Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1864-08-18
IoBILE-BLACK INFAHY

nIsu US ulSuIy Interesting e4IraCIS:
MoBILE-BLACK IEFAHY-
From the Richmond Examiner, Aug. II.
Assuming the correctness of the facts
telegraphed from Mobile, the conclusion is
inevitable-a traitor has delivered up to
the enemy powerful Confederate fortress,
one of the chief defences of Mobile har-
Dor, garrisoned by six hundred men and
provisions for six months-delivered it up
after few hours shelling, and contrary
to the express command of his superior
oficers-deliVered it up with all its garri-
son and stores, and powerful armament,
which has, of course, been turned against
the other defeuces of the city and harbor |
1t is black infomy.
This is the first case of surrender of
any post, large or small, by Confederate
officer to the enemy, in which the marks
and signs of treason are unmistakable-if
the dispatch is true.
Col. Charles Anderson, of the Twenty
first Alabama Regiment, is placed in COM
mand of that fine work; sees Fort Powell,
a minor fortifcation, abandoned and blown
up, (why, we do not yet know finds that
the defence of the harbor depends now
upon his own post and that of Fort Nor
gan. He is repeatedly telegrsphed" by
superior officer on shore to hold on to his
without any communication of his pur-
pose to the Commanding General-on the
"same night" that is, the night of the 7th,
this Col. Anderson was on board the Yam
kee feet "arranging terms of capitulation."
Of course, it is out of the question to
take for granted the perfect accuracy of a
first press dispatch, and especially from
Mobile. More light will be shed upon that
dark transaction in few days, and neither
treachery nor coWardice is to be hastily
attributed to officers of the Confederate ar
my; but as the matter appears TO stand
Col. Charles Anderson appears to have
committed disgraceful treason, Gen Page
to have behaved in a manner yet quite un-
explained, and Gen. Maury to have done
nothing at all.
The capltulation of Fort Gaines may
probably be followed by the reduction of
Fort Morgan also; and, if so, the enemy
will then be nearly in as favorable posi-
ton for besieging the place as they were
in respect to Charleston, after taking the
batteries on the north end of Norris Island.
Mobile is not even yet besieged; and has
probably the means still of efficient de-
fence; but the reduction of all the outer
forts may place the city within reach of
shells; and then Mobile will have a taste
of the Yankees peculiar style of warfare,
as already experienced at Charleston, At
lanta, Petersburg, and Fredericksburg
when the cannot actually besiege town,
to shatter and burn its houses over the
heads of the peaceful inhaitants, in order to
reconcile them to the ''Union of their faith
ers." The defence of the place now may
cost much more fighting by reason of the
loss of the outer forts; SO that the capitu-
lation of Fort Gaines, "to save the effusion
s 10 in aUrh
cause the effusion of ten times as much
blood-but then it will not be Col An
derson's.
THE FALL OF FORT MORGAN CONCEDED.
The Richmond papers generally cOncede
that the fall of Fort Morgan is now only q
question of time The Examiner of August
10th says:
"The telegraph informs US that two of
our three forts that-gusrded the entrance
to Mobile Bay are gone. Fort Powell was
evacuated and blown up, and Fort Gaines,
it seems, was basely surrendered to the
enemy. We fear Fort Morgan ICiLL toLLoU.
Fort Morgan stands on the long, narrow
strip of land on the east side of the strait
which is the main entrance to Mobile Bay.
Fort Gaines is situated on Dauphin Island
which is on the west side of the strait
L
the guns of Fort Morgan. Fort Powell
stood on a small island in the bay, mile
or thereabouts north of Fort Gaines. Each
of these positions was armed with the finest
guns we have in our service.
Mobile eziSts no longer as a port of entry
Hitherto, once in a i0hiEe, a vessel 'VouLd slip
in there. There is HoW an end Of all that
The telegraph further informs US that the
people of Mobile do not blame the HGUd
officers for anything that has befallen.--
Nothing is said as to their opinions regard
ing the military authorities" na4.
In its issue of August 1lth, the same pa
per says:
"We have nothing later from. Mobile
than the press telegram published yester'
day. Official dispatches from Mobile, Civ
ing accounts of affairs there, say nothing
of the bad conduct of Anderson, or any
body else, but simply state that Fort Pow
ell had been blown up, and Fort Gaines
surrendered. Fort Morgan still holds ont
4 aud will, no doubt, make a gallant, and
perhaps, prOtracted resistance but it
| fall is, we presume, but q question OF time