Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-04-21
MILITARY CRITICISM.

After every reverse which befalls our arms the
military branch of the Administration expects to
encounter for a season the petulance of disap-
pointed and confding public. 1t was so after the
bloody repulse of troops at Olustee, IN FLORIDA,
and it is so now after the capture OF Fort Pillow,
on the Mississippi river, by the insurgent forces
of Gen. Forrest The New York Commercial Ad-
yertiser thinks it is good sign that the press OF
all parties speaks out SO sharply in regard to the
latter, and asks by what weakness or neglect such
a capture was rendered possible
The Senate appears to have taken the same view
of the matter, for Mr. Howard, of Michigan, hav-
ing offered in that body resolution that the Com
mittee on the Conduct Of the War be instructed
to inquire into the truth Of the rumored massacre
of Union troops at that point after the late sur
render, Mr.. johnson, of Maryland, suggested
that the scope Of the proposed inquiry was not
wide enough :" This was not the first time a
small garrison had been left to be sacrificed 1t
had been done at Paducah, in Kentucky. Those
in command in that region should know their re-
sponsbity to the Government" Z" He wanted
to know why these disasters had been brought
upon our flag, while we appropriated money witE-
out stint He wolld amend the resolution by d.
recting the committee to inquire whether Fort Pill
low could not have been reinforced or evacuated"
And at his suggestion the resolution of inquiry
was amended.
1t is known that as long ago as the 18th of
March the presence Of Forrest on an expedition
far within our military lines in the West was dis
oIo.ed Nv tho emopstration he rrodo - H.. a.
on Paducab, in Kentucky. The want of prcpara
ton to repel the attack on Fort Pillow causes the
New York Tribune to fear for the safety of Mem
phis. That journal thinks 1T is not quite i'm
possible that the garrison at Memphis is now
stronger than we suppose" but adds that "thc
condition in which Fort Pillow was permitted to
remain, after it was kncwn 10 be meaaced, giges
1.-THE hope Of precautionary measures IN any quar-
ter Meanwhile we hear, not without impatience,
of the progress Of two powerful expeditions far
west Of the Mississippi"
The New York Evening Post another political
friend of the Administration, opens its animadyer
sions on the fall of the fort by saying that it's can
ture "and the previous military movements in
Kentucky, whether we consider them az parts of
mere raid or as the prcminsres Of more for
midable movement, reflect little credit upon our
military management at the West"
The Boston Daily Advertiser suggests, and in
our opinion quite judiciously, that comment upon
this tragic business must be deferred until VIC have
fuller information on both the following points: :"
I'VE think the country will wait with some impotence
for an explanation OF the management by which il hap.
pens That rebel force wsnders large that
and hnos Works q such commanding Importance the
river m easy prey
For the credit Of humanity we shall trust that fur
Their accounts, more cooly prepared may diminish the
horrors which close the present statements These az
Of misfortune and barbary are apt 70 be
rated in their fret draft We may still hope thereto
that the rebels have not yet given this terrible wrong
to punish"