Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-09-03
Gen. BeaureEard and Charleston.

Gen. BeauregaTd and Charleston.
sane GAYS sgs the Following paragraph appeared in
tS4 Richmond Seutiasi:
The TIx,n or JuLY.-As matter of history, we copy
To-day two accounts Of q operations BY which the
enemy gained iOO.hsd ON Norris Island, near
Cl areston The 6rs of these il from the harestoh
NJ rcu-y; the O'her was copied by that paper from
" Yankee sheet a..
,.Tn,re % lesson in the record-We say It IN tue
siLcer good feeling-Ehich We hope WIZ nov oe
lost on the commanders who may reai IT, iue "a
bled Argus had huudSed eyes, Of "nisn guy
" sa1s at n lime. commander, thTouS DIS ' auu
Seouts and Otherwise should have AZ least As mani
| aud should be equal yigllanb and never taken Oy
surprise"
r, hi, the Charl,s.on Merc,ry of the SOth August
replies as follows
The Richmond Sentinel Is pleased to transfer tons
columns at this Ats date an original and seiecteu
article from The Mercury, and TO avail itself OF the OPP
pUr,uuity print the foregoing which, notwithstanding
~ ptfrctation If good teelug 10 transparent At
tack on the Commander of this Department not autho
rid as we are informed, by the "record"-not war
rauted by the scope OF the articles copied
The Sentinel is sometimes accredited rs the organ OF
he Administration II this be so, it Is somewhat pain
m to observe that while all the other journals at Rich
mnnd, and indeed in the Whole country, find in the
kdef Ice of Charleston sources OF PRIDE theme for
high commendation and abundant grounds for conn.
dence in the enduring courage OF the officers and men,
aud the skll OF the OOmnanulbS
with that defence, this ne'sl aper alone should mud
ground for iusidOus disparagement
Gen Bcaur gard had 10 provide against attacks upon
Charleston IN several different directions. The route
from North Eds,o Johns Island, through St. An
drsws Ptl,h constituted one. Another method Of at.
tack WIS 10 cut of railroad icatiOn with the
interior az approach by the Neck. James Island
St,tuted third The route by SuliVan's Island Mount
Pleasant and TIE direction of Cooper River constituted
iour.h-Aoris Island being the nth. Some Of the
~rre thought by the Commanding General to be vital
others not
The OCCUPATION by the ehemy of the south end of
Norris Island, after u was not au unmiXed evil, but
the less Of two vs-either OF which, unfortunately,
oar eoemy al t i'll his power, as matters stood to in
dc Il s believed he chose tue one less kelly, under
existing circumstances to end 10 the fall of Charleston.
With several ways OF approach, he ected that OF
Morris instead OF James laud, the long lines OF which,
AZ the time could have been held by the utterly in
al uaate fore left in occupation, had the enemy made
serious efIrt with the means at his disposition TO
,e aod occupy them. Ia thas eVent, in few hours
after landing the enemy must have held Charleston al
the mercy Of its numerous artillery.
From his GENITAL depot at Hilton Head, and aux liAry
stations in the North ElistO aid Folly IlAud with
his ample of water transportation the enemy had
il in his power 10 cJrc his troops with CELEBRITY
aud from the nature of the country, with uncommtn
,.cresy upon any point in South Carolina Georgia.
and .ecure firm foothold before troops matters
stood could possibly be gathered to tbs same point in
suih .itut force TO oppose serious res's:ance.
In regard TO there being a surprise in the event Of
the 10th July the Sentinel mght have learned with lit
tie difficulty that the Commanding General ha Informed
the authorities explicitly, in Apr i'll May, in June, aid
even in Juy-just before the Gana,ct-that there was
imminent risk o. attack, and even OF the way II
might be attempted. His superiors, Richmond, we've
assured repeatedly that the enem forces had not been
ma erialy reduced in this region Moreover the peo
/ pc and the Government have been more than once
warned Of this state OF allrs through the co umns Of
The Nsrcarg VIXEN, having felt il Cur duty took means
~ earn the facts and to state them ny RsmonstraL
ce concerning the removal oil troops have been earnestly
mad ty eminent citizens. But, spite of all this the
Government he preferred TO rely upon its oSn sources
| Of u.OImst On, remote though ttey were from the
s,ele hiss gnored aud rejected information acquired
here by "spes and scouts and daily Reconnaissance
officially reported and chose TO believe that Charleston
and this safe from any serious military Ope
raiiOns OF the enemy. Therefore, superb division OF
| ten thousand men was OrdeIed away in May besides
two brigades which had been returned TO North Caro-
lima soon after the action Of the 9Th of April Subse
qusntly in June General Btauregard was urged from
ne same quarter to i'll urLGer reduction OF The small
force left him, and to 60 hin stt TO another held OF
operations aud even as late three days before he
lutl o. July, he further Invited to spare Of
troops tor operations at another pOintsO ing aimed
had become the disposition TO discredit his grave and
official reports Of airs in his oEn Department.
Tnat there lack Of effort to reliable n
formation OF the movements of the enemy, the proof
told, is ample. That enough procured TO
author q assurauces Of the danger OF an attack be.
yond question, also that those assurances unfortu
na:ely had weight with the authorities Richmond.
IL known and reported to the Government. that Folly
Isl nd upitd in force since the 9Th OF April and,
as q consequence, that Morris Island threatened.
Even the charges Of land and naval commanders of the
enemy reported preslg,s OF impending hoStili
tes Bot in vain AL ideas Cf attack scoutt at
camouu, .epea', as late even the first week in
July.
/. may be asked then, II informed accurately nd
anticipating prec sely the Of the enemy, why
did not "a. Department and District Commanders place
Sorrii leland in condition to and foil this attack p
Tue given is: Want OF labor to carry cut the
paus for is defence; of armament for the works
necessary that end and last, but not least want of
to hold and fight any works which mil hit have been
thrown up ut the south end OF Morris Island, without
ripping other pOrant positions Of the feeble supports
left them. To lave WITHDRAWN labor, or armament or
men for these purposes from works Islaad,
was deemed out OF the question. From no other quar-
ter in this Department. we are assured could they lave
been drawn.
Tnat formidable battery said to have been deliberately
thrown up on the north end Of Folly Island without
knowledge of our Generals is stated be invention
OF the enemy. The guns used TO drive away our small
force and silence few guns were, told fed
field and possibly siege pieces, behind slight breast
works. IL was the superior weight and number Of guns
and the hsdpy supporting brigade Of fGntry that swept
away feeble stuted means of resistance The very
ground Of this alleged work visited and explored it
is asserted, but few days previously by men, but
had not force enough le to venture upon through
reconnaissance of the enemys outpOss Folly Island.
The evening before the attack General Ripley and Ii.
Col Yates with GLASSES, carefully examined the works
Ia sight, and could scOVer not a single gun.
TIE Stnlinels lesson may be improved by the "re-
cord"
War GES. TOoNBs ABOUT RKcOSsrRUCnoS.-
We 6ud the following letter from Gen. Robert Toombs
in the last number of the Sumpter Republican:
WASHINGTON, GA, Aug II, 1858.
Ms DFAR Sir: Your letter Of the 10th instant asking
my anthorty TO contradict the report that 81 in ia
Vor Of reconstruction" received this evening.
eau conceive Of no extremity which my country could