Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1863-02-12


the commanding general to bring forward anogerwhelm-
ing force at the critical momnt andat the decisive
point We think Napoleon, who knew something Of
war pursued this course We have no doubt but that
it is the true course Ease of movemens-tacilty of
concentration these alone enable inferior fierce
to keep the fed against superior one Any other
system must result in dispersion with the effect of per-
hitting small bodies to be cut off and sacrificed in de-
tail.
Now, rapidty of motion and facility of concentra-
ton can only be secured by homogenty of system and
unity of commaDd-that is of supreme command. Local
corps is SO far they interfere with this just
far detective in efficiency. Like stationary clock
which may be right twice in the twentyour hours, Gut
during all the rest OF the time simply useless they may
be on hand should an attack be made at particular
position but otherwise comparatively useless and
all the corps of the army raised the system
would be useless in the event of an attack for no
local force could be kept up sufficiently strong to repe
at any point concentrated attack from any tor
midable body of the enemy.
In this way it is evident that forces in any State
ne must far they interfere in any way with the
regular mobile forces of the Confedeacy do so to the
prejudice of the cause while they likely
duly to tax the finances and the labor of the State rails
ing them
The only stationary force which our limited popua-
ton, and the demand for activity the part of our
military commanders, will justify admit is that
which constitutes the garrsons OF important defensive
works These garrsons must at all times be kept up to
certain standard, and familiarity in the management
and range of the guns of fortress battery may give
to an experienced garrison decided advantage
Virginia got up State line for the purpose of doing
something for General Floyd. That line has got
up to the force of decent brigade, and have every
reason to beleve-indeed to know-that Virginia is
heartily sick of it. Mississippi tried the thing
and Mississippi is also sick good deal of talk has
been made in North Carolina in reference to bills for
the same purpose. Should North Carolina follow the
example of some other States in enlistng State ne
fully convinced that long she would also fol-
low their example in regrettng that she had done So
1t is proper remark that the other States to which
we have referred formed their State troops" State
line or Reserves out of persons not subject to the
COnscription.
We have little doubt but that this thing has been
made potc j hobby by some parties in our present
Legislature in which regret to say partizan bitter
ness rides more rampant than in any public body
have ever known-so much so, indeed, that the
most selEevidently just and proper measure OF
Gratis, elegantly dubbed destrucves " by their OPP
ponents the mere name of the ntroducer would be fatal
to the interests of the applicant. That this course
would arouse answering feelings in the breasts of
The downtrodden minority is only what might have been
=, SC ! ~ in these discussions, at least in
ats re8ignainey have evoked we have absained from
par patton and oer the remarks above sub
mtted in no partizan spirit. We give them for what
e. bol;or {bo;-
gestioDs to be in accordance with experience and
with the dictates of common sense
We received Tuesday afternoon the following letter
from friend 10 the army, which, as it gives some in
tcresting particulars. lay promptly before
readers We have no doubt but that it may be fully
relied upon
CANT HOLMES near Wilmington, Feb. 7th, 1863
MEssRs. FULTON PRICE-Dedr StrS Il have just
turned from Jacksonville, Onsow County, and have OBJ
taken prisoner the enemy while their raid through
Onslow County. He was taken to Newbern where he
Yankee soldiers be says that the Yankee
forces from abou: NeFbern concentrating at Beau
Since this friend, have man from the neigh
borhood of swaosboro who saw feet pass going, as he
on Saturday last and JJyoe on Sunday about hall of
which transports supposed to be such from their
SIZE do BOT know that they passed SWansbOro directly
but they passed opposite and near to Col n Sanders plan
My friend, VIII taken prisoner says that while he
was in Hewbern be heard the Yankees shouting Hurrah
for Old South Carolina :" they ordered there
and of the troops told him that they going to
Charleston but whether this was true not he could not
tell.
While in Onslow also heard good authority that the
skirmsh with the enemy by Capt. Perkins cavalry compa
of damage the than has been hereto
lore represented Taking the of the enemy himself
is evident that Captain Perkins and his have neveS
received the credit to which they entitled Captain
Perkins with thirteen of his and three of Capt
Moores company, checked the enemy at Nor East, in
Onslow County, and agreeable to the Yankee reports killed
six and wounded ten among them the senior Captain
of the regiment who pursued Captain Perkins the above
place North Eas) where he (the Yankee Capain) FELL
L. B. e.