Washington telegraph., 1864-08-24

less dangerous to ourselves, and more useful TO
our country. Besides, il fcUnd practicable, it
would relieve US from the continued necessity Of
carnage which, however necessary, cannot be
otherwise than sickcning to the soul
MoBILE.-The entrance to Mobile Bay lies
between long, low, sandy peninsula on the
East, and Dauphin Island, a similar low bank Of
sand, extending westward. The pass between
them is four aud half miles in width, and is
guarded by two .or:s--Norgan and Gaines, the
former being on the extremity OF ihcpeniusuls,
and the latter ca the eastern point Of DaupLin
Island. Just inside of DauPhiu Island, on the
western side of the bay, and on the main land,
s TT Powell. With this explanation our coun-
trvreaders may understand the situation by ;arn-
lug to any of the ordinary school-atlases.
The city is about thirty miles from these forts,
at the head Of the bny, and the approach to it
is by shallow and tortuous channel, which. at
the best, and when marked of by buoys. IS Diff
cult of navigation, and only admits vessels Of
very shallow draugh,. The buoys along Ills
channel have all been removed, and piles have
been driven in various places TO impede nay ga
tior.
Thus, it will be seen that the enemy, by ob-
tanning possession of TT. Gaines, have not ovcr-
come any of the most important obstacles to the
capture of the city. Indsed, we cannot per-
ceive any great value Of Fort Gs;nus to us After
the encmy's feet bad PASSED, and ere no:, there
fors, has.y TO cQnsiE= ;lg name Of Cal An,..f-
soa 70 .E9amy, I ;c;;:sy. fsr - &C; which may
possibly have lea dictsttd ~ = prudent regard
70. he lives 0: his mfn, and a consciousness
tha: deftncccf tho plscs was no. wo,;h the
sacrifice.
Certain it is. that Mobile IS far from lest, and
wiki s!;lful usasg5 mert On the pa.t Of ouT COM
lnanders. IS safe. The onsmy's gunbosis aye
valrel.ss in an assault rnon the city. They ran
nev:r reach within shclHng distance. If they
attempt to land and tl,s the city by land dtogees,
our dcfcnces insure th-ir defeat. There Is = de-
gree Of confidence felt beyond the river in the
safety OF Mobile, which can only be justified ly
knowledge of the strongest dyferces. .(t
never could have BEEN based upou For; Gaines )
The enemy mast have been all along under
-'E-'-''A -1--S-i N' I-AAA
paid their respects to i. long ago.
These are only our impressions. derived from
such information as 7c can get 1t this distance.
We 90 not wish 20 be considered IS giving cur
readers assurance that Mobile IS iulpregnsb!e
rhcee things depend too much upon the skill
and patriotism, the stupidity and treachery Of
eifiug mortais, 10 le ever set down as certain
ties. We mean 10 gay, there Is nothing in the
news to-iay to justify serious apprcheusions.-
Aud We may add here, that the loss of Mobile
or Atlanta, or Richmond, or Charleston, or al
Of them, ueed not shake our confidence in our
ultimate success. 1t would be precariors cause
indeed, that rested or such contingencies.
There is some discrepancy in the accounts
concerning Fort Powell. Mobile dispatch Of
the 9TH, published in the Shreveport papers.
ssys that the fort was blown up and evacuatcd
hy Lt-Col. Williams or the night Of the 9Th
Tbis was threo days before the surrender Of
Fort Gaines. Il win BE seen also, tha, the otli-
ciai dispatch 0: Cen. Mau1y Of the 7th speaks
of ore Of the monitors being .hcn engaged al
Fort Powell, nor does tlis. nor any OF ;Le re-
ports from Mobile, except tho one mentioned,
heve any sllusion to the abandonment Of Fort
Powell. 1t ,av, nevertheless, be true We
cannot conceive how s p7in: blank s;atcncu,
could be made from. the scene of action, ont
some foundation, Perhaps we afterwards -
surned the occupation Is It is rot stated ;hat ,h.
enemy took possession
We are sorry for the loss Of Admiral Buchs1-
ar. IIe is brave :nan ard 4 good officer. and
we regre: TO learn thai Le is in The hands Of TIC
enemy. Wsare DO. AZ al sorry for the loss of
the g0nboa.s. We hope cur people VIII a: lsst
! learn not % throw away capital. AID base false
hopes upon euaao-'s. We cannot compete
with the enemy N TIA: Inc, md they ere al
sure TO BE- destroyed ly Superior force. All our
hopes based upon the N5:-.alas, The Arkansas.
! md s0ch vessels, have b,cu dashed. Cu,.bos-s
with us are synonyms Of Gisastcr erer,w wasr-.
Tha same COS; expended on sca-rovers like the
! Alabama would have achieved our independence
! long ago We hoTe to see en- end Of Attempt.
/ ing the defence o. ssapoY's by eCuboa.s. P,r-
lna1eLt loTtiications. and the AZ MS of cur SOL
/ diaI-heroos, arc the sUr's..