Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1863-01-15

tremendous scale, TO be pro:racted. Be it long or
short, however, could not be the first to cry hold
enough"
The President paid deserved tribute to Vicksburg.
That noble little city had witbstood the shock OF the
combined fleets o. lhs enemy after the great cities of
New Orleans and Memphis had succumbed to their
suppos nvincibility. The heroic women of Vicks-
burg had cried out give the enemy the soil if it cannot
be defended, bat let him have nothing else. The Gov
left bis chair and repaired to tile of danger
and refused to listen to any advice except defiance to
the concentrated power of the enemy.
We are better prepared at Vcksburg now than then.
Our defenses greatly improved and strengthened-
Our ornaments are much improved. We have better
armies and that gallant soldier en Johnson is pour
ing in reinforcements He to Mississippi to
protect and defend her. (Tmmense applause)
= ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS NATIONS
Te the question of recognition and intervention the
President devoted only few words. We bad right
to expect recognition long since but it had not come,
and his advice Put not your faith in princes,
rest your hopes upon foreign nations" 1t seemeh
that England still refused to take any steps tow ards
either recognition Or med diation. France had made
move that looked friendly and when she extend
ed the hand OF friendship, would be ready to grasp
it.
RETRoGRADATIoN.
The President took brief retrospective view of the
movements of our armies since the fall OF New Orleans
An event unexpected to him as it was to us,-and
showed that had not rerograded but had gathered
largely ln strength. Armies not made up In num-
beTs only. We have army that safely
rely On, We have stripped gunboats of their terrors
We havejmproved in all those things which go to make
US invincibe. Our prospects much better than
they were twelve months ago.
TWO oBJEcSs TUE ENEMY.
There are two grand objects of the enemy : ls to
get possession Of the river and thus cut Conedera
cy in two, and secondly to seize the Confederate Capt.
tai, and bold it up to foreign nations evidence
that the Confederacy does not exist.
The President dwelt at some length upon the vast
Importance of thwarting the enemys designs upon this
valley he considered its defense necessity not only to
the people here, but to the Conederacy ITSELF Vicks
burg and Port Hudson points that must be de-
fended and every effort must be strained for this pCr
pose Vicksburg, he said, would stand and Port Hud
would stand if the people true to themselves
This done the Northwest would grow restive and
to support war ruinous to them and beneficial only to
New England contractors. From the Northwest he
looked for the first CLEANS of peace.
CHEERED BY
Although his duties required his presence elsewhere
yet, when he heard of the suerings of bis State
and her danger OF subugation by vandal foe, his feel
ings dragged him to her soil. He goes back with
lighter heart. He finds of that depression which
reported. At Grenada he found the army sorry
that the enemy had gone hack. At Vicksburg they
were ready and eager for the tray Depression existed
only among that class of men who constitutional
grumblers and fault-fnders He goes back cEeered
but still anxious for his heart is here-hs attachment
to the State though he believed the greatest have
passed
THE TRANs-MISsIssIPPI DEPARTMENT.
On. the other side of the river prospects are
brighter than before, and long he hoped that
he would be enabled to proclaim Miss ur free. Ken
tucky too, object of solici udo to him and he
spoke of her gallant paope in IL. lindest and most
commendable terms.
OUR CAUSE IN THE ASCENDANT.
The President had particular stress upon the
aging fact that had improved in every respect since
the war begun. Our armies were superior in number,
and improved in quality and appointments. Oar
ufactories had made rapid progress Mississippi alone
had clothed and subssted the whole army upon her SOIL
Our people had learned to economist. They wore home
spuu. He felt like taking of his hat to woman dress
ed IN honespun. He had unfaerine belief in the jus
tce OF our cause and profound reverence for the
crees of Heaven He noticed with evident satisfaction
the superior morality OF our army to that of the inva
der. In God and the vaor OF ouc troops he trusted
A SPEECH FROM JOS. JOHNSTON.
After the cheering had subsided, Gen. Joseph E
hero looked little while tho House rang with
loud, swelling and prolonged applause He arose and
said
done so little to merit such greeting promise you,
however, that hereafter shall be watchld energetic
and indefatigable ia your defence"
This speech was greeted with tremendous nproari-
GUS and prolonged plaudits Evidently Gen. Jhnson
possesses the unbounded confidence and esteem of Mis-
sissippians.
Address the Army.
We publish this morning the beautiful address of
General Lee to the army, after the battle at Fredercks
burg. The Commanding General expresses the senti-
ment of the whole country:
HDQRs ARMY NORTHERN VA,
December 81, 1862.
GENERAL ORDERS
/. The General Commanding takes this occasion to
express to the officers and soldiers OF the army bis high
appreciation Of the fortitude vaor and devotion dis
played by them, which, under the blessing of Almighty
God, have added the victory of Fredericksburg the
long list of their triumphs.
An arduous march, performed with celebrity uEdtr
many disadvantages exhibited the discipline and spirit
Of the troops, and their eagerness to confront he foe
The immense army of Il e enemy completed its pre-
paratons for the attack without interruption and gave
tion.
1t was encountered by less than twenty thousand of
this brave army and its columns crushed and broken,
hurled back at every point with such fearful slaughter
that escape from entire destruction became the boast of
those who had advanced in full confidence of victory
That this great result was achieved with loss small
point OF numbers, only augments the admiration with
which the Commanding General regards the prowess of
the troops and increases his gratitude Him who hath
given the victory.
The war is not yet ended. The enemy is still num-
and strong, and the country demands of the army
renewal of its heroic efforts in her behalf. Nobly
has it responded to her call in the past and she will
never appeal in vain to its courage and patriotisms
The signal manifestations OF Divine mercy that have
DISTINGUISHED the eventfl and glorious campaign of the