Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-12-17
The London Times on the Port Royal
Victory.
tFrom the London Times, November 25.I

TFrom the London Times, November ISL
At last the destination of the Federal fleet is
known. On the 7tb Of the present month II
entered Port Royal haTbor, in South Carolina,
engaged the forts, and, after fight which lasted
four hours, forced the enemy TO abandon them.
The next dsy tSe troops, to the number Of 49,
600, were landed at Beaufort, which, we are
told, they found totally destroyed, together
with the neighboripg plantations. As We now
know the point against which the Federal ope-
rations are directed, and have learnt their first
success, there will be necessarily much specula-
tion as to this subsidiary campaign, and the
designs Of the Government in sending an army
to the coast Of the Atlantic Cotton States. In
the first place, we must do justics to the energy
Of the Federal Government. Whatever may
be the plans Of its military men, and whatever
may be the result Of the expedition, il must be
said II at the feet was well fitted out and skill
fully handled. Even with the command Of the
sea, 1t is not an easy thing 10 land large force
on an enemy's ground on a coast very danger
GUS at all times, and now deprived of every
guide to the sesmen in the shape Of light
houses or buoys.
But, in spite of a succession Of heavy gales,
and in spite of the resistance Of the Confed
crates, who seem TO have not been unprepared
for a visit, the Federals have established them,
selves on another spot Of Southern ground, and
have base from which to carry on any fature
operations which they may think advisable.
The first move has been success. Beyond the
loss of two, or perhaps four vessels in the storm,
the Northern forces have met with no disaster,
and they have now avenged the fall of Sumter
by bauliDg down a rebel flag on the soil of the
most Iebellious State. Still, as a military move,
this occupation of Beaufort is not readily ex-
planned. If we look upon the Washington
Government as anxious to satisfy the demands
Of the public for action against the enemy; if
we fancy that the Northern people, wearied by
the delays on the Potomac, and nettled by the
blockade Of their own capital, were in q tenn
per which compelled the authorities to do
something, and that the most popular achieve
meDt possible would be the capture of forts and
a bsrbor in the midst of the proudest Ssces-
sionists, then the object of the Government has
hten attained. For, no doubt, the redsction Of
Port Royal will be celebrated all through the
Northern States as great victory. 1t gives
the Federals q position on the Atlantic coast, as
Pickens gives them position on the Gulf; it
enables them formally to open port in the
cotton country to the commerce of the world,
and thus to take away any grounds of com.
plant from European nations; and, above al,
II shows the FedeIals at last successful in an
encounter which no one can suspect to be myth.
ical. These secondary advantages are clear,
| but they are not enough 20 make military
success. Time must show what are the inten
tiops Of the Federals.
AS position TO be held during long war on
an ensmy's coast, there is probably none better
than Beaufort. Port Royal ID one of the bsst
| halhors in the South; the is ands are as good a
| place for permanent camp as could be chosen,
| spd from the very great number of slaves, the
| occupation must always be cause of uneasi-
| ness TO the CaroliDisns, who may perhaps see
something like a stampede of their negroes
| whenever the Federal commander makes the
| sigr al. But as the basis of great operations
against the Confederates the value of Beaufort
is not so plain. The country is deeply inter
sected with streams; it is or may be made al
most impassable to an enemy; and, though the
Ftdersls may be able to cut off the railroad
communication between Charleston and Savan,
nah, tince the railroad passes by the head o
the inlet yet it is difficult to imagine that thel
can advance against either Of these cities with
out large Iejnforcements and regular cam
paign. The river Savannah divides then
from the city of the same name, while SOM
three or four considerable streams and vas
extent Of swamp intervenss between them auC
Charleston.
And yet we must presume that the capture o
one of these places is among the plans of thu
Federals. The public opinion of the Northern
States will hardly be content with the occuph
tion of mere point on the coast. The ide
that by placing a collector at Beaufort, an
pToclaimipg that the blockade of Port Royal i
raised, trade with the Union party in tb
South can be established, is a delusion in whic
no ore Op this side Of the Atlantic will share.
Wemust take, then; this Federal success al
what it is worth. For the present the force
will, no doubt, remain stationary, and EN-
ploy tbemselves in Strengthening the position
Il ey have won. 1t will be in the power of th
Washington Government at any time to diver
large part of the Confederate army from th
Potomac, by sending reinforcements to Por
Royal. The Southern cities may be defended
but it must be by an adequate force; and th
question is, whether, with thsir smaller popu
latioD, the Confederate States can put in liz
two armies to meet the two invssions of tb
North. The Federal Government probabl
looks on the occupation of Beaufort more as tt
means of weakening the enemy on the fel
where the real battle is to be fought. If ii
Southern States can, by sending off every youn
nan to the war, keep up the strength of the
, army on the Potomac, ,0hile they leaDe me
, enough in South Carolina to cheek any adUant
from Beaufort, then they tO'h lose little By leduin
hdrbOr and a catering place in the possession
the enemy. We Ottoays haze TO come back to Il
question Of endurance. WM the South be tooi
cut before the North 10 pearisdf viii the Fee
e1al Government go to the expense of sendir
.. such mass Of troops to the Southern Goa
that the Confederate force in the CarOlinas ar
Georgia will notkbe able to resist them witho
: drawing largely on the army Of General Johl
!, stOn2 II this be the case, then the expedite
may have valuable military consequences, al
the South, attacked on the Atlantic, will ha
far greater difficulty in protecting her northel
q frontier. -.Hr rtn