The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-09-05
LATE SOUTHERN NEWS.



MOBILE, August 30.-A flag of truce boat has
arrived, bringing letters and papers from New
Orleans from the prisoners captured in Mobile
Bay. The Confederate surgeons are to be sent by
the first boat to Pascagoula. The Federal and
Confederate Agents Of Exchange have come TO a
perfect understanding. Prisoners are 10 be eX-
changed shortly. Six vessels are of Dog River
bar this evening.
WHEELER IN EAST TENNESSEE.
LYECHBURG, August 3l.-Ihe correspondent
of the Republican, under date of Bristol, 10Th inst.
says that General Wheeler has burnt London
bridge over the Tennessee river; that he went
thence TO Maysyile and captured seven hundred
prisoners and thence to New Market, capturing
two hundred more prisoners, all of whom were
sent to South Carolina.
The above news was received at Bristol by the
afternoon train on the 29th, and is deemed rei-
able by the authorities there.
SURRENDER OF OUR FORTS.
From he Richmond Efd,atner, Sep,emJer2.
The public seem at a loss to account for the
inglorious captures of so many of our forts and
strongholds. Various theories have been sug-
gested, and there Is danger that the public mind
will settle into the belief that such places are
unavailing and useless. Butthe reason is so open
observation, that il is strange il should so far
have escaped the authorities. Most of those
places were manned early in the war, and the
same troops have remained in them ever since.
1hey have had no opportunity OF acquiring that
steadiness which only experience in combat can
give.
No service in war requires more self-conhdence
and dauntess resolution than the defense of an
isolated fort and it should be cOnided only 10
veterans the vaccination of fire is the only sure
prophy ylactic against the white flag; raw troops,
no matter how long they may have been in service,
cannot in general be relied on in such difficult
| circumstances. Let Government notice what all
| who look may sec. Sumter has never been sur
rendered, because It's garrison has been epeatedly
| changed.
Troops lcn very long in garrison are ant to
4 hDplFFa lAmlTuIfynta Il l.tF Of tla
| usual incCnlives and supports Of the soldier ;
| there are few promotions, and the ardOr Of their
| ambition dies out; they do not confront the
| Yankee, and there Is no aliment TO hostility ;
| they become tired OF the war, and open 10 the
| UnioDist influences which abound around all
| such places, and are constantly at work; from
| patriots they degenerate into grumbng poll
| ticiaus Of the "peace' stripe. The enemy is
| fully aware Of this state Of things he plans an
! attack and is not disappointed. Neither would
| our Government be ii h had observed as he
| did. Lucky viii II be il II observes u0ic he
| fore IL Is astonished with another Iunaccouut-
| able disaster. The remedy is TO let some Of the
| held veterans replace for while the troops long
| in garrison, and give them the wished-for Oppor-
| tunty OF Frightening their martial virtues In tho
! field. There is no medicine for an eufeeDled
| morale like service with the Army Of Northern
| Virginia. Patriotism and courage are Ia the air
and all mspnC 10. He who was lately a cr0akgr
| peace DaWler, COntraOand trader with tho
| Yankee, or a Yankee spy, aud was brought into
I
| IN tie trenches, "lapr2ed with ire" becomes u
| new man, and sees things with quite other eyes
| han OF old. He is soldier and q patriot, and
| VIII do and dare all that becomes a man.
| How stand the facts on this subject in regard
| 10 the tortiiicauons about Richmond Are these
| important works manned by veterans accustomed
/ 20 the boom Of cannon and the explosion of
| shells Is there no danger that some fine morn
| ing we shall hear that Battery No. - was sur
| rendered TO the enemy after terrific lombard
| meut, in which we lost two killed and three
| wounded TO avoid the further unnecessary etfli-
| sion OF blood Z" II was a cardinal rule with Ma
pOleon the Great that no fortress could be sur.
| rendered with honor until after II had repulsed
| two assaults. Are raw men who have never
| smClt gunpOwder more likely TO strike after two
repulsed assaults, or after two Of their comrades
are knocked lifeicss by "the explosion Of a she'll
| on the glacis Z"
In the works about Richmond, in all our garri-
sons, forts, and earthworks safety requires that
| the men should be veterans, accustomed to the
shrieks and explosions of shells, commanded by
officers who think only Of resistance and never
dream of distinguishing between holding out
and holding out us long as practicable" The
sciOns of West Point can calculate 20 q second
the practicabiiiy Of resistance, and can deter
mine long in advance the precise moment for
running up the white flag. The skilful in such
calculations ought not to be entrusted with vital
positions. Veteran troops and Officers who will
keep shooting as long as gun or cartridge re-
maine, are the only safe custodians OF important
sronghOlds.