Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1863-03-05
Ths London :. Time. ,.aoa Lat. na.tl...

Ths London :. rImss on Lat. B.stie..
If hard 6zhting ntinued through several DAYS with
heavy loss in killed and wounded, constitutes great
battle, the engagements between Murfreesboro' and
Nashvie may rank among the chief military events of
the American If decided success is required to
give such conflict historical importance, that element
is wanting to the actions in which the rival armies were
engaged during the last days of the old year and the
first of the But something has been gained The
determination with which the Federal troops continued
to advance and attack after their serious repue the
18th OF december, speaks we'll for their qualities
soldiers We should infer that the Federal
troops In Tennessee composed Of better than
the regiments recruited from the great Eastern cities
They seem to have displayed more of the "rea grit OF
the Western American than has been displayed in the
campaigns in Virginia. Eyewitness have described
the conduct Of Federal divisions at Fredericks-
burg 10 terms not atterpg to the military qualities Of
large portion of the great Army Of the Potomac
Nothing OF tie kind appears in the accounts of
tBe late actions IN Tennessee. And it is DOS
sble though the details too imperfect to
decided opinion, that the Contederates not led
with the military skill of Lee or Jackson. Certainly
the attack made by the Federals was not the patent
bunder that Burnside made at Fredericksburg nor were
the Confederate positions unassalabe. After the FIVE
days of conflict they abandoned the Southerners
fighting to the ast and retiring unbroken with appar-
emily inferior loss still abb to carry Of the prisoners
nHu tucy pdu CdpluIGu AUu lLC
operation OF retiring quietly that they could not be
pressed in their retreat On the evening of the Sd OF
January General 9osecranz expected renewal OF the
battle the following day for the possession of Muir
freesboroagh; but during the night the Confederates
quilted the position, and their retreat not known
to the Fedsra Commander till o'clock in the morn
irg of the 4th Thus the Southern army must have
gained ten hours, which would have baffled any pur
suit had the Fdderals been in condition to pur
sue.
1t would be compensation for the terrible losses the
Federal accounts admit if they brought any nearer
probable termination of the conflict. This is the de-
cded all these battles fail TO The de-
tails Of a Federal advantage only strengthen
conviction OF the hopeeaRness of the in such ter
ritory. few miles of ground are all that can be won
or lost. The Federals held Nashville before these ac
lions, and that they hold it still, alter such days OF
bloodshed is all that be said That the possession
of the capital of Tennessee did not give the North full
command OF the State shows the contest to be OF the
kind that arms cannot decide settle. We doubt il
the capture Of Richmond itself would give the North
of the State OF Virginia than eDcampment in
IT. The loss OF New Orleans did not produce the SUBJ
mission of louisiana We fear the blood split in these
recent operations is only added to the deuge that has
already shed in vain. The prospects of peace
not improved by The sacrifice. and those of humanity
are rendered worse than ever, if OF the details
ported be believed. 1t is stated that ali the
groes captured by the CoDfeierates Immediately
shot" We hope this is false, and think it must be
SO. The slaves Ia the Federal ues employed only
as servants and team drivers, ard WJen it was
proposed to end organize them scdicrs the Pro
camation CT the Southern President pxpTess exempt
ed them from the penalty with which the white officers
OF such fegm hts were threatened. The black private
soldier 10 be considered an Irresponsible agent
The Ulcers TO he shot for enrolling aud command
log him. but the worst the q" G0ntlrabaId bad to
pec relapse into servidadetbat Is, change OF
msstcrs with much the same work 10 do For still
lower it is improbable that Iegro prisoners
would be massacged. They worth too much in
money to be uselessy expended" One OF the
African race ia a lar vanabie capture than an
Irish or German recruit. He briggs, in hard cash,
2O0l. to 250L, and bis market price, II nothing else,
would be his protection against the cod atrocy OF be-
ing shot on the field. We trust the will be off
cialy contradicted. Fortunately for the negro Mr..
Liucolns decree of abolition is illogical enough to give
him security. Under the Federal flag he is slave,
with all the mu unites of the serve condition If he
can be held slave by the side 10 the conflict,
and shot free by the other thu position OF the
negro in this for his liberation has become msera
Die indeed. But he has really been forced between the
incensed points of the mighty opposites," and his
standing ground is not without peril
If the Federal navy is successful on the inland waters
the advantage will have been balanced by casualty at
sea, which must excite than usual inter est both
in France and England. The ron.cad battery, the
Monitor, went down of Cape Hatteras, in gale OF
wind it may also be said, with all hands board, only
part OF her crew having been rescued by the paddle
steamer that accompanied her, She narrowly escaped
Roads, where her opporune arrival worth whole
heet-and saved one. Does Europe gain experience 10
the loss Of this first Of the ironcad monsters 1T
evident she sank from the weight of her iron ting
It made her invuEerable III her fight with the Merrl
mac but caused her loss when disabled in the open
The that washed her deck found their
wav down her open funnel she was soon waterlogged
and sank In this case the newest application OF the
Oldest e1pedieEt of defense has produced something like
repetition of disaster well known in ancient warfare
In certain circumstances the weight of his armor was
fatal to the horseman who could defy sword and spear
The iron batteries that fight in smoothe water with
out risk in imminent peril at with no enemy
bit the wind and waves. he first vessels of the
class have both persisted and both i1gloriousy. The
Nerrmao destroyed purposey, to escape capture.
The Monitor has disappeared in that would not
have been fatal to vessel less formidable. Yet both
did remarkable service 10 great war, and have lett
their names 10 of the most important chapters in
naval history. The loss of the Monitor has excited
enough attention to occasion off ;ia inquiry into the
of the disaster and of the escaped it
may be possible to ascertain whether any neglect con-
trbuted to it, But in the account of the wreck 1t
stands there seens nothing inexpticabe. She not
buoyant enough to live in not excessively high,
but such may be expected any coast ary sea
son of the year. We were taught one more valuable
lesson by the Monitor, and we must accept the evil
dences of defects we'll the proofs of advantages
10 the last mercan intelligence there are items enough
showing political, military and nanc ai difficulties OF
no ordinary magnitude yet we doubt If any OF them
will attract mach notice the loss ~t the Monitor.
Young Husbands soIiisq"y.
The queerest little dresses
Myeye have ever
ofirapa afr q 0lim OF