The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-08-10
MOBILE-THE BORDER.

MOBILE-rHE BORDER.
ron ne Tribune.
! The Rebel official despatch printed yesterday
morning seems TO leave no doubt that Admiral
'arragut has both passed the forts which consti-
uted the main defense of Mobile, and defeated
he Rebel fleet under the traitor Buchanan. tIt
necessary to explain for the benefit of the
British public that this Is not the x.Presdent of
bat name. He never had taste for fighting of
my kind.) There is report also. not Official,
hat our forces have landed on the west end Of
.)auphine Island.
Whether that be so OF not, Il is certain that
ufhcient force stood ready to move in c1-Opera-
ion with Faungut, and that by the presence of
he feet in the bay and of the army on its western
hore, the city of Mobile has already lost its
trongest protection. AS it is known TO be
feakly RarrisOned, and as Hood cannot possibly
pare man from Atlanta, we arc entitled to cx-
ect its carly reduction. Its chance of holding
ut At all as against the aeet depends on the
Instructions at Dog River Bar, which lies within
few mules of the city, and has but eleven feet Of
water on IL.
OF course Farragut's heaviest vessels cannot
ass such an obstruction whether the smaller
rat can will depend much on the batteries and
rihcial barriers there existing. But it seems
r0bahe thar If the fleet should have trouble at
fbis point, the army will be able TO do the work.
he detensts Of Mobile on the land side are in
physically formidable, bat too weakly garrisoned
~ Ouer q pfOtThcte0 resistance.
The meagre and sullen account which the
ilebes-contrary TO their custom in case of de-
,eat-aow 10 be published, gives few details of
be action, but enough is admitted 10 show its
4 General character. Gallant Admiral Farragut
a5 exceiled his previous exploits at New Orleans
nd Port Hudson-exploits themselves without
precedent or parallel in naval warfare. Forts
1dorgan and Gaines are works of great strength
nd formidable batteries.
IL was out of the question to attack them with
kNy fleet which the United States can collect,
I'd TO pass them was an enterprise more hazard
as than the United States coast elsewhere
IHered, Charleston perhaps excepted. The dis
lance between the two rs SO narrow, and the
channel runs so close to Fort MoTgan-thc
Itr oDger Of the two forts--that they were deemed
/ o constitute an impregnable defense of the pas
|age. ObstructiOns in the Granddaughter have
peen the great bugbear at CharlestOn-added TO
/ he difficulty of this problem, but IL Is solved by
ghe invlncible resolution of FarTagut.
He Is man who believes in fighting, as the
l,ountry has heretofore discovered; believes in
5iOiDg his best in all circumstances; does not
believe in giving up a bad job without trying.
Behold now the result of trying He Is in Mo-
ile bay, with sixteen ships; has sunk and put to
Plight whatever floats that would oppose him;
|olds the bay irTesistibly will cut OFF Forts Nor
gan and Games from all communication with the
fity, and therefore inevitably compel them sooner
pr later to surrender; and, until he reduces them,
2nay draw supplies for his fleet from the shores Of
he bay by help of the land forces. To recall
36orn-out phrase from its proper limbo, the Ad-
Imiral is master OF the situation.
1t has be, n the fashion to sneer Mt coast eXpe-
billions, but We reckon this of great military Im-
Torrance. To c,use up one port TO block tde-
running is something. Vessels hereafter seeking
|the Bay OF Mobile will lind themselves in the
1affectoDaie embrace Of Admiral Farragut. Still
ibetier, the capture Of the city will open the Ala.
jbama river TO the ascent of our fl ct, or such
portion OF it shall clear out that stream up to
Montgomery. Tue river is navgable to chat
{point for vessels of considerable size, and Ad-
lmiral Faragpt has a feet adapted for river navi-
ighton, His NOV, ment, Therefore, is an element
I'm the Atlanta problem, quite sufficient o ag-
Sgravate Hoods already extreme difficulties.
y simultaneously with this news we have in
formation Of defeat of the Rebel forces in West
IVirginia-wCst of the Shenandoah, that is-by
[Gent raj Aveiil. The marauders under McCaus-
/ land ana Brad ey johnson have been eectually
Bdispersed with loss of four guns and Six hun
kored pIisOners-one of their leaders barely
{escapiug capture. AS we have heretofore Criti-
Icized the slowness aud indecision OF Averill. we
fare glad TO say that he has shown in TINS pursuit
Quantities tbe opposite of those. His victory IL
eIatising and will Prove very hel to General
We are happy 10 be able to commend also the
lconsolida'iOn Of the four border Departments
which hi herto have straggled helrlcs,ly about
under four ditlC ent and often feebly cooperating
Icommanders. They pass now under one vigilant
eye and strong hand and we may hope 20 he
spared such exhibitions as the last raid afforded
OF what is called strategy on our side. Yet It
should be remarked that the fault then was not
so much want OF concentration, as concentration
under the wrong head.
As II TO avoid popular indignation, the fact
seems TO have been studiously concealed that all
troops for defense of Washington were al that
time ordered to report to General Halleck, and it
Z was has mess that was then made of it. And
even now we are compelled to note that General
! Sheridan addresses General Halleck as Chief of
Staff not to himself, but to the President; a
position of immense influence, aud especially OF
confidential relation 10 The Commencement hiet,
which the public would rejoice TO know General
Halleck had been invited TO resign.