Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1861-07-04
From the Richmond Despatch of Monday
VIrW of the EIeld-Hnt Work at Hand,

We are on the threshold of important probably of
decisive events The armies of the two sections are n
immediate contact with each other in full force The
enemy pushing their lines in territory, and our
own eager for combat. The next week or fort
night will witness series of engagements which will go
lar to indicate the issue of the war. The enemy may
ounumber us largely and the problem to be solved is
whether the south will make up IN prowess what it lacks
in numbers.
SO far the enemy has had every advantage over us in
his facilities for collecting armies. He much nearer
the present seat of His large cities enabled him
recruit troops rapidly and his railroads and ex
tensve shipping to concentrate them more steadily in
their present encampments. He had the military Or
ganZltOn of the United States all ready to his hands
he had an army and navy complete at all points. He
had an old established government machinery in full
operation, and vast resources at command, maritime,
financial political and military.
The South, on the contrary, had everything to Or
ganize from revolution She had few government to
erect and to furnish and eqnp in its depart
ments and thousand perplexing details She had no
navy. She had no army. She had to set diligently to
work 10 preparing her defence before yet her civil
ganlZation which to call armies into the field and
direct their operations itself completed and in
ton She had to collect arms, to establish Ordnance
Bureau to organize Comulissarat, and to create
entire staff. She had to collect large forces from ex-
tenslve and sparsey populated territory She had to
transport them vast distances to such points as the
enemy himself threatened and not such as she should
the enemy than half way While she was engaged
in the important work of organization, the enemy was
devotng his whole attention to the creation and trans
portation of armies The enemy thus gained time upon
her-me which, it must be confessed he has very poor
| ly improved.
For as yet he has, with all his advantages accom-
pshed nothing. Except in remote portions of ter
ritory like Northwestern Vrg na he has nowhere pen
etrated into the interior of our country He hangs
timdly and dOubtfuy upon our borders. He has been
| A. IL
bringing forward from great distance troops His
reconnosances have been disastrous They have been
more they have been disgraceful At Fairfax Court
House and Great Bethel at the Eightmile Bridge on
the Hampshire road, has been whipped beyond the
power of his mendacious writers to conceal. This is
the prominent fact of his invasion far, that he has
nowhere marched forth from his lines with bold step
and offered US battle upon equal terms
On our side, have never failed to encounter him
on almost any terms be would ofer to whip him
when it has come to fight We have, so far, not pro-
voked important engagements preferring to await the
collection of larger forces, and socitous to drill
men well before leading them into action. We have
preferred In the face of large Odds and for the sake
discipline and reinforcements to stand the defensive
But we now just beginning to be ready, and the
mpetuOsty of our longer be restrained with
prudence. The North is marching down upon our lines
with great force relying upon his numbers and hoping
thus to win ground by striking us with dismay. 1t il
now to be what reception be will meet with in at
tempting this sort of tactics upon brave troops We
of the South have no doubt. We are as impatient o.
the tidings of battle as we are confident of the ISSUE
The movement, however, is very serious one A
great deal hangs upon the events OF few days. 1t il
to be decided whether the Southern the Northern
soldier is the braver and better warrior: 1t is to he de
cded whether the prestige OF the Union and the STAR
and Stripes is stronger inspiration than the love
Liberty and of invaded country Europe is to know
whether the South maintain her character bel
gerent power, and whether her independence is pro
bable event The North is to know whether the Soutl
is the feeble and helpless country it has been brought
think. The question of conquest is not involved; NJ
power earth subdue the South. The question
of our equality as political power and as MARTA
combatant