Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-11-24
SUNDAY. NOVEMBER "a. 1895.
THIS PAPER RECEIVES THE COM
aINEp OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES SER
VICE OF THE SOUTHERN AssocIA-
TED PRESS AND THE UNITED
The Confederate Navy.

Tho rdspatch's Confederate column to-
day will, we think, grove exceedingly a.
tract,ve to our readers. MIR. John HOW
"a contributes 10 II a most valuable
communication bearing upon the evacua-
tion Of Richmond and the burning OF the
tobacco In the warehouses; Mr.. Rooert
II Wood. Chief Clerk OF the Naval he-
cords Office at Washington. furnishes an
article on the ''Cruise OF the Clarence
Tacony- Archer" and third article Is an
interview with an old Confederate naval
of,cer on blockadc-running. In mea-
surc. the two articles last mentioned
constitute an unusual feature OF Con-
federatc war "reminiscences. Though
scharf has written a history OF the Con-
Tolerate navy, Bulloch has given us a
most excellent work on the Confederate
naval secret work abroad. and Semmes.
Maff,tt. Wilkinson. Waddell. and others
have recorded in book form the services
of certain cruisers and blockade-runners,
the exploits OF the southern navy and the
important part the navy bore In pro-
longing the struggle for southern in
dependence have had comparatively little
newspaper currency. As consequence.
the vast majority Of our people have
never had access to the Information
that would place them in position to
appreciate fully and do full justice to our
navy and its heroes.
The "Cruisc OF the Clarence-Tacony-
Archer is used by Mr. Wood as an ar
gument that ought to address itself most
forcibly to those "who have to provide
the fighting machines" Of the United
States navy. 1t is an answer to those who
oppose the increase of the navy, and
the moral is that had this government
a formidable equipment In the way OF
fast cruisers. the danger of any foreign
commercial Powers violating the Monroe
doctrine would be greatly diminished.
MIR. Woods article reads like "a wild
romance OF the sea-" yet every detail of
It is true. What is more. the cruise OF
the Clarence-Tacony-Archer is but enc
of several similar chapters in the annals
of the Confederate cruisers. whose daring
commanders made the Stars and Bars
tho terror of northern commerce. The
career Of the Virginia (Merrimac). whose
construction practically revolutionized
naval architecture. is perhaps better
known than that of any other Confede-
rate ship not embraced among the cru;.
sers, but on the southern and western
rivers and bays. and In some cases where
the armor Of these craft consisted
mainly OF sheet iron and bales Of cotton,
the Confederates did some Of the rcs,
desperate fighting known u naval war
fare. Add to the record OF the Conf.de.
racy's cruisers and river ami harbor SHIPS
the naval, land battery conflicts. and the
instances In which small expeditions
boarded In disguise and captured north
ern vessels, or boldly cut them out under
the enemy's guns. nnd the Confederate
navy tells story Of heroism. thrilling al
venture and various achievement un-
paralleled by that Of the navy OF any
other Power Of the world. From the day
the flag Of the "storm-craded nation
that fell" first floated from a ship. to the
day that waddell. tie gallant commander
of the Shenanio ah threw a.. in the Eng
lish Channel, to 'he breeze for the last
time. the officers and men of the Con-
federate navy did nobiy their part In
keeping the nag wrcathed around with
glory.
The patriotism. self-sacrn,e. rplendid
courage. and brilliant daring Of these
officers and men are a priceless heritage
to the southern people. and should be
kept continually before this and coming
generations. The United States Govern
ment Is now collecting and publishing the
Confederate naval records. and We are
glad to observe disposition on the part
OF newspapers and magazines to pay moro
attention to this department Of the his
tory OF the civil war. We cannot but
hope that these publications will lead TO
more widespread recognition In the
South OF what we owe to our naval
heroes.