Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1862-03-12
IS All Wrong.os
The Wilmington Journal, in some comments on
the surrender uf Roanoke Island SAYS: =

the surrender Of Roanoke Island, says: $ =
"The frequent change of commanders the want
of a permanent responsible head and continuous
system, seems to have been most in fault Nobody
appears to have stayed long enough to do any good
Gen. Wise had 10 time to have organized any sys-
tenn, even conceding him military skill and ability.
The talk that attributes the removal of Gen. Hill,
and other matters and things of that kind, to the
operation of State party politics Confederate par
ty politics, strikes US as being all wrong"
, We concur with the Journal, that much of the
disaster is to be attributed to the frequent change
of commanders, and the want of a continuous sys-
TEN of defences on the island 1t is not pleasant at
any time to complain Of the authorities but VIC can
do better in the future only by avoiding the errors
of the pass and it is the duty Of the press point
out those errors so that they may be avoided here
after, and calamitles like that of Roanoke Island
prevented, if at all possible
The allusion of the Journal, in the last sentence
of the above quotation, is unmistakab.e. 1t is the
Standard, in the Judgment of that paper, which
has been all wrong in its illusions to the reno
val of Gen. Hill. We now repeat, that Gen. Hill,
who admirably qualified for command on the
island, and who would have put it in complete
state of defence, was removed because in obedience
to orders FROM the authorities at Raleigh, he called
out certain occasion the militia belonging to
the Counties composing his department. This call
created excitement and discomfort Judge Bggs
of the Confederate Court, and then member of
the Convention, was especially excited What
agency he had in the removal of Gen. Hill, We do
not know; but we have heard, good authority,
that several gentlemen from the Albemarie country
who waited on President Davis to represent to him
the 'lefencelcss condition of the island, and of the
region to which it is the key, were told by that
lunctionary that he had removed Gen. Hill because
he had been informed by the "highest authority"
in this State that he not acceptable to our pco
pie, account Of the call made by him on the mill
tia in the Counties referred to; that he had been
informed by the same high authority" that Col.
Branch the very man to succeed Gen. Hill;
and that accordingly, not having been able to
quire higher or better information on the subject
he had removed Gen. II. and appointed Col B.
Brigadcr in his place. The President also
derstood to evnce anxiety in relation to the matter
and the inference drawn from what he said, was,
that il he had erred, he had done so relying on the
"high authority" referred to. Who that I" high
authority" was we do not know; but We DO know
that Gov. Clark caused it to be stated that Gen. Hill
had called out the militia without authority from
him, and that Gen. Hill replied, and proved, By Of
fetal documents that he acted under full! authority
from Gov. Clark and Gen. Martin. Soon after this,
Gen. Ii. was removed.
But 1t is all wrong" to complain of any one who
belongs to the yournaFs faction. The Journal can
reflect ON such men as Graham and Brown, when
they offered by their friends as candidates for
Elector as not up with the times Or in other words
not trustworthy IN this crisis; but stubborn facts
in relation to the conduct of those who agree in
opinion with the Journal and which are stated only
in order that past errors may not be repeated, and
that better and wiser steps may be taken to pro-
mote the Confederate cause, are "all wrong" We
have no wish to continue this discussion bat if the
Journal insists upon doing so, it will be met, and
those whom it is attempting to whitewash will be
still more thoroughly exposed.