Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1863-01-15
THE WILMINGTON JOURNAL:
WILMINGTON, N. G.. THURSDAY, JANUARY 10, 1865:
,s.Tto.o ore any number Ct reports aHoat with

49, - tbe numerical force of the enemy in the
ostorn mart of this State. Rufhor and the reliable
gentleman put the force tand around Beaufort
Dor, and between that place and NeWbern ano AT
bern and in its vicinity at one hundred ana ny 'noa
sand all told Now this is evidently an e1aggeratloh,
and ia only significant in so far az 1t plainly indicates
+hat tbsenevs force has recently received large ac-
osO;ons At the latest accounts probably fifty, and
certainly sixty, thousand would cover the whole Adolf
ton force at the points named
ut this is only what was there at the last advices.
What will soon be there is another thing The enemys
foroe was not only sweled but was constantly and rap
idly swengb accesons of troops from other quarters,
Indicating determination the part of the invaders to
make N Carolina principal seat Of war; if not the prn
cpal seat 81 war; and main base of operations against
Richmond the capture of which city, within the next
four months is felt to be essential TO the Lincoln adj
ministration at home as well to the Yankee govern
mept abroad. Without this capture the nation thai
Lincoln now rules will not much longer submit to
his imbecie tyranny pour out its blood and treas
ure for cause which it will feel to be hopeless neither
will foreign nations longer withhold recognition nor re-
frain from intervention.
The attempted advance upon RichmoDd from the d.
recton of Northern Virginia has been thrice tried and
once under Pope, and once under Burnside. The ad-
vance by way of York River was tried under McClel-
Ian, who subsequently changed his base to james
River and then took water and left in disgust The
plan of an advance from Suffolk seems also to have
been found impracticabe, and new base appears
TO be sought for.
BURNSIDE had rather good time in North Caro-
lima. He made reputation sc cheap rate. With a
thoroughly appointed ard large army he overwhelmed
our small force at Newbern aud our still smaller force at
Roanoke Island and gained very decided advantages
for The Federal cause. Perhaps be thinks ne can re-
new his career of victory simply by returning to the
scenes Of his former easily achieved trumphs at any
rate the opinion gains ground Ia tie public mlnd' as
well as in military circles, that BURNSIDE 10 quietly
moving his army Ct the Potomac to North Carolina
leaving only sufficient force to guard Washington
The Abolition army already in North Carolina IS lar
beyond that which FosTER either by reputation or po
son in tie army is entitled to command but until the
transfer is made no officer Of higher rank will appear
on the scene IN order to keep up the impression that
the army in North Carolina is mere subordinate al
iair,-at the utmost rere divisional command. Eos
TER is now apparently the mere cloak for BURNSIDE OF
BURNs1DE's successor. The troops are consigned to
Foster for Ge use Of somebody else.
Theso, We say, are tie opinions ahoat and to which
cirrums. aGcts give strong sanction Whether they
are CORRECT in al respects, cannot say. We think
they are not far vide of the mark, but We have the
strongest assurance that cur military authorities are
fully alive TO the egences Of the OCCASION and that II
the enemy steals march upon General LEE be will be
smarter than he ever before or than expect him
to be at this time.
As part of tie plan Of operations, especially if the
main wsr is to be tTGT serred to Eastern North Caro-
lna the capture OF Wilmington is, for m ny reasons
desired by the enemy ard recent developments give
confirmation 30 the report that he Monitor and Pas
sac Bcrt destined for this port But for The intepos
iion of providence we might ere this have had them
knocking at our doors 1T should indeed prove that
these Monitors " unfit to go to sea, it will relieve
us Of many unpleasant apprehensons and cast damp
CT upon the Yankee Government and people in com
parison with which that consequent upon the defeat at
Fredericksburg would sink into insgnifcence OF the
truth of the reported sinking of the Monitor and injury
TO her consOrt, We see 10 reason for doubt.
1T the latest dates there were in tie harbor Of Beau
iort n. c., soma Sc transports and q armed vessels
Considering the immense supplies and material of war
and facilities fer transportation required by any consid
cradle body Of troops not surprised at the num-
Der of Transports but unable to account for the
vessels otherwise than by supposing them destined to
take part in some combined naval ard military attack
upon some point not South Of Charleston That such
attack has not already been made is, in all probability
due to the loss Of the iron-c!adS