The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1864-10-06

: leading article OF the sentinel OF tues
day. II is Of character so grave, and
comes from source so worthy Of credit,
that We trust it may pot be overlooked ]:
There is remark which feel it to he a duty
to make before concluding The anxious hurry oi
preparation, whish exhibited by officers having
sGperntentence the north side, after the time foI
preparation had passed, showed that there had been
u previous NEGLECT, hy means ia be commended
The weak and aEiefcudsNi state u position after.
wtsds pronounced 1mportant-we altude - Fort
lisaiSoa-rcaiatns 20 be explained 10 the patl,s
ssflsf, tion The necessity of turning the depart
neBi,l officers and employees 81 the Government
,nio d,pesfs and spaiers, to remedy grave def
ency an the dences at another yUiat, disclosed u
world seem, by the exigsncy how past y iio eopii-
mcnf 10 thu foresight vigilance IN which VIC i1ss
been coni,,iag. We must add another VOID; i'tfs
was an eshtson OF excitement, !" sonic caaes lu>.
whore there had been this apparent want Oh previous
vigiInrn, that was by no mcsHs inspiring Aod rs
the result proved these ANXIOUS apprehehaiohs 10
have been nj founded the Judgment as w'ti a. 'h'
serenity oi those who exhibited theii 10 oio"sn' IA
question
The Sentinel is we'll known to be
friendly to the Administration. These
remarks, therefore, cannot possibly be
attributed to any desire on the part of
the writer to excite anything like feel
ing Of bitterness against it on the part
either OF the citizens or of any other
person whatsoever They are evidently
extorted by a view of the whole situation
from man W no was in condition to know
il, and who, knowing it. could do no less
than call attention to it, That there was
gross neglect before the approach Of the
enemy, is but too apparent. That there
was disgraceful hurry and unnecessary
trepidation after it was announced, is
matter of notoriety. These facts have
raised painful inquiry among the citi-
zens of Richmond as to the compe-
tency Of some persons entrusted with
our defence, and we respectfully sug-
gest that it ought to be listened to-
If one-half we have heard be true,
then certainly there ought to be a
change. No man ought to be entrusted
with any military charge about Rich
mond who is not confident that it can be
held against all odds. 1t ought to be
recollected that there arc crOaking Off
GERS as well as croaking citizens; and it
is reasonable to believe that an officer of
this character would not make the best
defender in the world. 1t is well known
that there were persons who, eighteen
months ago, recommended the abandon
ment Of Charleston, and we may be sure |
that there are others who take like |
gloomy view Of Richmond. If there be |
any such, most assuredly they ought not |
to be entrusted with any command about |
this city. If man thinks place can
not be defended, we may be sure he will |
give it up if he be requested by the en-
envy to do so, Witness, Colonel Ander-
son at Fort Gaines.
Richmond can be held against any
force Grant is ever likely to bring against |
it, provided only it have the right sort of |
officers in command. It's importance to
the Confederacy is we'll known to Presi-
dent Davis. 1t is, in fact, the most i'm
portant place in the whole Confederacy.
The Yankees know that as we'll as we do. !
Ii 1t be taken, we lose the State of Vir-
sinla, in all probability and the State Of
Virginia is, unquestionably and unmis-
the backbone Of the Confedera-
ion. 1t is strange, then, that its defence |
should be entrusted to men who loiter
way the time when they should be
preparing everything for a crisis, and
hat too in sight of the enemy, and who
when that crisis comes, are too excited to
10 anything in the world, who lose all
he little sense they ever had, and then
'eg'n to talk Of preparation when it is
'lready too late.