Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1862-02-20

Daily Journal 10Th inst.
WE GIVE the teegraphic dispatches received here to-
day. We have no heart for comment, and we suppose
no one expects that we should indulge in any. We can
only trust that like most other things of the kind the
details of this too painful affair may be exaggerated,
and repeat that, even at the worst must not yield to
depression or despair but all our energies to avert
worse than daath-yuthless subjugation.
This blow does not come upon US suddenly for we
have known it for over two days. except in SO far as the
capture Of troops is concerned still it is none the
less painful 1t is severe but what then Because we
have suffered reverse however terrible, shall we hang
our heads? No, let US learn this much at least from
our foes. THEY fought after defeat They trained their
men. They have taken advantage of our foolish at
tempt 10 defend five thousand miles of frontier and have
broken through deiences by concentrating az ire
Bstable force at the point of attack Whatever is good
and true and worth having and holding in the South
will now show itself Whatever is not true to the South
will also show itself. Mistortunes like this may be
needed to winnow the chaI from the wheat. We copy
the following IRON tie Charleston Mercury Of Tues
day
From the Charleston Mercury, 18th inst.
Fort DONELsoY.-Our Geographic columns bring us
the intelligence that Fort DoIesOn has surrendered,
that Nashville has been TAKEN aud thirteen thousand Of
troops have been captured Making all due allow
for eXaggeraton aud panic it is reasonable to sup
pose that have suffered defeat in the West,
and have lost cur military position tog4her with num-
Der Of our troops What then? No doubt it is Sc
we're blow-WGlI delivered aud effective But what then?
1t is only what we have fOreshadowed for many months
past in our Journal and only what was to be expected
by reasonable men, who, unawed and calmly would
view the field of operations, and all the circumstances
of position. We have said say the subject,
and pronounced the defensive System Of warfare adopt
ed by authortiCs, situated with a coast
OF five thousand miles TO defend, without navy, with
limited supply Of arms and with ports blockaded,
monsrous absurdity, necessarily involving weakness
and much unnecessary disaster and prOongatiOn Of the
war. But othSs were wiser than ourselves. We were
equally aarmists and precpitate. The fruits Of that
policy are before US. They disastrous enough, as
we had feared. But our business now is not with the
past What is the burthen of the future? 1t has accu
mulated much during these last six months of inaction
part but Is far from insuppOTtabe yet There
is power in the South and there in the South
to do much and to endure much. We must pay for
naCtiOn; but it brings with it lesson to string
every heart to redeem errors. Let every man. who
strike a blow in defence OF his household and his
home, spring TO his Let US realize the work be-
fore us, and let US forward into the breach like men,
Italy was Oyerrun by the Cartbaginans, under Hann-
ball. and Spain by NapoeOn-perhaps the two greatest
military leaders IN ancient and modern times Yet both
were defeated and driven back from the sell they had
occupied. Prussia, likewise was Oyerrun by France
Russia and Austria; yet were they driven back by
Frederick, after bloody defeats on his part leaving TWEEN
ty and thirty thousand dead men on the field. Our
ownrevolution, in 1916 is strikingly Illustrative of
similar lesson.
We must fight to ,retrive the past-blood must bc
shed. We must fghhlike desperate men. But there
is nothing before as to bench the hearts of resoue anG
earnest men, We must be up and doing daring anG
achieving The time for action is upon us-upon every
one OF US. Let us but ac act with bold decision anC
undertaking. ard not stand still in passive abatement
and the time is not lar distant when the Orthern hord
will learn the temerlty of their agsressions
PRACTICE VS.. PRECEPr.-We have heard the story
and there appears to be some truth in it. that few
days since Commodore Goldsborough the commando
of the Naval part of the expedition now in Pamlic
and Albemarle Sound was on the streets Of Edenton
and strange as it may seem, was in apparent cordia
conversation with some prominent citizens Of tina
place. He assured them that he did not come to inter
tere with private rights or private property, nor to il
courage INSTRUMENTATION among the negroes. No il
deed be only came to restore law and ordcrto protec
and defend them. They should be secure in their rights
property, etc., etc.
Just about the time when the Commodore had 90
warmed up. with his assurances of respect being paid
private property he caught sight of some bales Of Co
before he had time to repeat his assurances was
board one Of bis vessels
DARING ATTEMPT TO DEsTRoY A RAILROAD BRIDGE
We are informed that an attempt was made on Satu
day night to destroy the Weldon Railroad bridge b
some persons yet unknown. The structure is 1arq
wooden-one, guarded by two sentinels. The traitor
who attempted its destruction gained access to IL
bridge by climbing up from small island, upon whic
rests of the main piers. The guard discovered tt
OnpratOns of the DaTtV as soon as thew had
assailants and followed up the voey SO quickly wit
another, that they glad to leave their mplemen
behind and make good their escape.
The cars were detained some fifteen minutes at IL
bridge in order to ascertain whether was safe to GRO
or not Careful investigation, however, revealed IL
fact that the bridge was not materially injured, an
quite as strong as ever.-Rich. Dispatch 18th INST.
We copy the above for the purpose of stating til
our contemporary ofthe Dispatch is wholly misnforme
We have just seen Captain John L. Cantwell, COZ
Of Railroad Guer1S ic fron, w,