Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1861-10-24

How LONG the present will last is question that
admits Of only conjectural solution; STILL as it is
question that is often asked, may attempt to give
such solution may seem to most probable, and We
are strengthened In our belief that We can come
the truth by finding that events 80 far have shown that
conjectures 10 the beginning did not go far wide Of
the mark. The grest st effort OF the Lincoln govern
ment will be made this winter along the most widely
extended line of operations. The grand upEsings at
the North have already 6zzled out and begin to
think more thaH they admit to their own souls. The
West has now to pull the laboring and will do 60
during the winter and spring. Let summer heats again
round out the on to Rchmondv or on to Ne"
Orleans" having resulted in success, the thing will be
dead n all sections of the North. There may be talk
ing but the thing will be to all real intents and
purposes. We must wrestle through this winter the
best way we can Our Fall trade is gone-so will be
our Spring The Fall of 1862 will things brighten
ing up and the winter will be different from this, we
think.
Without something wholly unforeseen occurs, this war
will not close in much if any less than twelve months
nor will it in our humble opinion last much over year
from this date. What day or hour may bring
forth is impossible to say There may be advance Of
McCeans forces very soon, and an encounter between
the main bodies of the Federal and Confederate armies
which, when it does occur, will be more decisive than
that of the 21st of July which battle resulted in the
most decided and least decisive victory that could have
been attained. Whether the reported movements along
the front of ines which appear to indicate early
operations will 80 eventuate whether they will result
all such things have done since July remains yet to
be seen. We have confidence that no matter how or
when the Federas advance generals and troops are
ready to receive them, and should they indeed be on the
advance there to believe the bat
tie that will ensne will be imcomparably more bloody
and holly contested than the encounter of July 2st
and may very materially affect the duration Of the
we'll the prospects Of the parties to it.
great success on part, sOsH improved, will do
much to relieve Missouri and Kentucky-to strengthen
the hands of the patriots in Western Virginato over
awe the traitors and confirm the waverers 1t will also
compel the Lnconites to dr. 10 their horns and cease
talking of or attempting lltions against our sea
coasts against the Cotton States of the Lower Mis-
sissppi or the Gulf. Hateras will be very much for
gotten or altogether abandoned. This in the event of
great battle and great Southern II the
contrary no great battle be got, it, still worse
and still difficult to believe, the battle when joined
should result dsastrousy to arms, need say how
far the would be changed and the figures require
alteration.
1t is evident that there are to be included in the cal
culation all the contingencies of life and all the chances
of but yet, making due allowance for these, We
cannot how the war can be ended than three
months under the time have set nor bow it well
be protracted through second winter without producing
domestic revolution at the North