Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1862-04-10
The Combat Thickens.

III around, the lines OF the enemy are Drawn cIoder
and all around the lines of cur defenders strengthen
ed and their forces concentrated. The days of battles
have come. The order has gone forth, and not from
Magruder alone to attack at once and furiously."
SBrmishipg on the Southern Peninsula of Virginia,
likely to be changed into heavy and fearful battle -
Desperate fighting in the valley of Virginia. where the
Confederate forces rolling back upon themselves gam
strength soon to turn upon their assaauts :Norh Car
DINA where the question remains still undecided, wheh-
er Burnside is to advance inland upon Godsboro' and
the railroad or turn round and attack Suffolk and OF
course Norfolk, and the Navy Yard and Richmond. A
few DAVIS ago. even, it did seem though Burnside's
programme was to advance by way of GoldSboro' to
Raleigh Very recently different Indications have been
Observed which lead to tie belief that the inroad upon
Newbern is only TO be used diversion in part, and
mart az centre around which treason may rally, and
from which the poisonous infection of teachery may
be disseminated, spread abroad 1t appears now to be
the Indication that the main strategic movement, IN
military point of view is to be made not through Pam
leo but through Albemarle Sound. This may be or
may not be So report to which we are inclined TO
attach some Importance represents the Federal force last
week between Newbern and Fort Macon as forty-hVe
thousand and they say they are expecting ten thousand
more This if true does not look like abandoning the
idea Of an advance from Newbern 1t may be, how
evlr that this report of their forces has been put aaoat
bv themselves as blind to keep attention fixed one
place while they make their dash another We doubt
not but that the eyes Of our Generals are on them.
Whether there is any truth in the surmise that Nc
Gillian in person commands the Federal army in the
Peninsula we cannot say We incline to the opinion
that there is not. There was evidently discom-
future and no little discomfort in the Federal camp
Whenhe army advanced Of the coils of the anaconda
to Cenreve and Manassas and found that it had made
its move too late to enclose its ongedfor victim. Nc
CleIan would hardly venture to leave his immediate
command at that uncture unless indeed he thought that
by striking blow in the direction Of Richmond from
Fortress Monroe be might retrieve the credit lost by his
being outgeneraled on the Potomac side of thai city
We shall soon see what we shall see.
private dispatch was received by the Atlanta, Ca,
Confederacy from Chattanooga, Tenn. on Friday
night giving the report that Price had had severe
fight with Sge in which he defeated the Federal forces
and bad pursued them seventy miles. The Contedera-
cy regards the report as pretty well authenticated No
particulars given.
Island Number 10 is still attacked and still defended
After days upon days. and even weeks of the most terri
bic fire from the most formidable gun-boat and mortar
feet that North Western LincondOm could turn out,
the Notifications still hold the liver and the loss after
all is not equal to that sustained in random skirmish
ofpickets 1t requires this and similar facts to be wei
pordercd ny our people The real danger of being hit
by shell thrown from great distance is trhe great
than that Of being killed by Lightning. So purely
accidental as 10 be regarded as a visitation of proV
M i :I:oI I,E4b o1,o eofo
and pleasant play things compared with minnie balls.
The Fedea8 have not yet been able to force the Con-
tolerate batteries at Cumberland Gap, and probably
they wont be.
The great point is now on and near the Mississippi
River here the cbvary Of the southwest is making
its stand There johnson, Bragg Beauregard and Van
Dorm lead our forces. Price is in the farther vest
JEFF. Thompson is on his own hook pretty much.
The reported battle near Cornth, is we trust true, as
reported God seudit We need it to cheer the droop
ing to fix the waverng, to reward the true, and add
fresh courage and enthusiasm to the brave. We look
anXiousy for further details The report ght
enough. There is direct Geographic communication
from Corinth to Mobile and there is break in the
line between Mobile and this place. This report is not
therefore, like that from the battle at Elkhorn, on Pea
carried seventy miles through the country to VsnBuren
and sent thence to Memphis. We mention this matter
last however because of its being still unofficial and
uncoDfrmJd and because, in matter of such great i'm
portaucc cannot afford 10 raise any hopes that may
disappointed or indulge in any rtjoicngs which may
turn out to have been premature.
1t is evident however, that the combat indeed thick
ems and that between now and the first of May the
clash II Conending arms will be heard loud and clear
along the whole line.
Coruth is at the point where the Memphis and
Charleston and Mobile and Ohio Railroads cross each
other COrnh is about ninety miles from the nearest
point on the Mississippi River, which is at Memphis
The farther below Memphis, the greater the distance
from COrDth. Any attack the Memphis and Charles
ton Road East Of Cornth, would only cut Of Memphis
from the Atlantic States The possession of that Road
at or West of Corinth, would also cut off the commu
nicaton by Railroad with the Gulf States 1t appears
TO US that would be found to be pretty hard work to
travel by land the ninety hundred miles separa
ting Corinth from the Mississippi River.
IT SOMEHOW strikes US that there may be something
in the report of victory having been gained in South
Western Missouri by General Price. 1t keeps coming
It is pretty certain that the New York Herald ad.
ms that General Price cut Seiges army all to pieces
on the Dist ult at MaYsvle Arkanzas, and says that
the latter was retreatng on ST. Louis. The 2Ist
seems to be mistake. The former statement was the
"25th" Whether the Herad's statement. is true
or not is different thing. If true it is strange that
we have had nothing of it from Fayetteville or Fort
Smith, Arkatzls, Uia Memphis. Perhaps communica-
ton may be interrupted in way on that line We
are not that any dispatches have through