Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1864-06-23
pejefsbusR,

It may be that while we write shot and she'll are
busy around the devoted ciy of Petersburg for GRANT
has commenced new campaign against Richmond I"
on the Souhsde of the Ames River, and has transfer
red The bulk of his forces to this SIDE The attack on
Petersburg will probably be made from City Point, as
that is the same side of the Appomattox with Pc
tersbuig, namely, the lower Southeastern side
GRANT probably thinks that Petersburg is the key to
Richmond, and with his &C; ustomed activity bis blows
will fall thick and fast, with view to the capture of
that city.
Rapidly OF movement is one element OF military sue.
cess that GRANT evidently possesses in large degree
With what other elements it may be combined render
ing i rather of weakness than OF strength, we
do not propose to consider Oae thing is certain:
Unless opposed by than usual ability, GRANT Is
dangerous man. ara the very audacy of bis movements
may snatch victory almost by accident.
TO say that be found Petersburg weak is to give no
information to the enemy. He has measured the
strength of works. for be has been in part OF them
and found them wanting. For this no blame can al
tach to General BEAUREGARD for he has been in COM
mand tn ere too short time to enable him to make any
due preparation IN the way Of permanent works. The
works defending Petersburg On its City Point ap-
proaches, do to have amounted to much. The
enemy certainly has gotten within shelng distance Of
portion Of the city and has sheed it, With more or
less destruction to property and danger to life. We
do not think be maintain himself but the hardest
fighting Of the may Jet be locked for within sight
and sound of the Oockade City. GRANT, keeping bis
eye on Richmond, will leave nothing undone to capture
Petersburg since to fail at the weaker place would be
to confess the folly OF attacking the stronger
We are happy to know that Petersburg still stands
and is likely to stand. We suppose the new cam
paign on the Southside will last until GRANT has ex-
hausted ali the resources of his strategy and realized
the failure of then all. Who shall say what may next
occur? Why, GRANT may fly off at a tangent, if bis
own official head has not already fallen, and make
dash at both Wilmington and Charleston That, how
ever is remote :ingency. An admitted failure at
Richmond ends the military of Lieutenant Gen
eral GRANT bencs his impatient flying around to con
ceaI anything that might be construed into such
admission.
We have been permitted to sec letter from an ofd
Ger in the 5lst N c. T. written on the 18th. In the
action on the night Of the 16th well the NOR
ming of the 17th the casualties in the regiment were
very few; not ten or twelve. Ga that occasion
HANcocK's corps attacked the line held by HoKE's d.
vision, but were easily repused. There had been no
regular fighting the morning of>the l7th up to the
time when the ette. was written. Oaly Skin mishing
No one from this immediate section s mentioned among
the hurt.
About o'clock yesterday afternoon, we heard re-
port that Col. DEvANE of the 6lst had been MORALLY
wounded in fight then going on. We trust not. We
will soon hear more daily Journal, 2lst inst