, 1864-01-17

Why were the Rebels Allowed to
Fof1AT7

CHICAGO, Jan. 13, 1864.
Editors Chicago Tribune:
In January; 1862, one Of our prominent
historians {Mr. Abbott or Mr. Hcadlcy,} was
understood to solicit my perfectly authenti-
Gated information which might properly
enter into the history Of the great slarehold-
er6' rebellion.
In the attempts which have been made to
permanently chronicle the events Of this war,
the historian las been deprived of much val
uable material for his work, and has been
deceived in important matters, mainly be-
cause the newspapers, In the first place, have
kept back large portions Of the truth, for
reasons which may have been prudential ut
the time, but which can be no excuse for
long continuance Of such suppression and
misrepresentation.
Perhaps the most remarkable Instance Of
what Is hero promised, is to be found in the
melancholy story Of Port Hudson. It can
not be the least benefit to tho Union cause,
nor any enhancement to our national honor,
that since that stronghold of the rebels has
been Wrested from them, VIC should any
longer remain silent upon the strange dare-
lfction which was the cause Of that p! otractc
cd succession Of terrible battles for its cap
turc. While the contest was pending, for,
getfnlness of its origin was blessing. But
the writer Of history may as well look into
the face of the horrible fact that the necessity
for military operations at thnt point grew out
Of the most Infamous dcreliction Of duty
with which the service Of our suffering coun-
tiy has been outraged.
lathe time Of the battle Of Baton Rouge, ,Au-
gust 5th, 1867 the rebels had not a gun In
poi ion, nor flag flying, ut Port Hndson.
Dar.cer was experienced from gner1l1as at
GRIND Gulf and occasionally at other points
}tn7. Er7t ~
open, from Vicksburg to it's mouth.
From the advantages Of its position, now
well known, 1t Was plain enough that Port
Hudson was the most eligible place for fortf,
tlcation below Vicksburg: There is the best
OF nayal authority for the assertion that n
single gunboat, stationed opposite the town,
could have prevented the rebels from en-
treuching themselves there.
There were Eunboats Whichconld we'll have
been spared lor. that purpose. They were
IN Connection with the one here proposed.
Let the log-books Of the scioto, the kineo,
the 1tasca, this Katahdin, tell what it was.
Was It to add to the safety Of New 0rlcans-by
these small gunboats-When larger ones and
tirst-class sloops Of war iaJ in front Of the
banks, protecting the hen-roosts Of the burnt
up town Of Donaldsonrille? Was it to guard
| the spo11ess loyalty Of the Proud and classic
city Of Plnquemincf
The whole fault is the more aggravated
| from the fact that the commander of the
1eet then in the lower river was carly noti-
| fed Of the euemy's design to erect batteries
! at Port Hudson, BY Capt, VIM. D: Porter,
| then Of the U. 8. gunboat Essex The saEe
| advice was communicated to the Navy De-
| pa1tmcAt under date Of August 90, lS61 By
the eame officer. But not vessel made ITS
appearance at the mennced point The
| rebels y ere allowed to commence operations
there. and to continue their work without
uolestation, until their stupendous fortif.
cations were complete, defyi1g as etropg a
force of army and navy as they supposed
eon'o was ess' then M % 1Mnrch, 1sSs int Admiral
Fa1ragut made the heroic attempt to take
bis feet past the batteries. Where then was
the magnificent triumph that waited upon
his passage of the forts below New Orleans,
eleven months before His 1ag-shtp, the Hart
ford, with two small vessels, wore success.
ful, The noble steam s1oop- -ot-war Mississ ssippl
Wns destroyed, and the rest Of the fleet was
beaten back with considerable damage. Thai
| the services Of those vessels which passed
were Of great value as concabnting TO thf
Tie army gradually gathered its force. and
The siege Was commenced. The whole tragc
dy is ffIsh in tue public mind, esetpt the tlTs
at. It was yust and terrific endeaTor 10
reduce most formidable stronghold, "hcrG'
eight months before, waa mere deserted III
luce, scarcely noticed By Us as We passed Il
on on The rircr. The tolls aud suiIsringe ant
carnage Of a besicging army, in hospital: and
in aeld; unknown to spy butIhc SOLDIER, Mer'
borne for months. and long into mltls1mmoE
nndcr IN almost tropical sun.- Thous
ands Of our soldiers pcrished befor'
tl,oac h1ttcEics. An unuanal proportion
brilliant officers were slain. Who shall tel
in how many homes Of our land the ycI;
ll.ht of their lives has been cxtangutshcd
where lie sud hearth IL their memcnto Q
Port Uud6ouY
For ion weeks, from the middle Of August
r 1869, Admiral Farragnt with ILLS flag ship wa
4 ut Pcut acolA The lato Commodore Morrll
, Of tho Pcafacola, and Capt. Smith, then, {
: :. ring tho Ad,ntral's abacnce had command {
:, tlal norton Of ILLS squadron which: VIVA