Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1862-02-27
Rurnlng Towns.

The question of setting fire TO towns on the approach
of the enemy and the certainty of his being able to cap
ture Them has been much discussed and doubt has
been the occasion OF much thought that has never found
expression.
The history of the world alrds but few examples of
such sacrifice so few that the confagration OF Moscow
If idee5 the ork of Rostopchin, and not OF accident
stands alone in lis magnitude and in its consequences
The wars Of the French Revolution and Empire, in the
course of which nearly every capital city OF continental
Europe was occupied, afford rat the example, and
that doubtful one, since the governor by whom 1t was
said to have been done, dsavowed it most soemnly 1t
may have been the work of the Russian authorities, but
that be established. But leaving that point
open, it evidently stands alone, and owed all Its mportA
auce to the latitude and the mote aud Inland position
of Moscow. IT, instead of being located Iii latitude
tyve degrees f0ryfve minutes North, and Ia the re-
mote interior o. sem-barbarouS Russia, far from any
base line of operations from any supplies by water
Moscow had stood on the seaboard, a navlgabe
river in latitude of thrty-four degrees, its sacrifice
would have been but waDton waste, and could have
effected nc military object Nay, had such fire oc-
Cured in june instead of January even IN the latitude
of Moscow Napoleon could well have afforded to des-
pise it as an effort Of impotent rage and made 1t per-
haps the text for vehement denuDclatlon OF Russian
barbarity Subsequently the allies occupied Paris and
yet the French chatting with tie rage of proud peo-
pe Inundated by those upon whom they bad tramped
never once thought of Offering up their proud city
sacrifice to the flames and time that at last brings all
things even, has justified the wisdom of their course
since LOW in that very Paris, the representatives. OF Ma
poeon whom the allies poured out their blood and treas
ure to dethrone stand head and shoulders higher than
any monarch in Europe. Paris is more proudly the
French capital than ever and France is, ever and
more than ever the great nation"
We can re enact 10 Moscow, by burning down South
err cities. That is evident The hyFetbmean climate
of Russia with its ice and SHOWS, offers no parallel tC
the bamy breezs Of the CarouaS even TO the more
rigid temperature Of Virginia. IT, defending our towns
they burned by the enemy upon that enemy be the
blame and upon him the barbarism.
The result OF all this reasoning is this AMI this We
would humbly recommend Remove all Cotton from
points sufficiently the coast to be liable to attack
Do this 1T once
Rosin or Crude Turpentine, where near a river like
the Cape Fear Neause other stream would not, We
suppose pay for transportation to and storage in less
}
on RATS in the stream esdy fer instantly casting adrt
each barrel having Lead knocked out and enough
spirits Of turpentine On each raft thoroughly saturatt
the rosn, and if the enemy tc1A GENE after it, why moi
send it to him down stream in light slszs, so that he
may make the most of it. 1t will give him warm re
cepton,
All food AMI other stores that can be promptly re
moved ought 10 be- All that cannot ought to be de
stroytd. All this Of in the last resort. The
same with furniture and other valuablcs.
But tie possession of the mere buildings Of tow
could not advance tie Of enemy could he
destruction retald his progress An enemy comes pre-
pared to keep the ed and his men would be better in tn
field than in town Therefore as there could be no mil
itary end advanced by burning otherwise destroying
buildings, decidedly Of opinion that it ough
not to be done If indeed the enemy could be repulsed
his progress stayed at the expense of every house
any town. then every house in such tswn ought to h
cheeriuly sacrificed but not otherwise.
We beg our people 10 think well over these matters
here and elsewhere. 70 do so in spirit of panic, bu
to have all matters fully understood, that
gency, no matter how painful, may find them unprepar
ed with some definitely arranged Of action, 81
that each will know bis place, and that should the
come to the worst panic and confusion may no
be added to the inevitable sugsrngs Of war.
Let US defend to the last possible point Let us d.
so with no idea of anything but victory, but while &c
ing so, let US remember that the great Napoleon hmsel
in all the penitude of his power, and with all the spor
dor of his genius, and all bis own confidence in hi
"star," went battlefield without having ca
culated all Acknowledgements Of disaster ard provided
tie means Of retreat Even at Waterloo he did so
the extent Of bis Tears, but treacherv, more stron
than foreign arms, quite vanquishe6 him" and made
his precautions nugatory.