The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1864-12-30

SCI 10 lay, anu, one 10y otic, Iiio oAh"S7 !
ran ont to sea under easy steam, with |
everything taut on board, guns lashed .
and close -furled canvass. But few Of
them remain in sight this evening
What could have occurred more favor
able to us than thisy For days and
days back it has been very warm and
pleasant, and the river and harhor almost
as placid as lake. Now, at the very
moment the enemy is preparing to attack
US, fearful storm arises and sCatterS
their armada, knocking up such sea 1t
is impossible for troops to land or to
work the guns against our works ms
delay gives as time to bring up troops
and complete the preparations Tor de
fence 1t seems almost special inter
position OF Providence-as much so as
when the waters Of tho Red sea receded
miles and miles to permit the passage OF
the Jewish host, and the returning tide
came on to engulf their pursuers. With
this material aid from on high, II proper
preparations for defence are not made,
the place deserves to fall.
And about its defence In previous
letter have spoken Of the detences OF
the Cape Fear, and remarked they
seemed to be admirably situated and
strong enough to resist any assault made
upon them from the sed. Unlike Mo
! bile, and most harbOrS. the navigation
here is exceedingly difficult even when
! there is po opposition OF obstruction
and it can be easily inferred, then, that,
! |, # haaf1np nnOn
| the marrow channel, and submarine bat
| teries To aid the forts on shore, an enemy
would find it "a hard road to travel -
! As for the attack by sea, all IS ready
| the guns are trained, the powder dry,
| the men in good spirits, land, re
| marked an old tas, eve arc just
waiting 10 send few of them to the
b" I)avy"s locker, probably.
am confident nothing can be done from
the sea alone, and that while the fleet
! engages the font, it will be merely t
cover up the operations OF force pre-
| yiou-ly landed at Wrightsville or Mason
! boso' sound In General Whiting
| have every confidence, and so have th'
| people here. Al ho wants Is men, ah'
those ought to be sent ut Once-ih hhrritt
on with the greatest possible speed, 10
without them the town certainly lail5
! Already hear troops are on the ROAD
| God grant they may arrive in time,
! In my opinion, the loss Of Wilmington
would be the greatest loss the Conicde
racy has sustained since the fall OF Ne7
Orleans. do not care to give my rea
sons, although could do SO. thlnG, /
manner satisfactory to any one, an
could show cause why it should be d'
tended above all other towns. Only thos
who have been here within the past yea
know its Importance fully; but Shoui
the town fall into the hands OF the enem.
the soldiers OF our armies would feel 4
! loss. and would then know why II shoul
have been protected at any cost.
All day long the storm has ragged Il
) riously. Wind southwest, anu pi""i'
heavily.
This evening, singular incident o
CURED to me, and ono peculiarly lll'I
tr.tiye of the times There Is Lat
law max N which says: Lcgis construct
! n4u tuctt tnjurt4Ht-the interpret
constitution Of the law shall wrong
person and also InaAlm III letIch'
which remember to have met III colie
! days: Jus sutuDtum snpe summa est m
+ Efia-law enforced to strictness SON
times becomes the severcst injustice.
b Now, do not wish to quarrel with a We
. wise law that forbids the publication
II news that might produce harm but II
1t much do say that what is lawful
q publish in one paper is also lawful
7, publish in another. | think can pro
. that logically should any one he dispoh
i. 10 dispute the conclusion and n'ainc
II further, that what my neighboT Is ?
% mitted 10 publish in his paper, may
D permitted to publish IN mine, under
y same law; and that denial OF that ri5
a, to me is, according to Telrence-tole
~ Die authority by the Way-a law enior'
y to strictness and Injustice.
II This morning appeared in the "
~ :, ming ton .journuI, what every man, won
.. and child knew perfectly we'll, aud
~ the Owl and Colonel Lamb took abro
"a the following item Of news
,of Amongst the fleet Oft New inlet, the r
| Colorado and Wabash have been recognized
tbs report iJILtoh VI tiA' i;s Il
af otY the western bar COTIrct, at least lu shI!
| uurt had bron ltctaStd at headquarters ul
ho o'clock Yesterday evening. lhe Meet on Ne"
III, consists ut over thirty vessels, OF al Cia"aos
l.. wind Yesterday evening WAS from northeast, an'
lea weather Wn. unfAyor4hiG for landing No del
IL stration had bs.n made u land, at last aeto'
IN from the coast -
;h- knowing this would reach R!chm
les to morrow, and appear upon the DtsP'
rs, bulletin board, thought to e&pe
led matters by sending the gist ot this Z
the graph by telegraph; SO wrote the
lhs lowing:
i"' yankee fleet tof} about thirty vessels e
ur, | classes aYpeaici lHtJ New Inlet yesterday; "A
.vv | him recognized Wabash aud GUlorsio, all da
uag-d tiul lowering t"psail yards' housiie
eel, T,ndt clearing for action. This mornine tt
ore All, blowing on shore (aIldj fleet probably he o'
-, Itoj scatter (and) put 10 sea !" Here Aiio"S
'eh words pIivate, coIkining no Information of
= This was returned later in the eve
,or with note from the telegraph al
low who says;
lis -, BsQ. Sir General Bragg
I. supr,ye your telegram 10 the DfSpaft"