Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-08-22
LATEST SOUTHERN NEWS.
The Situation at atMobile-The Spirit Of
the PeOple-The City Not to be n Sec
Ond New Orleans--The Prospect, Etc.

[From the Richmond Examiner. August l5.]
The mail brought us yesterday Mobile
papers of the 10th, the first that have been
received for some time. They give us some
news of the fight on the 9TH and the state of
feeling and excitement in the city. The
Reister says:
On receipt of the news that the enemy
had passed Fort Morgan, the General order
ed the bell rung, according to previous no.
tice, as signal to the citizens that the time
for completing their organizations was at
hand, and that this work could no longer
be delayed. 1t is unnecessary to say that
this summons caused great excitement but
If it partook of the nature of panic we
were not able to discover it. Several new
organizations were set on foot among the
citizens, while those of the military who
are here absent from their commands show
ed a commendable alacrity in their prepara-
tions for bearing share in the work before
them.
Among the earliest acts of the day was
that of the Mayor and municipal boards,
pjedging the resources of the city to the
commanding General, and requesting him
to defend Mobile to the helastextremity. These
are strong words, and we doubt not the city
authorities used them with full under
standing of their great import. We un-
be made a second New Orleans, but that
when enough shall haye been done for safe
ty, and in vain (if it must be SOY, the honor
of the city will still remain in his hands,
and that the wish of the people is that it be
made a pile of ruins, an altar of sacrifice,
rather than become the theatre for such
disgraceful scenes as have been enacted in
our sister city. II there are any who dis
sent from this view, who would consent to
live under Yankee rule, we warn them to
look to their goods and chattles-their house,
hold gods, and the only ones which their
craven spirits acknowledge-for we have
sounded the hearts of the real people of
Mobile in vain for the last three years If it
falls into the hands of the enemy otherwise
than as desolate, fire blackened waste.
But we are persuaded better things.
though we thus speak, and we do not be-
lieve it is written in the book of fate that
the enemy are to tread even the ashes of
Mobile, and they themselves do not expect
it this time. Where is their cooperating
land force? and without it, what impression
can they make upon our inner line OF de-
fenses? Indeed, if the forts hold out an
opportunity presents itself for q splendid
triumph, even over their naval force, with
whom it is a problem, for the solution Of
which we shall look with some curiosity
how they are torun back past Fort Morgan
after they have burned all their coal.
Even, however, if the forts fall, the pow
erful batteries which gird the front of our
city remain to give the enemy another Fort
McAllister lesson, and with this difference:
that at Fort McAllister they had deep wa
ter to fight In, while here its shallowness
permits only the access of their weaker
craft, many Of which, If they have the fol-
ly to engage the batteries seriously, will
be sent to keep the Tecumseh company.
On that side we are safe; on the other it
behooves us all, young men and old, to put
our hands to the work and give our servi-
ces to the commanding General, who will
keep "watch against Yankee force or
guile"
In conclusion, to the people of the city
we can only speak in the terms of General
Maury's order. 1t means that the city
should strip for the fight and send off the
non-combatants. The steamboats, and rail-
roads will carry off all non-combatants who
apply, and without charge to those who
cannot pay. The object is to save life and
limb when the city is shelled. There is no
thought of surrendering the city, nor any
belief that it can be taken.
THE PRosPECT-wILL MOBILE FALL?
So far as we can judge from the tone of
the Mobile press there seems to be no fear or
dependency on the part of her citizens
The opinion there seems to be that the city is
yet safe, and will be able to hold out against
any attack that may be attempted. The
Georgia press seem to be equally confident.
A paper, familiar with the defenses of Mo-
bile, says of the situation:
"The situation looks bad enough to the
superficial observer; but to one acquainted
with the powerful defenses of Mobile be-
tween Fort Morgan and the city, all of
which have yet to be overcome, the picture
is not so dark and sombre. Immediately
guarding the city, and just below its lower
suburbs, we have several strong forts, con-
structed both upon artificial islands and
along the shore. In addition to these, OBJ
structions are driven down in the water inn
mediately under our heaviest guns, which
would be obliged to be removed before
vessel of any class could go by and appear
in front OF the city. We think there are
many other works down the bay, of great
and small proportions, which are capable of
powerful resistance. IfAdmiral Farragut
has no infantry to cooperate with his fleet
the city is not in much danger"
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