Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1863-03-05
From the NereA. -
The Attack o. Cha-iesam-11s Dsfsness of The City
-Whg the Nousnsnt 10 Delayed-Hos many Mon
From. the Naeeh

From. the Nsrth.
The Attack on Cha.lessm-11s Dsfsness of The CIT,
-Whs the Movement 10 Delayed-Hoss many Mon
itors It viH require 70 saks Chariston ETC.
The Yankees all agog over the movem emit against
Charleston and are growing impatient they
last summer in their On to Richmond" The Fpecia
correspondent OF the New York Herald who accompa
MES the expedition, writes from Hilton Head, South
Carolina, where the numerous feet rendezvous
ing:
An immense pressure has been brought to bear npon
those In authority by congressman and others backed
up by the prevailing public sentiment, to birg about
Immediate attack of that Sebastopol of America. 1t
seems to be the general impression among those who
nothing OF the character Of the defences OF Char
eston and the immense force at hand to garrison them
that it ia an easy task to capture the place. Tbare
could be no more dangerous to fall into The de-
tences OF Charleston are in every way superior and
more formidable than those around Richmond, against
which cur forces have been led in vain. All that
science and skill could suggest, and labor and money
ayishly expended could accomplish, have been applied
to The strengthening of the Notifications about Char
es'sn New ard immensely strong works have been
erecei aud old remodeed and increased in strenth
and scientific skill has been exhausted in making them
| complete against ev,ry assault
Now in view of all Ihese facts it would be 81 in
sanity to attempt the reduction ofthe rebel works with
out adequate Orce to successfully accomplish our
designs Our land forces may be weak, but We must
rely upon the navy to gain the victory and that must
have force strong enough to carry the day after the loss
guns bear upon the city Under the concenric Ere
OF several hundred guns OF the heaviest calbre, pro-
tected by every available method that art can afford,
how long will it be b fore wooden squadron is melt
ed away before the s,crm Of shell and how many
may reasonably expect to- the gauntlet OF this Ter
rife fire, 1t Is safe to that one half or two
thirds will be crippled before the walls of Sumter
passed and then what other batteries await them p?
Wooden vessels cannot go up to the city, snd must
rely upon ron-cads to open the way to orious
hag And this brings me to the question which de-
sire briefly to consider How many iron-clads are
necessary to reduce Tire city of Charleston. Many,
and Uoubt not vast ms ority Of the public, who have
not stigaed The subject in al s bearings.
think that three four Monitors will be sufficient Tor
the succ: s5ful accomplishment of the work Ii Loae
were injured aground o. become disabled in any
way, per 4aPs three would be sufficient but unfortu
naely eyeryt thing made by humau hands s imperfect
In way other, and liable to be derangel and
it's impaired, il not entirely dest 0y d, by
unforeseen contingency viii h We have control
1t would be absurd say that the Monitors not TO
be rcckoned the category, and it 10 the wses
tie safest to accept ell these contingencies
highly probable and likely to occur, and there By de
termlne the success Or failure OF our un1ertakng.
La the ct place these Monitors 20 into Charles
ton harGor alone aud through the channe which j.
now perfectly known-a channel which'is covered by
thousand heavy guns. 10 pilot whose experience
gained helOre the war, would undertake to safely
vey ese up the city unless he c0ul eel his Hay
with tn led. No buoys mark the channe a. d lie
rqucDt shiftiogs EaV. rendered less all th" marks
by which the pilot formerly kept the proper CD mel
0 suppose, under these circumstances, that all the
Mo- itors would escape the shoals AID middle grounds
that sbOuu in Charleston hafbOr would he absurd -
One might get ashore and buoy for The 9th
and until two thrf Indeed ell woud be
hard and last, from the entrance to the charne the
city, pess aud worse than lost to We Can afford
to lose SEVERAL Monitors, It they sunk Ia eeon and
safely out of the rebel power but cannot afford TO
leave single the beach where the rebeis may
capture her patch mp her shot holes aud send her out
WOp nj he ant tn mi
nate pCss sslO0 CT the soil of South Carolina. he
rebels with one or two Monitors would be nearly
well of as and who could tell when the affair
would end? No. Ii not entirely demented,
attack will be made Charleston VITA less than six
or eight Monitors. Certainly with less than six,
and With many eau De S. .. there. When
are CT victory let 60 ahead but let not af
fairs be FASTENED that may out of dlsa atrous
attack shorn Of oar peculiar strength We can afford
to wait little for success.
Three Monitors can, it 10 thought when safely past
Sumter and Aourie, capture the city. To get three
through must expect to lose equai number the
way up. That is not zoo great estimate,
WINGED. Besides shall find work for them in aiding
each other when ashore aud in preventing the unoun
ate from falling into the enemy's hands l have
but limited at of the difficulties to be overcome
but moments consideration OF these will satisfy any
one that it would be folly 10 attempt the great work of
capturing the strongest place in America with few
Monitors. We must have six eight, repeat, when
make the attack, attack or success will
not be complete could wish.
have written the above tor the sole purpose OF curb
ing if possible, the Impotence OF the public North. |
do pretend to know the plans of the Admiral here
and know nothing of the force to be used in any
ment, do know that be has any design OF attack
ing Charleston but presume he is anxious to make
effort in that direction to witness it. When
he does attack it will be successful one, am confident,
and We we'll afford to wait the opportune hour,
without impatiencs or giving ourselves unnecessary
trouble.