The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-06-26
Return of Cen. Eiunter-Iis IkecalI
Gen. GiIImOre-A Fine Record
ChaTIeston--Tho mOnItOrs-- Du-
pOnt-llIncss OF Admiral FOOte.
c0rrospoalenoo o llls cInalnnalI aal.llo.
NAV NoRK. Inne

New YORK, june Is.
The Arago from Port Royal, brought
yesterday to New York, the late COM
mander of the Department of the South,
Gen Hunter His farewell order an
nOunces that he is temporarily relieved,
and | am told by one of his staff that
the order from Washington, which put
Gen. Gilmore in command, used the
same expression, and intimated further
that Gen. Hunter was recalled for special
service. Yet do not suppose that Cen
Hunter Will ever resume his Department
command. Though supported by the
personal friendship of the President, and
sustained by the hearty good will Of a
strong party whom his anti-elavery poll
cy had conciliated, he has somehow con-
trived TO mismanage affaits in South
Carolina TO a degree that has lost him a
large part of the confidence of both
His failure is due less to want of milits- I
ry talent, than TO want Of adminislra- 4
tive capacity. He lacks balance, has
good intentions, but little steadiness of
purpose, and occasionally develops
startling eccentricity, which perhaps as
much as anything else disturbs Mr.. Lin
colu's liking-for If there is anything
for which the President is distinguished,
it is his love of routine, the wish TO see
things 60 on tomorrow just as they are
going on to-day, and went on yesterday.
Mr.. Lincoln's strength Is vis inertsae.
Gen. Gilmore is not unknown in the
West, as he held a command for awhile
in Kentucky, and once dashed brilliant
ly on Pegram, or somebody else, who
gave him a chance. But earlier than that
or other Western exploits, he has one of
the most remarkable regulations of the
war Everybody knows he took Fort
Pulaski, but not everybody knows in the
face of what obstacles he succeeded
Pulaski was deemed impregnabe, and
the proposed attempt 10 reduce il by land
batteries on Tybee Island was scented
by the highest engineering authority in
America. General Wright, then com
manding a brigade at Port Royal, for
three years Chief of the Engineer Bureau
in Washington, after careful survey and
reconnaissance, pronounced positively
against the effort. "There is not old
iron enough in America e. take that fort"
said the General. II was the strongest
but two in the United States. Russell
of the London Times, went over IL very
carefully, and sent home long accounts
and plans in detail, pronouncing il a mod
el of engineering sirength. Gen. Robert
h. Lee wrote 10 Colonel Olmstaad, its
oommandant "The enemy may IN your
fort with shot and shell, but they can
not breach its walls. | expect you 10
defend it 20 thelsst." And to crown all.
Gen Totten, then and now the head Of
the Engineer Corps whom the project Of
reducing Pulaski was suggested to him,
declared, "YOu might as well undertake.
10 lombard the Rocky Mountains from
rybee az Fort Pulaski IL was in the
face Of such opinions that General, then
Captain, Gilluore resolved 10 take this
fort, aud took it The credit Is due 10
him solely. In eighteen and a half
hours OF Gann0nading--t thirty frhm the
time the first qua was iifed-Pulasld
surrendered, aud from that moment Gen.
Glllmure has been the best hated oiIicer
in the Engineer Corps. Success in de-
iiance Of opinion and tradition is seldom
forgiven. When the corps was recently
reorgRnized, Gen. Gilmore was kept still
cap tain in the engineer service, aud bis
remarkable ability and success have
been in no way recognized or rewarded
in connection with his position 10 the
regular army,
This present appointment TO the De-
pariment Of the South, points unmista-
kably to an attempt against Oharlest0n
from the land. Sumter is certainly ca
pabIe Of reduction from Morris Island,
and the national forces have only TO gain
and hold that island TO insure, FIRST the
demolition Of that fort and then the rap
id aud easy capture Of the remaining
defepces OF Charleston bArbor Proba
bly the occupation Of he isllnd viii
prove the most difficult operation Of al
Yet, At this moment, when Beaureeard's
army is diminished 10 swell Lees ad-
yancing column, there ought to be no Sc
rious trouble in sitting foothold in
South Carolina.
As for the Monitors they are 10 no
condition 10 be used against Charleston,
unless probably thoy might be mounted
on wheels aud taken overland The bot
toms Of these vessels are covered with o
dense growth of tough white erase, now
about 6fx inches long, and i0terlarded
with barnacles, oysters, aud al sorts OF
marine ouigrowihs. II is very much like
broom tWigs--just about 40 close and