Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1863-05-28
From the Augusta Ca, Constiutionalist
MI DesRerRn0uEn,


" hen troubles come like sea, when obstacles mount
up obstacles when darkness come thick backness,
then the true herOem displays itself aud genius essays
to conquer fortune itself Du ing the progress of this
m0menEOus struggle, in which the C0nCderares have
saked everything upon success, we have had many
dark hour. but people have come through every cr
s yet, proved gold from the furnace and seeming
disasters have been overrud for good. From the be-
ginning we have all felt that could turn back
relax energies never surrender; and at no
time have We felt more perfectly than at present that
could not afford to fal--that it were better to be
desr yea forever from out the earth than fater in the
great work The radical destructive purposes of the
Abotionists are Known to all mtn, and all intu
lively know that afford to 10 anything rather
than submit.
And while feel fully consc Gus OF the enemy's de-
signs there never was time when it became US to ex
ercse more daring in battle more ortude at home,
for appa renty perilous hour has da wned
upon The grand decisive attempt to reduce Vic ks
burg, and to open the Mississippi to the enemy, is
about to be made and made in q which
seems to hold out good promises OF success Grant
is below Vicksburg with an army of perhaps hun
dred thousand men, has extended bis line, after fail
ing to cross the Big Black river Lear Port Gibson,
from his base Grand Gulf seventy miles West to the
centre Of ssissppi at Jackson its capital which be
has captured Quilted and bIndoned Having thus cut
our railroad communication with the Eastward be has
turned bark on the line OF road leading to Vcksblrg.
with The iDentior doubt II assauitng that position
from tie he reach It, while stormng party
is probably TO be anid simultaneously on tlt water
front Of that devoted, heroic little town.
Perhaps it may uo BE- great disaster that Jackson
has fallen, and that the enemy has Il in his power to
destroy the road from that place Westward towards
Nlcksburg as far as he penetrate. 1t certainly
not rreparabe calamity, but we regard it as a mis-
fortuCc OF the first magnitude that had not sufficient
forces to bold jackson and the whole line Of road ex
tending thence to Vicksburg The reduction of Vicks
burg, were it possible, should consider not only
terrible disaster u.s. but success to the Abolition
lists far outWelghi0g 10 real importance all the other
successes they have gained during the We could
better aord to lose any other point any other two
points, than that one, Tor while hold it hold The
river from the frozen lakes to tie wery delta. It is
sealed SEA to the Yankees while Vicksburg belongs
to We do not see the policy of undertaking any
thing oil this sort or of attempting to blind the people
rather let them know the truth and thus stirsthem
to do their utmost.
water front, take Ficksburg? We have no idea that
he He s marching on it from the rear destroy
ing the road doubt, bebicd him. and has been held
in check at Edwards Depot, while Johnston, with his
small force, is North OF him, and able to throw himself
In bis front at WILL Or Din the main forces under Penn
berton, within the line of deences before Grant
reach there. In Grants rear are reiIforcameEts
r this direction, who surely move as rapidly as
he can, while force of what amount we know not is
also advancing from Port Hudson and Vicksburg is
provisoned for four months While the situation is
undoubtedly full of peril and cannot be held without
much sacrifice OF valuable fe which it is hesrtrend ng
to think should be matched against such devliish IN
Vaders, we have abiding confidence that VcKsonfg
will still prove invincbe and that her defenders VIII
cover themselves with glory Grant must ngnt last,
Tor bis supplies in precarious conditlen and ne
cannot afford to sit down Tor regular siege during the
summer months.
But if Vicksburg should fall, oil which we do not
dream while we would not underrate the disaster it
should not give army or eur people moment OF
despondency or depression. Rather it should nerve
them to s greater exsron, should inspire them with