The New York herald., 1864-10-13
Oar Naval Heroes.

In the regulations won during the present
war there are none that shed more lustre upon
the country, or that have gained 1t moro sub
stantial advantages. than those Of our naval
chiefs. Dupont, Porter and FarrAgut constitute
o triad to whom no equals can be found in the
history OF naval achievements.
When we contrast with the deeds of these
men the successes that obtained for Nelson, Sir
Sidney Smith and Sir Charles Napier-the three
greatest names for seamanshIp and daring that
Great Britain con boast of-how the latter pale
before them. Taking into account the differ
ence In the obstacles to be overcome. and the
inferior quality OF the vessels and armaments
they had to contend with, the British command
ers had comparatively easy tasks to accomplish
in their victories. The dispersion of squad
ron, the sinking Of vessel by raking fire or
the preaching Of fort were mere questions Of
calculation, that could be reduced to almost
mathematical certainly. There were in their
day no problems to be solved. as to how far
iron plating could be made to resist iron or
steel projectiles Of vastly increased momentum,
or as to how long men could bear to be oooped
up in the su1ocating atmosphere Of Mr.. Erics-
sons Monitors. Entering upon this new field
Of experiment, our naval commanders soon
proved that not only were they men Of far
superior scientific qualifications, but that they
were men ready to peril more for great re-
suits than any OF their naval predecessors had
ventureds-Dupont was the 6rst to thus dis
tingu'sh himself His capture Of Forts Beaure
gard and Walker where he initiated the sys-
TEN Of attack by circle sailing, was the first great
naval achievement Of the war. At Vicksburg
Porter won equally impershable laurels by the
daring and efficient manner In which he CO.
Mobile, the exploits Of Dupont and Porter bril-
liant az they were. were cast into the shade by
Farragut. In the whole record of naval daring
there never was attempted anything 30 bold and
apparently desperate as the running Of the
gauntlet Of the forts at New Orleans. Spectators
Of the scene describe the FIRE as the hottest ever
known-hell itself seeming to have been let
loose to overwhelm the assalants. At Mobile
the hero of this achievement gave even still
greater proofs Of his genius and intrepidity
Everything that military science could sug
gest had been lavished on the defences OF the
harbor, and they were deemed impregnebie by
the rebels. To man like Sir Charles Napier.
they would probably have been so; but Far
ragut was not to be daunted by obstacles of
aoy kind. He soon reduced Forts Gaines and
Powell, and then came that spectacle the like OF
which has never been Witnessed in any naval
engagement. N was believed that Fort Nor
gaa, q sand work elaborately constructed and
we'll garrisoned and victualled, could not be
reduced by any force we could bring against it.
Nay more, It was thought that no vessels could
live under Its fire. Lashlng his ships two by
two aud tying himself in an exposed posi-
ton to the rigging. so that he could command
perfect view OF the scene aud issue his orders
tie. moro readily. the gallant old Viking ran
them close under the fsrt, and. after sharp
contest, soon silenced it's guns by pouring con.
tinuous showers OF grape and canister into its
embrasures. Where Is the officer OF any other
navy who would have perilied 80 much in view
Of the chances or almost certain death and
faiiure9
Lei i! not he !mag,nSd that tbs apPrecis!2a
manifested By the 6atlon of such Services is
confined 10 ourselves. We have seen letters
from distinguished British and French naval
officers, in which they SPEAK Of Farrsgut in
terms Of the most extravagant admiration evca
going so far a. to compare him TO the demi-
gods Of Greece and Rome. others a. tts naval
hero OF the Nineteenth century Aud when we
thol 10 ,,.A
there are united modesty and simplicity OF
manner rarely 10 be met with, we may cougra-
tulate ourselves that evil A. are our times they
give promise Of being fruitful Of those great
characters, watch. baving created the republic
are now necessary to its salvation.
DEMoRAIzArioN IN rHs SoUTHEaN ARMIES. -
Gen. Hood, the Savannah Republican and the
Richmond Enquirer have taken to telling ths
truth, and their descriptions Of the Southern
soldiers will enligh!en the world considerably
as to the chivalrous material Of which the
Southern armies are made up. Gen. Hood
says that his soldiers strsggle horribly, and
that the officers do not try to prevent il. He
says that they do not straggle from the line OF
march because they are worn out. but because
they want TO piuuder the houses Of those high.
spirited Southern farmers who made che war.
The Savannah Republican says that Hoods
army was moro dreaded by tho Southern
people than Sherman's army. ID not this q
very dangerous admssoni Hitherto Southern
journals have only declared that the South was
a united people in arms against the Yankees
How viii Europe now open its eyes 70 hear, on
good Southern authority, tha. the people Of
great Southern State dread less The presence Of
Northern army than Of the army THAI is TO
sot thcn FREQ from Yankee falea Ale the
Georgia farpers no longer ready 70 give
the last dollar foe the rebel cause, But
worse than all is the blow levelled by tho