Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1864-04-07

nay contemp'uous refusal, and by the military CON-
nander With evasive and quibbiino ora hnt otiu
a refusal And so the city was not snrrandoraJ ~
Farrngut grevously perplexed and embarrassed az
10 the proper to pursue IN such crcunstancea
he at lost determined to regard Gen. Loves Response
- ETtpa6y surrender, anc proceeded himself to ele
7ete MS lag upcl of the PUBLIC buildings lying
Or one of his largest ships He was quickly remind
ed at the people did not interpret General Loves
Words end were 0t 80 perspcscious in comprehendinr
the Cubbie, frd logical in p Giving the eoinn.fe
conclusions from the ambiguity of his response and
even if their mental vision had been clear enough on
these points we doubt if they would have acquesced in
tz3 fair in, of Farragut. So they gathered in
wrath ard in great numbers, and under the muzzes Of
Fes. agut's huge, guns tore down and scattered in
- 's, to be preserved by thousands of brave
as memorials of the brave act, the ensign of the hated
Toe al say did this ind, a ratiDg fire Of cannon
and small c lis from the deck of the ship which had
taken position to guard that ensign. Ffzragut was
h etore fairly driven by the people from the position
10 which fair in rpreaton of Lovells words had
conducted him. He was forced to take grounds
His next demand, 2retore, upon the City authori-
ties to lower tie hostile flags which still Haunted de.
fancc at the naughty Eederas he had not then the
power - lard and perform this act OF conquest. This
demand too, rejected with indignation and scorn
by the city authorities aud the people. Farragut then
cCCCluT that he would try the effect of threats upon
an unarmed, defencess people who had been abandon
ed by their general and army. If the flag which still
foated from the City Hall was not removed in forty
|
to remove, os he should be under the necessity of
opening hrs batteries upon the city, and there
was great danger Of his submerging the whole
population, by cutting away the levees That
| he was capable of executing his threats had
been shown by previous acts of firing into the streets
and Oh The evees; ard afterwards proven by the
unparalleled barbarty of Ills destruction, false pre-
fences, OF the ncHeDsive of Donadsonville. No
who not present. and who is not familiar with
the local pecularities of New Oreaus can appreciate
the awful character of that threat, and the terrible
calamity which its execution would have produced
The SHIPS Of the Federal squadron bearing two hun
dred guns and than twenty mortars of the largest
calibre, were drawn up along The whole front Of the
city SO as to commend every part OF it. The muzzes
| of these guns were leveed line with the lower
stories foundations of the house. which stood or
plain ten twelve feet below the surface of the
river on which the ships hoated. The decension but
an inch of a single large gun would tear an opening
III the dykes which held the river, sufficient to deuge
it in few hours and to sweep from the streets toto
the swamps and lakes, all the people who might be
driven by the shot and ehe from the upper stories of
the houses Never before a city people threat
ened and confronted by destruction so complete and
total that gave so little chanct or hope OF any escape.
Nevertheless the people their representatives did
hot shrink before these teTror from their original high
position. In language quite earnest, though not so
! vigorous that OF Governor Letcher the demand of
the Laughty Federal rejected. And this decision
Vas nal d with universal Joy by all Classes OF the peo-
pie Before the Council could be convened TO consider
the demand, petition to them and to the Mayor,
never TO lower the flag, which he SYMBOL OF the
Independence OF the ColtederGcy, s,gued by over
lhree III usund iodea OF the city. Had time allowed
the number Of these sguerS could have been quntupe
The document ,.hch records and will perpetuae for
the a nlratiOn and emulation of future generations
this noble exhibition OF the spirit of the far famed wo
men OF the Crescent City, whose world renowned
charms aud gracs ct mind, person and manners have
lceivcd new usue from the splendid courage and SUBJ
lime devotion they have often displayed in this revo-
luton, is in this city, in the custody of one of
Lousanas gallant soldiers, precious deposit, dear
TO the Chvay Of our State, aud as potent to stimulate
to deeds of va0r, as was the casket containing the
heart of the heroic Bruce by the display of which the
noble Douglas rallied his followers TO the deadly and
desperate conflict, and inspired them with such
daunted herosm, such glorious self devotion. Such
the unanimous response OF the authorities and peo-
pie CT New Orleans to the demand fer the surrender
of the city, accompanied by threats of a vengeance
which would have involved universal ruin and death to
the whole people.
I The city was, therefore, never surrendered. The
FedeSa commander, driven by the bold bearing CT the
p, ple from original demand, waited Until his mil
lary power sufficiently strengthened to Justify
Landing armed force in the city from which every
soldier every cannon, every muket and every cartridge
had been hurried away by General Lowell, and then
di1ombark1g strong force of sailors, marines and
lie ~ and under cove: of the guns of his squauron
succl led in removing the obnoxious 6ag to which the
IdeeGr less pOpuis ion could C-T no other resistance
chan their fierce cratiOn their contemptuous groans
and ho0tings.
1t was after this, and with mortified consciousness
that his own conduct had not correspondent with the
devotion and spirit of the people, that Gen. Lowell was
embodened to return and to consider the loud demands
upon him by the people, that some effort should be
made to the honor Of the city by at least
manifestation OF resistance This is a pregnant fact
10 coatrad OF his assertion that he had left the
city in conformity with the wishes Of the people. Bold
paus were presented, desperate it true but which
the people ready to attempt, 10 re-occupy the
abandoned forts, and board the ships in port. But
\ er's army was Tagging behind it was believed that
the feet was deficient in munitions, and the great in
tares at stake DEL ended grand and desperate
fort of vaOr and ring to redeem the fortunes and
1nor the city. here thousands Of men whose
whole v,s had been 2s3ed IN peaceful pursuits who
were ready 10 risk their all in such enterprise. But
Ger L)v,I, az prudent and wise commander, could
not advise sanction such hopeless schemes ludeed
be did not hesitate - pronounce any further resstan
of tie people meCles5 and folly, AID instead OF act
ing upon the advice 1, people in abandoning the
ciy he recommended them submit to the conqueror,
bde the fortunes OF war; and look TO the future tor
I lief aud rescue
These CTS can be atttstcd by such cloud OF wit
ncszl8 as We 90 not believe tuat Gen. Lowell or any
one else will dare 10 confront with denial impugn
mrnt They have Tar higher cain to the consider
aCD md lglui recital o. the just historian than the
. &c pn1te array Of proofs by winch unfortunate COM
m 1ndcrs may seek wheWash blurred regulations
and vlndIcAc satul plans and acgles, mas
mu,h as they aG c. II d ply the fame aud name OF
a great and patriotic community, whose sacrifices and
contributions Struggle Tor IndeI endence have
+, been SURPASSED by her Class, and whose mlsor-
tunes and anIctlons should command the proIoundest
sympathy Of all who respect courage aud fidelity, tor
tudc and dcvoon displayed in the most trying OF al
adVersiti eg-that Of IgLominous captivity and merc
less persecution, Of homeless exile, dispersion, power
y aud ruin. w:
/ urADQUAuTEas CAPE FEAR
NJ