River defences.
Whilst the brilliant success of the
Virginia has thwarted for the present the enemy's project of ascending
James river, we should no be fulled into any false security by this temporary interruption of their plans.
We should rather avail ourselves of the opportunity thus providentially furnished to perfect our system of river defences, and make it impossible for the
Yankees to command this avenue to the capital.
All through this war opportunities of defending certain points have been furnished, which, if energetically employed at the time, would have averted the disasters which sprung from our apathy and procrastination.
The storm which scattered
Burnside's fleet gave us time either to make
Roanoke Island impregnable or to abandon it altogether, but we made no use of an interval which was more precious than gold.
Let us take warning from this sad but instructive calamity.
We must not depend upon a single vessel, the
Virginia.
We must not sit down with folded hands, and do nothing till the enemy has collected his resources and is thundering at our doors.
We must go to work at once and multiply our means of making the river impassable by an enemy's fleet.
It is well known that the immense workshops and naval depots of the
Yankees are busily engaged in constructing an iron fleet, and that some of their ships must be already near completion.
What methods of preparation are most practicable and effectual, we do not profess to know; but our military and naval leaders should give their whole attention to the subject, and not permit a moment to be lost.--We have to deal with a wary and far-sighted foe, and it requires the highest degree of human vigilance and energy to counteract his devices.
