The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1863-07-14
THE SURRENDER OF VIcKsBURG.-in fesa'" = =
the fall of Vicksburg, the Richmond Enquirer ''i-

Tue srRRENpER OF VICKsBURG.-In regard lc
the fall of Vicksburg, the Richmond Enquirer COZ
rectly remarks:
s.Vioksburg has fallen at last. After as gala n1
and as desperate defence as ever was H'ao.
by any beseieed fortress on earth, against ii '"S
armament ON land and on the water, in front ano
rear, our heroic town of Vicksburg has caP'
The enemy has got the shattered and rlddieu sne.
of town; but he has nat got, and never sha e'''
the Mississippi River.
Port Hudson stands-New Orleans may nov pe
in our hands; yet, should Port Hudson too iaii'
and New Orleans yet remain for season uhooi .io
hoof of the foul Yankee-stilf there can be 10 nee
navigation of the river without the consent VI sno
States upon its banks. There are many other oe>
feasible points, capable of being powerfully 1ofIin
ed; and so long our people of MISSISSIPPI anu
Ark ansas and Louisiana remain good and 10y d.
federates they now and hate the gfeeoy ios'
as they have such deep to hate them no 'fao-
ing vessels or transports of the enemy can pass up
or down. Two or three pieces of light artillery
wheeled up suddenly TO the bank at almost any
point can still sink and burn them. The ahhees
are only the beginning of their gigantic task OF
opening the Mississippi; and all the forces and re-
sources, in men, treasure gunboats ana artiheiy
that they can accumulate for this work IN twenty
years. will evidently not be enough, if the Cohleoe
rate people choose to have it so. The enemy may
perhaps proceed with their ruffian system or TREAT
ing as brigands .'buslIw hackers" those who snail
persist in defending their country, and shall IN dis
charge of that duty fire upon their passing vessels
sive war; and their atrocities towards the jewellers
on the river bank must be the exact of the
stern and bloody retribution which 1T will be the
duty of our Generals to wreak upon the people in
such parts of the North as our armies may occupy"
The Petersburg Express remarks:
"And now the great question is, what will be
the effect OF this unexpected and unfortunate
event? We confess that we are wholly UMPIRE
pared to answer. 1t may be that, as Johnston has
the reputation of being eminent strdteglst, the
capitulatop dictated by some considerations on
his part pointing to superior military advantages to
result from it. Ia other words, it may have been
strategic measure. Nothing is more wise some
times in a General than to sacrifice reputediy
important position or possession for the purpose Of
accomplishing more valuable object than Its re-
tention 1t does not follow that because this OBJ
ect is not perceptibe to the INITIATED that 1t IS
not worth the sacrifice made to attain it. There
FORE in this point of view, it would be injustice to
Gen. Johnston to denounce or condemn him until
he has opportunity of testing the merit of his
strategy by results. We cannot but suspect from
the circumstances Immediately antecedent to the
captulation, as explained by the kilograms that it
was made either under his advice or with his con-
currence for we were told that Gen. Pemberton
and himself were in regular communication with
each other Upon this supposition, he must have
some Interior purpose in view, which, in his judg
ment required, or at least justified, the capitula
ton. This speculation involves us in mystery
which time alone solve
But if the surrender of Nicksburg resulted
from the exhaustion of supplies and the inability
Of Johnston to afford any relief then the question
assumes another and darker aspect. The event,
in this point of view, must be considered disas-
trous one, and the only consolation in the matter
is that it may be more than compensated by sue
cessess in other fields, possibly in the Department
itself, which is under Gen. Johnston's command.
We have never thought that the capture Of Vicks-
burg by the enemy would make him master OF the
Mississippi, materially endangcr the cause Of
the South. For all purposes Of trade and trans
portaton its waters would be no more valuable to
him than they were before Sharpshooters and
flying artillery on its banks would be necessarily at
work, and his vessels particularly his transports,
would be subjected to gauntlet that would play
havoc with them. 10 increase his difficulties and
embarrassments he would have on each side of
him powerful army holding the interior Of Mis-
sissipp, Louisiana and Arkansas, under such
Generals as Johnston, Kirby Smith, Price and
Taylor which would keep them hemmed in on the
river. These of the thoughts which
have occurred to us in contemplating the fall of
Ficksburg and its consequences. The loss Of that
famous stronghold is greatly to be deplored, but it
will prove barren acquisition to the enemy. In
the order of events, under Providence, it may not
be long before We will be made sensible that in
stead of being disaster to it a fortunate
turn in affsirs-and thus we will realize the
truth of the saying that what often appears to be
a calamity is blessing from Heaven in disguise.
EOLUNTEERs--On Monday afternoon, the 9th
inst, dispatch was received Ivy the Mayor of this
place from Gov Vance, stating that it was supposed
the enemy contemplated attacking the capital and
asking for help to defend the city. A meeting was
Immediately held at the Town Hail. Volunteer
Company was raised and committee appointed to
collect cntrenchng tools and negroes and proceed
to Raleigh At 10 o'clock Monday night the Com
pany was organized and started for Raleigh next
morning at O'Clock. The following are the names
of the officers and members:
Thomas H. Brem, Captain;
l.. S. Williams, LIST Lieutcnant
John Wilkes, ID do. Is.
S. A. Cohen, Sd do