Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1863-07-23
From TIE Meridian (Niss.) Daily Clarion.

e Inc b-si dtCti WIN BAiuTGs
From tre Meridian (Nss.) Daily Clarion.
Ti.e Starvation Question.
--irr 20 the capiulation of Vicksburg the Mo-
.". t-...l., News OF the 10th inst, says:
s- ~ fell for the want Ct common prudence OF
..- lie tOwn with provisions. For more than year
own t@s been thTea cnCd, and the country was
--r .anrlg supplied with tood to throw into it. We
~ 20 EDosltiOa 20 Fl d fault or indulge Ia crmina-
.. Bat the simple fact is, we have lost an impor-
.. sir. ,jiC point, aud are threatened with tide OF
81 ID over mississippi and Alabama because Gen.
.taH. Et02 elected 10 provision tCks burg. He had
BE. fle and ample means, and he did do it. He
"a 10 allow corn and meat to out of MssIs-
.or the army and people al MOBILE and the reason
...,r.l vas, that be wanted all for the Mississippi
ny We could have pardoned him if he had used it
rs army. But be cid not and at this moment the
..i.s q = CTth Miss ssippi are loaded with corn.
Viii our contemporary eve have no disposition to
I'D lu Indulge IN ordinations" 1t does good,
.i i5tQlenty leads TO evil results. But plain state
rts facts with logical deductions theretrOE,
es any harm and is generally productive of benefit
lt ali events the puoic functlonary, who has been
aigoi with important trusts and whose career cannot
withstand an application of facts and honest and
IMPARTIAL criticism upon his conduct, may be set down
5rluIy as uLf!tcd to command or to fill responsib
,.5.ts.
As Il IS admitted on all hands that the fall of Vicks
burg was alone brought about by the scarcity of pro-
ars is proper that investigation should be had
ri.g the lie Of the nation and the liberty and pre-
.1ty OF millions, should be fixed upon the proper in
lvldaaL great calamity has oVertakeu Us, and
-meo,dy is 10 blame. The responsibility cannot be
li,ld rom one shoulder another, and the cry of
NOBODY blame raised, for the losses too great
I'D peril impending too momenOus, to permit the
c-sstui employment OF such srh;erfuges. Now, who
t.amc who the authors Of this mighty disas-
-f who should be held accountable at the bar of pub
he opial0u?
Fer more than year it has been well known that
= .atlurtys Of the United States had determined to
......u Ncksyurg at any and all sacrifices MIR. Lin
.a proclaimed his intentions his signature
. months ago Thomas, AdJutant General OF the
E.d States in u speech at Helena declared that
(osburg must be captured if it ccst the whole army
tc west; that the possession OF Vicksburg
uni to he possession OF the Mississippi river, with
u.. wien tuere no hope of restoration Of the
IN. Then ignorance Of the intentions OF the enc
uvcluuot be plead in bar or Justification Their de-
...ls u; re patent to the whole world.
,lga raiabl-tOn took command of the Department
1T Mississippi and East louisiana las. fall. His de
,~ meat was the most important in the Confederacy
.rI, included several huGCred miles OF the Mississippi
T.,~. ~ tie time Of his assuming command we had
lie uninterrupted control of The Mississippi from Icks
lurg 10 Port Hudson of Red river tor many hundreds
1t II and all Of q vast and rich country, overflow
I NH 4 suplr-ab Guidance OF the necessaries OF life
Vs. ,s-u ID Is We also had plenty of steamboats, tc
aoCi adequate transportation II efficiently managed.
IA -. I'D the whole State of Mississippi to draw
l tJc purchaser, in the counties above az % river
aole mas since been wasted destroyed taker
~ Jle FtG-Ea.s, TO have supplied large army for sly
Gl"aG1s. These are iudlsputabe facts, and cannot b
iIlt4iG!fv COHtTCVGrtCd.
ins suspicious state of aI4irs continued for week
ara after the arrival OF Gen Pemberton. HaC
wise management aud energetic administration
marked ;ha to which allude ample tine was al
owed 10 have drawn provisions from Louisiana, Tex
md Mississippi have snbssed the armies OF the De
partmrut and have provisiOned Vicksnurg twtlv
myu h5 with iuI garrison inside the iOrufcatons !.
Ihs Is iLCoutrOVertibe fact. 1t Is as true as an
truth contained in the Holy Scriptures.
The usigeS OF war Tightluly hold the commandcr-ln
chief 9Cns1Ie for whatever transpres in his G3part
Eut. As lie Justly ~eaps the chief glory OF success b
riEhtuiy held chs fly responsible for failures. In
failure 10 provision FchsouIg i'd 10 the Ial OF lcKs
burg rs Gen. PCmOertOn Jailed 10 provision ina
. slIu1Z hud tOc long siege, when ample time and OF
Dprtulitlas we're vouchsaied him, he is the man WI
s.uG be Ltid accountable for placing the country
plr.'y, bringing ruin aud iEde3crlba ole misery upo
EI.a.tas Of thousands Of once happy households, az
~ ~ grUG1-aj5Ul OF the which will lead to tt
sl.u1ye of uaang thousands Of valuable lives
\ u. Co.. PtmbertOus conduct from the momcI
Graz L.ndd 1t Grad Gulf up to the tins OF his ca
:uj..iyu. vas iHt ylCubt, and fully as iTjuGicot
aud short sighted as was his neglect TO furnish Wick
bur Tor long and terrible siege. He sent Bowen
Grand Gull with five six thousand men to rep
GRANTS advance OF twenty thirty thousand OF cOuT
the lnOrC was failure, although GubHmeIy heroic III l
lesSy sacrificed he battle OF Raymond was next oug
under similar crCumstauces-a few thousand brave nt
Vuiny struggling against six eight times their nrr
beT with calamity unparalleled in the history OF wa
iaIe. The battle OF Bakers Creek followed and with
like result " hat twas fought for, except to lose
and artillery, has never yet been determined. Th
PemberOn Tell back inside the Notifications Wick
burg, where he Lad not accumulated one months fl
suppy.Ui provisions and Of the garrison, viii
fought with a herosm which viii challenge the admir-
toa OF Christeadom for ages TO come, had to succuI
to the paDgs Of hunger. Gen. Starvation b-uug
about by the neglect of PembertOn, did what Gene
Grant never would have been able to accomplish.
While do not, by any means, intend to char
disIoyaity upon Gen. PembertOn, it is apparent that
could not have managed affairs more efficiently to secl
the success Of the enemy, il he had tried his BEST
imagine be is true man, but wholly incompetent. A
tar the country and people are concerned, it ma
precious little practical difference to them, if they
TO be ruined whether imbeclity or treachery bril-
about that deplOrub!e result.
Situations of peril those which best renew
courage Of nations as Of individuals and whilst Il
test cur purpose they teach endurance; and at
same time, they always show that the path to in
pendeuce that leads up the steep ascent OF liberty
the temple freedom is not over stairway of rose
ladder OF green trees but rough and well-ribbed,
though straight, is the way eternal light