Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1864-06-02

, Why did the first NeEbern expedition fail Why
did General BARTON fail to attack Why did General
PIcKErr order hasy retreat TO Kinston leaving Gen
era MARTIN, who had carried everything + lat OF The
town, to take care OF h,msef as be be-t could
Why such hot haste the part OF General PICKETT
to get bsck to Petersburg
Public opinion outside of tie army at last would
like to kuow.
| The Enquirer says: While BARTON and PICKETT
iel, HoKE rose Zone general promoted two reltev-
ed Again adopting tie E,qui:ers criterion of 'pub
lie opirion' may not be permitted to ask whether
that Opirion does not award 10 General HoKE Inc
palm of superiority those whom it in this
connection Not the En9u,rs,s Slate prejudice,
VIC Think will refuse to HoKE the prepondersnce in
achievement, hesitate to admit that good gen
eral. q vegitable young "NEY" or MCDONALD" is
worth several less ab!e or efficient commanders, even
though the latet should be favourites of that paper
Bat ho~eVer"he EnqHiser may reason. public opin'
ion will so decide, where all are known, and their
merits ave been recently tested.
The Engsi:er should Know that the little mean, pid
ding campaign against Newberp," which that paper
charges upon Gen. BRAGG, was planned by Gen HoKE
long before Gen. BRAGG placed on duty in Rich
mord ard would have been successfully oished long be-
fore BUTLER reached rmuia Hundreds had its favour
tie Gtns BARTON and PICKETT done their duty bad
their races been fIIed by HoKE. Such is "pubic
opinion. The Pre5der is reputed censnre of General
PICKETT for this failure s enough to fix "public opin.
| ion in that regard
| If one rether West Pointer nor q Metropolitan
journalist, may b. allowed to venture an opinion the
opinion we would advance would be that discipline 4"
is equally important with organizations" and while
we accord to General Cooper all that is claimed for
him as the Carnot 3" who has Organized victory B"
at least victorious corps Catc" censor In the
shape of BRAGG may be essential their continued
efficiency, by wedding out pleasant and worthy gentle
men who fail to get Up il time
We ha We already said, ard We now repeat it, that
General RAGG is favture of turs but there u.s. or
ought to be, in all things, canon which the
ar cIe in the Enquirer ct the 9th so outrageousy vo
ates, that have felt called upon to devote some time
and space to notice Of its assertions and deductions
We should regret indeed, il any remarks OF ours how
ever they may appear 10 to have been provoked
should have the ten dercy tc add the weight of eath
to the misera e jealouses which will unfortunately
spring up between States whose destiny is one aud
whose peril is one Surely Virginia has such galaxy
of bright namts 10 be proud Of that she OF all the
States u the Conftderacy best afford to be above
petty preudices Surely her occupy go many, sc
very many high positions IN the public service, that
grum bling with -grsce from any of her or.
gans of "-puhc opinion
General RAGG we admit, bas been unfortunate, il
havin2 to fall back before yerwhelming odds be 80
classed but so the noble Virginian, ALBERT SID
NEY JOHNSTON and so is that other noble Virginia sci
ier joseph E. JOHNSTON. The latter has fallen back
and back, and buck. Had BRAGG Gen in command
i'll Northern Georgia. ard done inst what JOSEPH E.
JoHNsToN has DONE there would have been one dis
mal universal lowl " Now, it is all right, ard We
agree.
| General BRAGG, d u5t tbiGk is also unfortunate
10 his temperament. There must have been something
more than mere iortiutCu circumstances causing him
10 disagree with and censure nearly all bis subornatef
in the field. His usefulness certainly was impaired by
this, and he was not withdrawn hour too Bu
let him have what credit is due him q brave man
a eysemzer and dsciIlinaran, and let him not be
charged with faults if they be faults cf which be not
guilty.
President DAVIS ordered The North Carolina cam.
pagn, whether it was bidding not, as charged
by the Enquirer and he PERSISTED in keeping the troops
there until about the of May, when be ordered them
to be sent to Petersburg That campaign had to yield
to the more pressing demands in Virginia, but it was
not devoid OF glorious results, although the Enqut,er
does sneeringy refer to the twiDkrg of the little star
that sheds It's radiance from Plymouth"
TIE En- 9uaer charges tibet General BRAGG gave an
order for the evacuation OF Petersburg etc. ETC. This is
fatty cout addicted 10y the following letter from General
RANSOM which reached yesterday in the Pc eraburz
ErpeSs ard is dated enterior the Enqu1rer's pub
icaton The last few sentences worthy to be care,
fully read ard deliberately pondered. Well may Gen.
eraI RANSOM ask Whence have emanated these ground
less rumors AID most if all will concur in the So
luton which he offers -
HEADo'Rs, DRrARTxxHrl
| GBk'L BRlxToH BRAGG Richmond:
General 10 Gay hear report coming from Peters
burg to the effect that had dered the caation of
mat place when it threatened few weeks since BIZ
me enemy at once fatty con addicted the report, and
stated what were facts-that to nv kpowlsdpe everv
effort by 1on 70 hold it. and 80 rsa1
open communioa ion with the city. Haypood's Breade
Port Wahhal ction husons Briuads sen NJ
N md, hurried the int, to hold The
and Petersburg from attack. The most po.itivs
orders aud being cOntantly with and
ferEg sbont the offences of both this Petersburg
you can appreciate surprise hearing the report
alluded to- when had heard orders which had an eve
spge TO the fence Petersburg srd keeping open
munIcatlon between there the Army Northern Vir-
GINA "tence have emansted these groundess
an at loss to know. Certainly, either from the
ton cf those wholly ignorant of facts or else from
those, who, from malice wish to iIjare men who hay
fa huy served Country and watched lis best inter
SHOULD become retue 1alsehood ven can
i, use this a. you may see fit.
Very reapec tul!y,
Your obedieut servant,
(sisned) Z. HANSON, JR.,
ksj General.
From this specimen Of the charges brought against
Gen. BRAGG by the Enquiler, we may Judge the rest