Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1863-07-23
TO yen, Johnston AIu 'ne ran or Vteksh"rg'

The Richmond correspondent of the Memphis Ap-
peal, speaking of tie fall of Vicksbug, says !:
The Sentinel, which is now regarded, properly or
improperly, as the Government organ, holds Gen.
Johnston mainly responsible for the result and the i'm.
mediate repro sentatives of the Administration are said
to blame him in unmeasured terms. The Examin,
er defends Gen Johnston far to depTecate hasy
and uninteent censure and considers that Vicksburg
was already doomed to fall before Gen Johnston had
been sent to relieve it,
The Examiner has expressed our opinion and to Us
1t is matter of surprise that any gentleman, familiar
with the main facts surrounding The case should enter
tain any other When Gen. Johnston reached JACK
500, hcm Middle tennessee, far we know be-
eye, he without army. 1t is true that about
one Brigade OF Confederate troops calamity resist
Ing Grants approach to that city, but it COMPEL
ed to fall back before overpowering nombers General
Johnston gathered up the fragments and withdrew them
to Canton There he did ali tnat mortal or skill
fol Gene al could do to collect army. Arm d sol
diers would not spring from the ground at his CALL aud
De was forced to wait and work for six long weeks inc
der to procure little army Of less thirty thousand
men. In the meantime Gen Grant had completely in
vested Vcksburg, and thoroughly fortified his rear
When this work was accomplished we do not believe
that aDy military will risk his reputation by as.
serng that i. in the power of Gen. Johnston to
raise the siege and relieve the Vcksburg heroes In
stead of censuripg Gen. Johnston think be deserves
the thanks and gratitude of the Whole South. Ii be
had moved towards the enemy ten days sooner than he
did, the probabilities that bis army would have
=
fortunate circumstance that PemberOn surrendered
the 4th of July, because it gave Gen Johnston time to
fall back jackson and prepare for Grants advance
Otherwise We mis- INT have had this day, no army In
Mississippi. We have full coufenc IL the ability Of
Gen. Johnston to command-we regard him OF
our greatest Captains,-but doubt whether be
could have saved his army from defeat if he had ad
vanced-through bis great anxiety to save Pembtrton
! fifty miles further on the 4th of July. The silly
boast that one Southern man can whip FIVE Northern
| has long since played out.
| It may be that the immediate f.ieud5 of the AID
ministration censuring Gen. Johnston in " unmea-
sured terms, but slow believe that they rep
resent the feelings sentiments Of President Davis
lie must know that they doing General j Jbnstou
the greatest in ustice-it he knows anything about
what they saying. For part we make
charges against nobody for this Vgkaburg disaster
We cannot blame Pemb9rton, for he and his heroes
performed prodlgies OF Valor before a want CT tooC
forced him to capitulae. We have already given the
reason why Gen. Johnston should not be blamed. AnC
now come to President Davis himself. We all know
that in the Southern CODfederacy felt keeneI
solictude that the Confederate flag should continue &c
float Vicksburg. Then why did he not send more
men to defend it? This question: in our Judgment is
very easily answered and when it is answered, III,
whole question is settled President Davis dd seed al
the troops that could be spared with safety to Other
points of vast Importance, and the TALL OF Vicksblrg
simply of those caamities that could not be avoid
ed-and we bow to destiny.
There is old woman at Richmond by the name O
Norstrop, who has charge of the Subsistence Depart
ment of the Government and whose duty it was to sup
ply Vicksburg with provisions. Whether bis failure Il
do that proceeded from mad quac3 imbecility w
know not. But we advise those who conduct this Sen
tinel newspaper to make Inquiries and to state the re
suit of them to the country.-ChdttanOOgG Rebel
i DEATH OF ARCHBISHOP KENR1CK The Most Rev
erened Francis Patrick Kenrick, d. D., Catholic Arch
bishop of Baltimore, died suddenly his residence il
that city On Wednesday, the 9Th instant