Year: 1862




Tho Norfolk Day Book Of May lst, has
the following article:


"The southern news still continues nnror
lniu, but enough is known to prepare tie pub.
lie mind for disaster and rercrse. Let us
then address ourselves to the contemplation ot
this melancholy fact as men and patriots. -
Let us consider the disaster with fortitude and
discuss the result with dispassionate camuess


In doing this we cannot attempt. as some
of our cotemporaries have done, to Judge the
action of General Lowell We dare not, in
can&or, pronounce against his course Of action
until we have his official report before US. 10
the absence Of that we undertake to say in his
vindication that this course was, so FAR as We
are informed, the only one left him to adopt.


In the present state Of public opinion we
are aware that this opinion will be chalerg-
ed; and yet, when the first sharp paroxysm is
over, the people must see that for him to have
remained in the city would have been to pro.
woke its destruction.


How 'ar he is responsible for the passage Of
gunSoats by the forts below is another Quos.
ton, upon which no Judgment can be intelIi
gently formed with our limited information
The act f evacuatng the city was necessa-
ry sequester upon the arrival Of The Federal
ships, for infantry cannot fight men OF war
Bv this movement be leaves room for the mu-
ncipal authorities ana rorcign residents 10 pro
test against tho destruction Of the city, u re-
suit which must have necessarily followed up.
on its continued occupation by our troops.


The responsibiity-and an dwfm one IL as
was incurred, not Ivy the evg cuation Of New
Orleans, but bv The government, in leaving
the river SO that the enemy's gunboats could
pass the batteries to assail the town. This is
an instructive and costly lesson, and comes rs
a most happy illustration Of the truth of our
frequent predictions of losses on tho ccas'.-
We can only defend our navigabe stream :
and harbors by distractions.


There is no earthly use in building new
forts and accumulating ordnance behind earth.
works with this object in view. During the
Russian war it was conclusively established at
Odessa, Bomersund, Auburn, and in the M.
val caunonadc Of Sebastopol, that ships, with
steam power, would engage land batteries Of
the most formidable character with success.


More recently the splendid dash made by
Capt. Tucker and his river squadron past
Newport News, under the fire for an hour,
shows that mere forts will not answer.


This being demonstrated, what then? Will
the government take timely prccaution to
save Richmond, or let it fall before an insig-
nfcant lotilla? We have more than once
proclaimed this danger; wo have more than
once called on the authorities to take steps to
this end and whatever may be the result we
will have the consolation of knowing that we
discharged our duty by pointing out the dan,
ger and its remedy.


The Instructions Of granite can be placed
under the guns Of our lowest forts, and thus
leave open the river above for transportation.


With distractions below, and proper ar
rangements to increase them aboyo in tho mar
row passes Of the river. the capital will be safe
and not till then. Tho press Of Richmond
has taken the matter in hand; let Others urge
it forward"