of all whom
IL may cOncorn:
IL OPINION OF the COURT.
The Court having maturey considered the
evidence adduccd, submit tho following op;n-
ion:
!. AS against land attack b. any force
the enemy could probably bring the in crior
line OF Notifications, as adopted and com pie
ted BIZ Mai Gen. Lpvnll, was a sufficient de-
fence of the city of New Orleans; but his
ability to hold that line against such an attack
was greatly imraiTedby the withdrawal fl
him, 10y superior authority, Of nearly all hi
effective troops.
2. Tho exterior line, as adopted aud in-
proved by him, was we'll devised, and render
cd rs strongas the means at his command al
lowed.
3. Until the ircn.clad gunboats Louisiana
and Mississippi should. be ready for service,
it was indispensably necessary 10 obstruct the
navigation Of the Mississippi river between
Fort, jackson apd St. Phillip. The raft COM
pleted under Gen. Lovel's direction, was
adequate for the purpose while in position
but it was swept away, and left the river uE-
impeded, either hy reason of some error in its
construction, or neglect in preventing the ac--
cumulaton of drift, or because of insuparable
mechanical difficulties, as to which this court
feels unpre.ared TO give an opinion. Gen.
Lr7ell communicated to the Coz .rnmans no
OPTION as to the insecurity Of the raft, nor
any apprehension that it might be swept
away, nor did he Immediately make known
the fact when it Oc cured. In this it is con-
sidered that ho ~ns roufsE IN his duty y, ,
4. When the raft was swept away, Ge9eral
Lowell, with great energy, immediatelNen-
deayored to replaSe it, and partially SUCCEED.
ed but without asult on his part, this Sass
obstruction ives broken by the carclesshtss
of yesselsiof the "riverdefence feetn colli&fpy
With it, and By FIRE RATS drifting against H.
sud by .he- fn;iuressf the. guard boats TO pro-.
tect it against might expeditions of the enc
s. The non completion Of the iron-cad gun,
boats Louiaisna ard Mississippi made it i'm
possible for the navy to cooperate efficiently
with Gen. Lorcil.
6. The so called river defence feet was
wholly useless rs q means of resistance to the
enemy, for which Gen. L,vell was in nc wise
responsible.
7. Under the existing circumstances the
passage of the forts BY the enemy's fleet could
not have been prevented by Gen Lowell Vt tn
any means under his control: and the forts
ing passed, the fall Of New Orleans was in
evitable, and its evacuation a military neccs-
sity.
9. When the FIRST raft was broken, and the
danger of New Orleans thus became immi
n.nr all necessary preparation should have
,een made f'r removing the public prnpert.
and private property available for military
uses aad when the second obstruction WAS
swept away, tho removal Of such properly
should have been commenced Immediately
The failure to take these timely steps caused
she lossos OF property that occurEe |: but there
vas comparatively but little property lost for
which Gen. Lo7ell was responsible.
Q. The fai!n;c Of Gen. Lowell to givs prop
err orders to Brig. Gen. NJ. f. Smith for the
retirement Of his command from Chalmette
ia not sufficiently explained, and is, therefore,
regarded Us serious error
10. The proposition Of Gen. Lowell to re-
turn to New Orleans with his command was
By his duty as a soldier. iavol-
ring al it did the useless sacrifice of him self
and his troore, though it explains itself upon
'heground of sympathy for the popula ioa.
and in observation-disclosures 70 their reproaches
General Lowell Displayed crea: energy nnd an
untiriug industry in performing his duties. His
conducs was marked by all the GOODNESS and self
possession duo TO the circumstances and his po-
sitinn aud he evinced high capacity tor cons
mani and the cleareat foresight in many of his
measures for the defence of New Orleans
The Court respectfully report that its assembly
was delayed by The failure Of s-Pres.dentI TO
receive his orders in due time and that IFS ses-
sion was protracted by the taking of testimony
uud-r the order Of the Wm Department as 10 the
conduct Of navarnMcers on duty il. Department
Mol. Thissrdcr WAS rescinded, thus rendering
nstless and irrelevant much Of the labor of the
Court The testimony referred to. although ap-
paaring on record, vas not considered by the
Conrt:in determiEingiis findings and dominion. =.
III. The Court of inquiry in The foregoing
case is hereby dissolEcd.
D. Nd