Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1864-04-07
of the monitors Gaena aud Aristook eectri d that

of the monitors GaIena aud Arisook electrified that
city; .,. g r;..;n;o no.,.a .o,o,,.,.u
calling upon the Confederate authorities to defend it
to the last extremity, andto make choice of its de-
struction rather than that of surrender to the enemy
ms resolution worthy of the noble State OF IT.
| gInla, and of people who the descendants OF
w ashlngtons contemporaries, of HamTien's friends,
and of King Johns Barons.
The resolutions Of the Legislature were respond
to in meetings Of citzens. The magical elects of the
spi. t which they Great will ory b. rem nbered in
Ric5mopd The Conf lerata llthoriti, were stimu-
lated By the brave lie I'D, inert ard sp uatve patriot
ism was aroue to ex to7, mutuss respiration of
courage and devotion pour I from heart to heart
through the community and with the resors Ion OF
public confd ace, can at last vigorous preparatio,
| The James w. rapidly IL up, the wor at Drew
rvs Bluff were ST. 1ez L. and state of de6ar
offered to the Yankee gunt ~ which had appeared
within few mics of g z.tY at moment when the
last gap IL our river distinctions was filed up by
scuttled schooner.
"On the 18th of May the feet of Yanke gunboafs
in the james open | an attack OH our batteries at
Drewry's Bluff. The sound of the guns was heard in
the streets of Richmond aud various and unc rtan
ports OF the forum of the cont t agi = ID II public
In the midst of the excitement an extra binary scene
occurred ID the city meeting of citizens had been
called at the City Hall an accidental OCCASION and
at the enthus 3tc call of the crowd, imprompQ ad-
dresses made by the Governor CT Virginia and
the Mayor of the city Each of these officials pledged
bis iah thai Richmond should never be surrendered
Gov. Letcher decare !, with peculiar warmth of ex
preston, that if the demand mede upon him to
render or be shel.ed, he would reply, Bonn I'd and
be ID" Mayor Mayo was no less determined in
the language which he addressed to the citizens He
told them that even if they were to require him to sur
render the Capital OF Virginia and OF the Contederacy
he would sooner than comply, resign the Mayoralty
and that, despite bis age he still had the and
strength to shoulder musket in defence Of the city
founded by one of his ancestors These fervd declara
! lol
ringing shouts. Nor these the demonstrations of
a mob. Among those who enthusiastically APPROX
ed the resolution of consignng Richmond to the flames
rather than to the possession OF the enemy
OF the most wealthy and respectable citizens of the
place. whose stakes of property in the city large
and whose beautiful homes were exposed to the shot
and shell of the malignant foe."
We cordially unite with Mr. Pollard in his exulta-
ton over these splendid manifestations of the heroism
of the authorities of Virginia and of the people OF
Richmond. And though Richmond then commanded,
she has commanded from the beginning of the war,
q resource aud reliance for defence which might we'll
have impaired large degree of confidence to Der PEG
pile in their defensive prepa ations in the presence Of
that large and gallant army which has illustrated her
soil by many immortal achievements of courage and
skill army to which our own abandoned aud abused
city of New Orleans had cOnribut not less than ten
thousand of the bravest of the brave Of her ye
far be it from purpose hearts to regard thec
testimonials the devotion of the noble people of Viz
ginia and Richmond with other feelings than those OF
!
exile from our native State and the adoption OF
and close ties and relations in distant section Of the
Conf leracy, have not weakened that OrdDess tor the
glorious Old Dominion, end that pride in ali her many
Just claims to renown, which everywhere distinguishes
her sons and which realizes Goldsmiths beautiful de-
| lineation of that true love Of country and home
that
nDrags at each reserve a lengthening chain"
Nor do we fmpute any delinquency, any lack of zeal
any unworthy spirit of submission, to the people Of
Norfolk, for their resistance to the occupation
their city by the overwhelming force OF the enemy even
though the populations OF both Richmond and Norfolk
had an additional stimulus such distance in the
sorrowiel experience by New Orleans of the terrible
| consequences of "submission" All that we claim Is
that rye should judge Others by the same rule by which
ye would be judged"
But the error of fact into which MIR. Pollard has
been led by the statements of others letter
acquainted with the circumstances of the occupation
of New Orleans by the Federals, and therefore, more
cupabe for disappearing the same is Of more I'M
portance than these manifestations Of what cannot
but regard as eme nations of that unconscious invdi-
ousnczs and bias which obsecures in those and
dear to faults and blemishes that, in strangers are
| flagrantly and Extensively conspicuous.
Nothing can be historically Inaccurate than
the assertion that the authorities and ope of New
Orleans ever submitted or surrendered the Federals
at all, much less easily and weakly submitted. Inc
evidence, it will apI?ar when far more authentic
and reliable materials for history are presented 'han
|
of Inquiry or COMMITTEES of Congress, will place be-
| yond the following facts:
That the people of New Orleans never did consent
or advise the surrender of the city its evacuation 5y
| General Lowell and his army.
| That they received the enemy on his apL zach to
the city, and while his feet lay in its harbo with port
holes open, and the called ID qua tiers, with deh
ance desion, and every demonstration OF hostility ant
| resistance.
That while the feet vas emf ring the port in thi
threatening attitude vast crowd of the population
the CITY lining the levee for mc7, confronted 1t WIKI
expressions and mant, stations OF nc jty and nanc
more emphatic than the which Governor Latche
and Mayor Mayo launched at the Monitors before the
had passed Fort DreWry that, not content win Efo
and hootings, they even discharged nIe-ahlS uS Wv
l hostile ships, greeting even bis cOnchia'olJ NHi
of dipping his ensign, ne PACED the vast multuo
with the widest renzed displays of hcsti
ty and of a spirit of resistance which people eve
displayed like occasion. Persons who did not III
in the ruthessy essaled, and sever
al of them slain on the spot All who were susE c'e
of the slightest tendency towards submission, were num-
. ed up and pursued beyond the city limits. men, d
last the enemy ventured to send OF truce to DE-
mand the surrender of the city, the officers OF hSh RAM
bearing it could with extreme difficulty, be pro ecte'
by the interposihon of certain venerable citizens roD
Instant death at he hands Of the inur9t3d popuace -
And when this demand presented to the CITY ~
thorities it met by the responte, with one VOC
of the people and the city athers-''No SURRENDER
s Let them she-let fight them as old Jackeon "ou'
rave fought them in the streets and amid our ourhlu
K houses"
The Mayor and City Council faithfully ref cred thi
e feeling in their reply to the demand the tede1a
y commander. The Mayor would not entertain the pre-
position. The General commanding had TO be hQn'e
up that the demand might be presented to MN ia
8 officer having sent all bis troops from the Guy ali u
arms and material by the only land eGi-n"o K
served the last remaining locomotive to conduct hlu
r Icolf ord can IN