Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1863-07-30
FROM THE SOUTH.
Richmond views of Things in General
4 Charleston Estimate Of Things il Particular.
Especial Dispatch to the Chicago Tribune. I

Washington, July 20.-The Richmond
Enquirer of the 18th INST, has long edi-
torlal on the military situation, urging
that the only salvation of the Southern
Confederscy is in calling ont levy en-
masse, and the application of martial law
to the whole country, which is in state
OF siege; absolute control OF all trading,
especially in drink, as within military
lines; abolition of substitution, exemp-
ton and foreign protection, and material
enlargement of the Presidents power to
revise election of officers, make appoint
ments, and get rid OF Incompetent officers.
A proclamation by jeff. Davis appears,
calling out under the Confederate Conscrip.
ton Act, all white men between the ages
OF IL and As, to serve for three years, un-
der penalty of being punished Tor deser-
ton in case of disobeying the CALL They
are offered the privilege of joining the
volunteer organizations before enrolment.
The Enquirer says an official dispatch
from Charleston, received yesterday morn
ing, states that all was quiet. The enemy
are throwing up works on the south cor
ner of Morris Island. Two Federal iron.
Glade entered the Appomatox river, but
the river is DISTRACTED above, and there
were hopes by the fall of the freshet, TO
catch the iron-clads aground. The Charles.
ton Mercury, recei ved in Richmond on
the 10th, has the following on the situation
there: - H.: -.-I.t
1t appears to US useless to attempt to
disguise from ourselves the situation. By
whose fault we got into it, it is in vain
now to inquire. The Yankees having got
ten possession Of the southern hall of
Morris Island, there is but one way to
save the city OF Charleston, and that is
the speedy and unfinching use of the
bayonet.
The light on Morris Island is to be
now fought by engineering and cannon
merely. The advantage is with the en-
envy. With their iron-clads on the water,
and their men in occupation of the land,
it is likely to be mere question of time.
The fall of Fort Wagner ends in the fall
OF Charleston. Fort Sumter, like Fort
Wagner, will then be assailable by both
land and sea, and the fate OF Fort Pulaski
will be that of Sumter.
"Gen. Gilmore, the commander of this
department, is the man who reduced Fort
Pulaski.
"Charleston must be saved Richmond
was. For six days our forces ssormed the
successive batteries of the enemy, and
saved Richmond. The greater part of the
soldiers who achieved these triumphs, by
the bayonet, had never before been in a
charge. These Yankees have as yet few
or no formidable works; they have but
few thousand troops. Ii our soldiers and
officers here are not equal to the kind of
fighting fought by the army of Virginia,
and tried by the Yankees against such
strong works as Fort Wagner and Seces-
sionville, then Charleston falls. This APP
pears to Us as the only course of safety,
and we may add, too, tor the economy of
lives. Other means may protract the
fighting to days and weeks, and postpone
the termination Of the struggle. No 9TH
er means, in our opinion, will save the
city. We believe it can easily be saved,
with promptness, energy and dash. 1t is
too late for engineering. Hesitation and
delay are fatal" .