Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-12-30
DRUIpS LETTERS.
The Wilmington Expedition and the Storm
Nature Of the Dsjenses Of Wilmington The
Value Of SunkeH Obstruetisns-TAe Conf,d,
crates Prepared for attack. &c. &c.


Special Correspondence Of the v Y. World
TFFEers OF THE sroEx on THE WILMINGTON TX
petition
The reports that have reached here in regard
to the naval expedition against Wilmington are
anything but favorable. IT, even up 70 this |
point, the expedition had been moderately sue
cessful that fact would Certainly have been /
known here as long as three DAYS ago. On the /
other hand, all that has yet reached here on the
subject has been highly unfavorable. In the first
place, the storm of Cape Hatteras was most
fearful one. and the wonder il how any of the !
iron clad vessels could have lived through it. |
Several of the vessels, both wooden and iron,
were much injured; but there is no other found |
alton for the report than that some of the trans
ports had been wrecked. The latter report. in |
deed, do not believe. However, il is certain
that the iron-clsd vessels will not reach Whining
ton in near effective condition a when they
started. ftr
WILMINGTON FULLY PREPARED FOR THE ATTACK.
The early publicity which has been given to
this expedition by the administration newspapers
of New York afforded to the Confederate mill
tary leaders all the time they required 10 send to
Wilmington as many as twenty thousand troops,
for which their railroad facilities from Hicksford
were ample But il is doubtful whether half that
uiauN iIOOps Wcfc ItluiItO III OEuct to utltIu
Wilmington successfully The expedition was
not unexpected. nor is the place unfortiied or
unprepared. The wonder in the rebel mind is
why the attack has not been made months be
fore. Wilmington is not like Savannah. liz is.
like Charleston place OF the highest Importance,
and vital point to the Confeieracy. The loss
of Wilmington would be fatal blow to the
South.
NATURE OF THE DxFESsEs OF WILMINGTON
Therefore il il Nat such vast preparations have
been made for the defense Of the place. and none
of recent date. The value of Wilmington 20
the South consists 10 ts accessibility to friendly
vessels. from the sea In making the arrange
ments for its defense, therefore, as long three
yesrs ago. the main object in view waste make
il. il possible invulnerable against a naval at
tack The land defenses of the place have not
been neglected. as General Butler will find TO his
cost. it he attempts to attack them. But IL is
the forts batteries and distinctions that line the
Cape Fear River for space of thirty four miles.
from the city TO the mouth of the river, which
will constitute obstacles which may be beyond
even Admiral Porter's power TO overcome.
cAUsEs or THE SUCCESS OR FAILrRr OF FORMER
NAVAL EXPEDITIONS.
The readers OF the World will not have failed
20 notice that there has been a difference in the
result of all the naval attacks which We have
made Oh places the approaches to which were
impeGed by distractions, and attacks made upon
places where no distractions (or only those of a
trfing character barred the approaches, In the
latter class were Burnside's early sfumphs on the
coast OF North Carolins. the capture Of New
Orleans in February. 1862. and our naval acqui.
siion 90 the coast OF South Csrolins, in the
same year. la the former class sfauds Charles
ton, Mobile aud Richmond No man who has
t,,ta nd III
deny that our failure to capture those three
places are due 20 the fact that they caunot be
reached by our naval forces. on account of oh.
structious sunk in their approaches.
why cnAnLrsToS. MOBILE. AND RICHMOND BAyK
NOT BEES TAKEN.
In the case of Charleston. the city has been
shelled for more than five hundred continuous
days. at long range and large and we'll appoint
cd armies have essayed to capture IL by attacks
made from the land side. In the case OF Rich.
mond, the General-in Chief of all the armies.
with the whole force of he nation at his back.
has tried in vain for eight months 10 take Il. In
tire csse OF Mobile. even after the capture OF the
forts whicll~ete Supposed to be the keys OF the
place, IL sas found thsi. the capture Of the city
itself wnst impyactcable. aud the land forces.
destined 10 CO operate 10 the reduction OF the
place. were ordered away. Let the history OF
these three siegcs--one very brief. the ether two
very tedious aud protracted--be studied carefully
and caudidly, and IL will be apparent 10 every i'm
partial mind that II The Asets. 10 each instance.
could have been brought within close range, ev.
cry one of the three cities must have fallen long
ago, and that the only reason why the fleets have
been unable 20 reach those cities. or to get with.
in close range of them has been the fact Of NE
existence OF distractions sunk ia she water
iScAicrLAnlr yALur op susxfS oBsrRI cTioSs.
yhe general nature OF these Instructions, 10
each tt.lhese three Instance has been tho same,
and IN each caso they have dehed all our Efforts
and all the appliances that could be brought to
bear for their removal What reader oi"The
World" does not remember the accounts of 1.-The
devils" with which, " was asserted the obsruc.
tlons In tho James river were 10 be removed.
and the accounts Of the wonderful and mystsri.
Gus machinery with which The obrtfuctions in
Charleston harbor were 10 DO rennvsd: and the
accounts 81 'thc man who planted the obstruc.
lions In Mobile Bay" whose services Admiral
Farragut was said To have secured. aud Who was
said 20 be actually engaged In taking them up.
Those were we'll made 40 stories 10 tickle the
popular credulliy, and To keep up the hopes Of
the speedy capture OF shose rebel stroneholds.
rHIsR ssnr DISTRACTIONS Exisr ~ rnK carH
frAa RIyfR.
Well, the distractions IN the Cape Fear river
are OF tho same nature. and they have been
strengthened and Increased, from time 10 time
III Il were not for these. there could be little
doubt OF the success OF Admiral Porter's cxpedi-
tlOn With these distractions 10 be overcome.
however, there l. little ground to hope that vii
mington will be captured. In the case OF Will
mington, too. there Il another obstacle 10 be
overcome and this u the peculiar nature OF the
channel of the Cape Fear river The bottom Of
the river 10 sandy. the current Il rapid and very
strong. and the channel Il constantly shifting
| The vessels which run the blockade could not
make port At all. IL IL not that they all have
on bord The mos, skilliul and experienced pilots.
! PECULIAR NATURE oT IHE CHANNEL 90 rnE RivER
! During the whole distance OF thirty miles
above alluded 20. the river. from VII
mington Ia the sea. runs through . Hat. marshy
country. The hrs, considerable bar Is eight
miles below the city A long. low island lice
directly In the mouth OF the river, the only en-
trance 10 the latter being through two narrow
inlets one at each end of this island The L nj
ted States government made on effort 10 close
the eastern inlet by sinking stones 10 H. But.
lt was found that the channel was actually deeper
than before. and it is now considered the better
OF the two by the blockade runners coming into
/ Wilmington. A majority OF the vessels sailing
Tor Nassau, however. 60 out Of the ~esteru inles
1 :gE DIrEysks of wilmington ARRAserp wffH
TnEsE FACTS IN virw.
But the channel Of the river. as stated above,