Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1863-12-17

The senssef Cherreston-AH HOY s,-s, Yankee Aecoan.
oft.
The New York Times has a long editorial upon th,
siege OF Charleston which ia exceedingly cheerful read
ing to the Confederate public. We copy it entire
For several mpntbs the advices from the vicinity 0
charleston have uniformity been to the effect that we
should soon nave the qualification of announcing lis a
Fort Sumter was battered to pieces, and must
DER without delay and the public heart has been made
sick with deferred hope until it has ceased to tie
lleVe any predictions of the capture or demolition
Charleston
Fort SUMTER we will venture to say will not be taken
by the present line of approach and mo lie of
And what military object is to be gained by its cap
ture We already perfectly command the entrance to
the harbor that blockade running has entire ceased
we would command it no better were Sumter in cur
possession. Nor if captured would it be practicable
to put there the heavy guns that would be needed to
crate upon Charestor for they could not we'll be trans
ported to the ruin and mounted under the fire OF the
numerous rebel batteries that line Sulvans Island and
Fort johnson Even if guns were successfully placed
10 post N, would be but five hundred yards higher
the city than now and Parrot rifles throw into it with
perfect ease from Cummings Point where they are al
ready established. Nor does it seem that Sumter can
be 30 easily taken have thought. Not only are
Font johnson and the works on Sullvans Island arm
ed with very heavy batteries but the shores of the city
and even IFS wharves are mounted with the heaviest
guns In possession of the Confederatea Against these
| the army has no power whatever to act Oae assault
has already been made upon the ruin with very unsas
factory resats-the whole party fell into decided trap
and any other would probably share the fate Al
though harmless for the offence, it still has resistive
power OF strong character. The lower tier of case
mates cannot be destroyed for the rubbish of the CD
per tiers OF the work have covered them that even
the heaviest she. have power to penetrate them
A. few men, comparatively, can still shelter them
selves that no asseung party CAP find from their
deHdybecause close-fe and artillery added to this,
would make the ruins OF Sumter but little safer than the
era er OF volcano. Success in az assault s therefore
very doubtful and it would be folly to the exceed
ing risk OF failure when success give no decided
military advantage. We may chafe and fret because
flag is not hoised those BATTERED walls; bnt
disaster could annoy and damage more and assured
y the dictates OF public opinion and feeling should not
be followed when likely to lead to grief.
The further progress Of operations in the harbor is
now, as before question for the monitors 1t in
tended that they should pass these hatteriesif they
have not done 3d. certainly fault be found with
Gen. Gilmore for the failure. Aud do not believe
that the monitors will undertake the task. The delays
that have 5asQed since Sumter deprived OF its teeth
seem to Indicate that the future gil promise of
better fruition than the past Let it be repeatcdwe
doubt whether tee monitors will attempt to the
gauntlet into Charleston harbor All they can
plsh will be to barn Charleston they cannot destroy
the batteries that defend it, bat they burn the city
and Gen. Gilmore can certainly do that from Cum
mings Point, without exposing iron clads to the
prospect of loss La fact the blockade of Charleston
hsr Dor being perfect any other game not worth the
powder, and the public may we'll cease to expect
any news or any SUCH success as 1t has been been led
to hope for.
And Why should Charleston be burned What mill
tary advantage would gain by burning that abomi
nabIe rebel city? Unless take possession of tho
ground on which it stands, achieve acquire moth
ing by its destruction For assuredly in could
We be guilty of any such atrocity that recently per-
petrated by the Engish against the unprotected ia
panese city of hagozima-where, merely to glut wild
and savage lust for vengeance, they suddenly opened
their .artilery npon and battered burned 10 the
ground, city of 10000 inhabitants. Charleston is
probably about deserted of its population, and,
were bomeardment necessary, it would result in a
very limited loss of life but regards property,
we shall to the end carry this with forbear-
ance and magnanimiy unparalleled in the annals OF
the worlds wars
When the batteries that surround it are destroyed,
then Charleston will be surrendered but to expect that
the harbor and all the strong works around it, and the
command Of the indispensable railroads that centre at
Charleston, will be given up to save the CITY, will be
yielded less readily after its destruction, is idle and
unfounded expectation When part of the great
military advantage held by the Confederates shall
have been by and transferred to u.s. then the safety
of Charleston may be battered for the remainder I'm
til then let wait PATIENTLY particularly there is
reasonable prospect of Impotence Fastening the end
for which "e have SO long and so vainly looked.