FEBRUARY 19TH, 1862: General Robert E. Lee, harassed by the Confederate inability to cope with the guns of the Union fleet, wrote Brigadier General Trapier regarding the defenses of Florida: "In looking at the whole defense of Florida, it becomes important to ascertain what points can probably be held and what points had better be relinquished.
"The force that the enemy can bring against any position where he can concentrate his floating batteries renders it prudent and proper to withdraw from the islands to the main-land and be prepared to contest his advance into the interior.
"Where an island offers the best point of defense, and is so connected with the main that its communications cannot be cut off, it may be retained. Otherwise it should be abandoned."
Watch Out For Their Gunboats. --Old B-Runner
No comments:
Post a Comment