Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1864-08-18
rHE SITUATION AT KoBILE.

possible for the garrison to eVacuate it in
safety, and blow it up"
THE SITUATION AT KoBILE.
From the Richmond Whis Of Aug. IA
The naval disaster at Mobile is uuques-
tionably an unpleasant affair, and, we fear,
will tend to fix inersdically in the public
mind the idea, already widely entertained,
that our iron clad navy is foredOomed-
each ship, when built, either to be captur-
ed, blown up by our own people, or strand
| ed. The subsequent surrender of q fortress
in the same quarter, as strong as modern
science, with the experience of the defen-
ces of Charleston, ample time and un-
stinted resources could make it, 6lls all
hearts with deep and decorating grief and
ranking spirit of indignation.
Such an event it has been our sroVince
to chronicle, after long series of substau-
tial successes since the early Spring, be-
ginniug with the defeat of Seymour in
Florida, and ending with the signal dis
com6ture of Grant but few days ago, in
cluding Early's combats at the Monocacy
and Kerustown-successes which have sig
nally illustrated the genius. skill and cool
intepidity of our officers, and their able
courage, intelligence and devotion of our
soIdiery, Fort Gaines has been surrender
ed by its Commander-a Col. Anderson
with its heavy armament, its adequate
stores of munitions and subsistence, its
large garrison of 600 battle tested Con-
fsderate soldiers, its unimpaired defensive
means and appliances, in direct, defiant
disobedience of orders, and in the face of
the prolonged defence of Battery Wagner
in the face, too, of the memorable exam
pie of Fort Sumter, after 395 days of an
unparalleled bombardment.
We had hoped, indeed, that after the de-
fence of Oharleston,and the attack on Fort
McAlister, we should be spared the repe-
tition of such humiliating disasters as the
capture of the works defending Port Royal
Harbor and Hilton Head, the surrender of
Fort Hateras, and the reduction of Fort
Jackson at the mouth of the Mississippi,
and of Fort Pulaski. But all these become
insignificant in comparison with the crown
ing shame-as history must record it in
adamantine letters-of the capitulation to
Farragut of Fort Gaines, after so trifing
defence against so slight an attack.
But if the defence of Charleston has
been without its lesson to the hereafter
notable commander to whom was assign
ed the 'bad eminenCe" of the surrender OF
Fort Gaines, and the consequent loss of
Fort Powell at this stage of the war, let
not the events of the last 395 days around
CQarleSLOu udEDOE DG lOSb oA LAO PSOBAS Va
the Confederate States. 1t should be re-
membered that on the 18th of July, 1868,
the enemy threw an overwhelming force on,
and seized with ease, the east end of Nor
ris Island, and thence in q short time, from
batteries garnished with new aud terri
Bile artillery, hurled his bolts with marvel
GUS precision and incredible range upon
Battery Wagner aud Fort Sumter, while
the largest missiles ever before used in war
were showered from at least six iron-clads,
which were able at will to take positions
commanding our TANKS.
1t should be recollected that these events
gave birth at the time to a general distrust
of the ability of Gen. Beauregard to with
stand ultimately such destructive means OF
assault, and to hold Charleston against
such Federal naval resources, backed by
GiImore's engineering skill, vast mechani-
cal appliances and new artillery. Few
doubted, indeed, or, at least, were not filled
with painful apprehension, that the loss OF
Charleston was foregone conclusion-an
inevitable result of the fall of the south
end of Morris Island. In this apprehen-
sion, we are assured, even large aud re-
spectacle portion of the people of Charles
ton shared. Fortunately, this was not the
idea of the skillful, resolute man oPpor-
tunely iutrusted with the conduct of opera
tions in that quarter, nor of the brave OIL
GERS and soldiers under him and to day
the thoughts of all of us grow pleasant and
confident when we think of the issue.
Thus it should be in relation to Mobile
The works there are of superior order,
and extensive enough at all threatened or
assailable points. Those works are pro-
vided with guns of the heaviest calIbre,
such as have been found in every instance
at Charleston potent enough to drive out of
action the monitors of the enemy in very
few minutes. The fall of Morris Island
gave to the enemy batteries within li2OO
Yards of Fort Sumter, in easy range OF our
works on SulliVan's and James Islands, and
placed even the inner harbor OF Charleston
under the guns from the captured positions,
and brought the heart of the city itself
within the range of Gillmore's Psrrott guns.
Nevertheless, steamers from abroad have
no difficulty in entering and leaving the
harbor at the present moment. Fort Sum-
ter is still in our possession, her Illustious
walls contain formidable batteries fitted to
play no insignificant part should Dahlgren
ever be induced to emulate the venturous
Farragut; aud there is no difficulty in
keeping up communications with all our
exterior harbor defences.
On the other hand, Forts Gaines, Pow
ell and Morgan, are some thirty miles dis
tant from Mobile They were valuable
adjuncts, unquestionsbIy, to the defence of
the city, and their loss is deplorable, but
in no way vital to that defence. Between
them and Mobile. have been built, and
thoroughly armed, line of works COM
manding the inner hsrbor. This line the
Yankee navy must reduce; land batteries
cannot be brought to bear upon them-ob-
structions and torpedoes bar the way to be
passed; and the capture of Mobile should
be far more difficult problem than was
that of Charleston in the beginning eff
July, 1868. Farragut has qualities which
make him more dangerous adversary, we
confess, than Dshlgren; but Candy, from