Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1863-01-22

Our Raleigh cotemp orares have reports from the Vi
cinity of Newbern, Indicating an advance upon Will
mington and Goldsboro simultaneously, while certain
demonstrations are made by BURNSIDE in the vicinity of
Fredericksburg apparently with viaw of preventing
endorsements being sent to General SMITH in this
State
The superstition that the eneny's advance Will
mington would be made by way of Richards, in Ons-
low County, thence striking the railroad about Magno
lia thus interruptng Communications plaus
ble and we think that authorities wide awake
to the projects of the aboonsts at Newbern and else
where.
There is one puzzle al out the anticipated attack up
on Wilmington. 1t is not usual for an enemy medta-
ting attack upon any point to proclaim his purpose
for weeks and even months ahead. Yet this has Vir
tuay been done in regard to the Yankee attack upon
Wilmington. Perhaps they may think that they can
disguise their real purpose-if such be their purpose
by telling the truth this once since is expected
to believe them. Weldon will probably be one of the
earliest points Of attack.
The report which rea ches US this morning from Yam
kee sources to the effect that LoNGsTREET with his
Army Corps of forty-fve thousand men has gone out
West to supercede BRAGG and attack RosENCRANz, ap
pears to to be wholly improbable, or at least naccu-
rate as to it's details. LoNGsTREET may have gone
West, but hardly to supercede BRAGG, who outranks
him. and be may have carried renforcements but not to
the number indicated.
The reported capture by the Federals of post upon
the Arkanzas river, with FIVE to thousand Con-
federate soldiers also evidently great exaggeration
if not total fabrication There may have been some
guns and prisoners TAKEN but nothing of the kind STA
ted The story has evidently been got up for effect or
to subserve purpose. Either it went stright by a
steamer to Europe and intended to operate there,
or it was promulgated in New York for stockjobblDg
purposes. In any expect to see the affair melt
down into Insignificant proportions when the real state
of the case begins to be known.
"WHAr DOES IT MEAN ?' is as asked by the last Fay
ettevile Observer in regard editorial which ap
pedred in the Wilmington Journal of the l4th, with
which the Observer affects to be puzzled, and which it
classes as an "oracular outgving.
The Observer underrates its sagacity. 1t exats
its modesty at the expense of its candor 1t could hard
" have failed to perceive and understand what We
meant. We meant that in all revolutions the second
stage of feeling opinion that in which early
citement and enthusiasm must be exchanged for stead
fast resolution and unWearying perseverance. We es
serted what all know that this stage has been reached
in the present revolution, and proud to say that
steadfast resolution -unfnching determination haze
taken the place and than supplied any deficiencies
that might have been feared from the decline of excite
| meut. Excitement will flag. Enthusiasm become less
brilliant in the presence of trial and suffering, but
oIute purpose only deveopes its fullest strength as these
accumulate. This resolute purpose founded upon 6
conviction of right now animates the South
But there are suferings, plain, palpable present.
This no one can deny. We do not attempt to deny it
There are also those who harpng upon these suerngs
attributng all of misfortune to the authorities, con
Meeting all of privation with those whom they choose
denominate Destructives," thereby designating al
who were in authority at the time of the Secession ant
the movements which lead to that event. have succeed
ed in arraying preudces against number of their fel
lowcitizans-in getting up party pledged to exclude
from all participation in public affairs all who do MOI
bow down to the sefstyled Conservative Leaders
nor worship them. These things facts just as pal
pable as that there suerings to be endured, mis-
fortunes to be met privations to be borne These
things, temporary in their character account for many
political movements and changes at the South-theJ
are in accordance with the history Of all revolutions
They were to be expected. They reflect neither upor
the devotion patriotism of the people, but they stamp
with the seal of probation the course of tactics which
certain class Of politicians have adopted as being