Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1864-07-28
From the Charleston Mercury.


and late commander OF Fort Sumter was Inc eldest Sol
ofJohn g. Mitchell, aged q years, an 1rishman BY
birth and of distinguished lineage. After varied
and eventful youth he educated at Columbia Col
lege n Y, and at the time OF the secession CT .
Carolina chef engineer q railroad In Alabama.
He Immediately threw up bis position and, with hls
accustomed ardor to Charleston fd cast hs deg
tiny with US the coming struggle for liberty.
As Secord Lieut.. he fought the guns OF the Sumter
Battery in Fort Mourie during the first commandment
of Fort Sumter, April 1918, 1861. He distinguished
himself en- that occasion, be has done On every
sion since which has brought him in the lace of the
enemy and upon the evacuation by Major Anderson
went over as part OF the first Confederate garrison
of that post where he has now ended his even tfu life
At the capture Of the gunboat Isaac 2. Smith in the
Stono river, he commanded battalion of sharpshoot
ers.
In the defeat of the iron clad feet April Z, 49, Gap
tain Mitchell commanded Barhette battery at Fort
Sumter.
On the OH July be W8s in command of the artillery
at the South end of Morris leland and made desper-
resistance to the overwhelming force brought agast
him.
In Battery Wagner, on tie next morning, be again
distinguished himself in repe!ling the assault of the
lltb.
Capt Mitchell was then transferred to the command
Of the Artillery and the batteries Being crested on
james Island ard for weeks during the siege of Bate
~ Wagner, maintained fire Cay and night against the
advancing works of the enemy
After the promotion and assignment OF Col. Elliott
to the fed ID Virginia, Capt Mitchell selected to
Of that command, has shown that no one could have
been chosen more fitted for the post.
Capt. Mitchell was man OF brilliant abilities and
shining qualities of highly cultivated mind and strong
character With the chiValrous arder of his race be
combined firmness of purpose ard consaucy, that
ried him overall obstacles to his end. He was prompt
and decided in action his mind in the most trying
emergencies preserving its calmness and Judgment. His
daring courage amounted at times almost to reckless
meas OF life in bis cool disregard of surrounding danger.
HIS energy unring and sleepess, and the smallest
details Were not below bis personal scrutiny and atten
ton.
Captain Mitchell was of mark in any commu-
nifty. tie came among us stranger, and has left many
friends to his loss. He had won the confidence
ord admiration of all who knew him.
In tie profession Of a soldier, bis preparation had
been earnest and complete lie had fitted himself to fill
any position however hgh with usefulness to the cour
try aud honor to himself We hazard little in saying
that there is not more thorough soldier in this depart
ment.
To his family, the loss of such man is indeed ire
parable To The country of his adoption even in his
death, be has left shining example to later days. that
will not be tTuitless Though terribly torn and crushed
by fragment of SHELL he ID bis last hours inf2xi-.
ole aDd calm and said al wish to show my garrison
how it becomes patriot and soldier TO die for his
try"
The time of our delVerance will come, and Sumter
will rise from its ashes, monument to the heroes who
lave fallen in It's defence. And the name of John c.
Mitchell will forever stand conspciousy bright that
honored roll.
Carse Gen. Lees Inaction.-EIistory OF the Rebel
Plans.
The Philadelphia correspondent of the New York World,
writing the 18TH the following Information
TaDer HIS apeculatons about the Confederate force
i'll Maryland ale amusing:
As the canse of the rebel raid in Maryland
tter understood the sentiment OF Indignation
sganat the Admn ration suppressed at first by the sur
prize produced by that event. becomes and
tense 1t IL no" clear 10 all that TINS movement could have
been easily prevented and the nuinllaton coRsequeL5
upon avoided, had The who hold the rens of pove
endowed with the least amount OF sagacity
sight single glance at the facts which preceded and at
tended this audacous excursion of the rebels will satisfy
that do advance here anything fully
prepared tO demonstrate.
TO understand the last rebel incusion fully neces.
Bary for the series operations by which
Gen. Grant, leaving the bloody fields of sposylvania
Courthouse hs through Virginia. and alter abort
finally succeeded in crossing the James and in establishing
himself strongly south side of that river. During
this perious march hostile country thought
pretty generally that the eLemy would impede pro-
gess southwark, and prevent Gen. Grant from reaching
point be had set down his plan his objective.
great surprise nothing OF the kind occurred The
o. the tie rss a tn tPsay 6l to u.s. the
you'd seem to indicate he should kept closely within 6
ent1enchments never giving sign of life except when we
within few hundred yards Of ths1, made dem
oDtraton against the rebel capital
the of that inaotion which then surprising
all, was, have been informed, produced by desire
attract the Union army far South possible,
uncover northern frontier, which, by this means
be lett accessible inroad of the rebel forces
In the estimation OF Gen. Lee the concentration of all the
available of the North the south of the James
being dangerous to the rebel cause of the
uckies events of the 1t compelled Gen. Grant to
siege operations time which might have
been useull employed in active campan, gave the
haused forces OF tue rebels opportunity cC reunitng
behind the walls of their Ortresses aud opened the
orn columns of the rebellion considerable portion of the
border Such is the consequence of the strategy
adopted III this instance You going to with
what rapidly OF execution Gen. Lee awaited himself OF our
mistake.
No sooner had ascerained that intention was to
before Petersburg, of which he keep
six MONKS he ChOOaes, than his first obi ec
feel i'll the Shenandoah Valley and peDe-
into Mary land. Ehis done immediately after
assault Petersburg attempt which had
the ConederateB of the strength their
tcn and Of their power employ their troops upon an
other battle eld Should the thing be deemed ADVISABLE
The repuse experienced by forces along the Tennes
Virginia Central railroads. had already demonsr.
the rebel General the facility of such undertake
ing He understood that by hurting back all the col
had scattered along that line beyond the
he would compee defe at his exhausted
soldiers the fertile hed OF the border States his
cavalry, and replenish his granaries.
In pursuance Of that pan Gen. Early, who had for Como
time 1ped the shenandoah; Brecknridge, Who wss
watching The Southwestern part OF Virginia Rciser who
had been acting IN CoDunc Ion with early and the two
guerrilla leaders, hosby and Imboden, received the ord
march forward for Rarpers Ferry and occupy Ho
land Heights. Some people thllk that,
the expedition thing, Gen. Lee has added ~ .L
torces a e divisions of his army, under conmana SO
Gedera Ewell. The thing is not, however, prohohio
Ep ell il not likely the command his CONS
he IugIurous occupation of leading raid Be this as
may, hole expedition carried Oh with an ACTIVITY
and secrecy tEuly admirable. Generals Hunter SigeI
and Wallace, were either defeated Compelled to fan
back. ~ ~
Eartinsburg, Willsamsport Boousboro' Faoarstorr
MddetoWn harper's Ferry, Bolivar HEIGHTS and Ero5or
ick fell into the hands of the rebels without even
gle Durirg all The time the administration instead of
coming Of troops in that region lost
precious opportunity in providing for the deences
Washington and Baltimore which in way threat
eDed, and let the rebels, who ght have been easily
checked have their way in Maryland. Immense lines
OF railroad and telegraph cut bridges blown up,
houses are burned crops destroyed, contributions