Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1862-01-16
Need AnvhndY Wonder

That the New York Herald and other Orthern pa
pers can make out lists at least approximang the &C
tua number and locations of the different forces OF the
Confederate States when every newspaper correspond
ent seems to rejoice in trying to expose such things as
ought not to be exposed?
We don't care what military movement Is made IN
this location, we don't care where gun is mounted on
any of our works. it Immediately finds its way into the
papers by the means of some local scribber ambua
ting correspondent. Things that We in the interests OF
the service and the community to which we belong and
in accordance with the known wish Of the military au-
tborites carefully forbear any alusion to- are bured
out by these people with that reckless Indifference to
consequences which only ignorance or thoughessness
can excuse, but nothing can justify.
Now every body knows that although not particu-
ary alarmed in regard 10 the much talkedof Burnside
expedition our people certainly look for everything con-
nected with its movements with something more than
curiosity On the other hand must we not suppose that
if that expedition bound here those at the head of it
will be anxious to know force here-that to do so
would be precisely the thing they want
Well, we take up the Richmond Dispatch of yeSter-
dav the l4th, and we find in it communication from
this place, dated JAN 18th, 1862, signed Rambler
from which we take this extract, in which the writer
obIgngy furnishes what he supposes to be the very in
formation wanted not that he furnishes it with the in
tention Or with any conception of what he is about
but simply from the mere racnthes Scribendi:-
There are 800 soldiers in and around Wilmington. Cen
Joseph R. Anderson Of city is in command here he
seems to be quite popular. Though within eight miles OF
the the people here seem to have no fear OF the LIN
coin feet. All is quiet at present.
General Anderson will thank the correspondent, we
rather don't think But if he erred from ignorance or
nexperience surely the intelligent and experienced con-
ductors of the Dispatch ought to have known better
than to have given place to this paragraph
1t will not do say that these things being inserted in
papers that do not circulate North, do no harm by
conveying information to the enemy. Is anybody weak
enough to suppose that the flag of truce system at
DIX that brings the Dag Book Northern papers and in
ormation does not take out to the Yankees Southern
papers and information? We do not control this sys-
tenn, and are not responsible for it. but we have no
doubt that the price the South pigs for the extracts
thus obtained from Northern papers is that the North
obtains all the information it from Southern papers,
and evidently Southern papers and correspondents are
too Obging not to give them all the information in their
power.
We don't much believe in a censorship OF the press
but can hardly be surprised that such thing should
suggest ITSELF at least that anxious enquiries should
be made for Jesse Holmes q somewhat apochryphal
character who is said to be armed and equipped with
club for the suppression of too numerous class of all
communities supposed to be guiltless of good
Daily Journal, 18th INST.