Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1865-01-23
sUOCEssFUL PROGRESS.
From the Baltimore A maricar -

| From the Baltimore American.
The year 1864 passed away from us IN.
der cloud which atransiently overshad-
owed the lustrous record Of its achieve
ments. It's successes had cen 80 continu-
Gus, its triumphs had been SO grand, that
we were in an unfit mind to brook with
patience any reversal of good fortune. We
had shaped our expectations for crown.
ing victory to close the brilliant story of
the year. We had reason to anticipate a
cheering conclusion from the extent of the
preparations which had been made. We
were inspired with the assura nee that we
should inscribe upon our banners, evil.
| gton-FeniSc corondt opuS.' There were
certain timid theorists who could not per-
ceiye it in.precisely the same manner. In
their vocabulary was found word which
the enthusiastic and the confident would
not tolerate. We did not take into account
the possibility that through somebody's
blundering the land and naval forces might
fail to co operate at the opportune moment.
We did not apprehend that practicable
assault upon defensive work like Fort
Fisher would not be undertaken in accor-
dance with orders, from lack of general
ship. Nor did we dream that precious time
would be wasted on ScaTe--a powder toy
emulous of the gongs and painted dragons
of Chinese Stiffness. We felt that we were
building castles upon solid foundation,
not cherishing schemes only fit for Utopia,
But we were doomed to disappointment.
| The year ended without the consumma-
ton we had deVoutly wished. 1t seems to
have been delayed, however, that, under
Providence, it's realization might form a
fitting prelude to the events of the year
upon which we have now fairly entered.
1t is, the inauguration of new series of
events, which, we have every reason for
confident assurance, will speedily close
the bloody strife in which we are engaged, !,
and restore peace and reunited country.
We expect the Richmond press will falsify
all its past assertions in reference to the
impregnability of Fort Fisher and the value
of the possession of Wilmington. Indeed,
| in regard to the fall of that famous fort
it ia already alleged to be "more unfortu
nate than DISASTROUS" Those who have
steadily disparaged our successes, declar-
ing that the possession of Atlanta was not
essential to the Confederate cause, and
sneering at Savannah as "a Yankee town."
of no earthly value to Rebellion, may
| strive to befog the wailing chiValry by in
dustriously .belittling the loss of their soil
tary- seaport Nevertheless, their own.
statements of its inestimable importance
are on record, and cannot be wiped out.
Even their great ally, the London Times,
asserted that the fall of Wilmington would
be the heaviest blow that could now be
dealt to the Southern Confederacy. Let
| them try to consice themselves, if they
can, that they .oYerestimated the value of
/ q port which we could not effectively
blockade; we are abundantly satisfied with
4 our gain. Let them plaster themselves all
II over with such hattering unction if it is
agreeable aud soothing; it certainly will
not hurt US. ei
Meanwhile, let us sit down and quietly
count our gains. In looking over the ad-
4 vertisements of the Richmond papers, we
notice sunday articles of utility and neces-
Il sity in the shape OF food, clothing and med
Il icines, ni1st received from blockade run.
II ners" ViG. Wilmington .-.1HVOluntarily we
l inquired; wheuce are the next supplies OF
a similar character to comet The rebels
certainly are not in condition to msnufsca
tura all the munitions of war required by
their army. They are not prepared to
produce %. and furnish. blankets or shoes,
chloroform or quinine. Not only will they
be deprived of these contrRband articles in
future but English cupidity has received
a check which it is exhilerating to com
template One Liverpool firm, it is said,
has netted ten. million dollars in gold as
its share of the profits of blockade runs
ming. The closure of this t'pirate's nest"
therefore. not only cuts of supplies for
the rebels, but ends the illicit trade
of British merchants. But in addition
to this, it puts a stop to further privateer-
ing by the Tallahassee and the Chicks-
mauga. These vessels are moored in the
Cape Fear river, aud if they are not de-
stroyed, they must fall into our hands. So,
likewise, of the feet of blockade Runners,
} which haze not been able to escape since
the re. appearance Of Porter's armada. To
this item in our favor, we may add anoth =.
er. The interest of. the Rebel loan IN Eu.
rope has been heretofore regularly paid
with the cotton shipped from Wilmington.
1--WE are inclined to the beiIefthat this inter.
est will not be paid quite so regularly here
after. If the enhanced prestige of our arms
does not give the Rebel. loan slight ten
deucy toward 1.-THE sloping descent Of per-
ditiou,n the fact that the bondholders have
received their last payment of interest ac-
! crued, viii be sufficient to accelerate its
) decline in that direction. Two birds are
5 therefore killed by this fortunate stone
I the rebels at home and their allies abroad
The completion of this magnificent VIC
b tory, by the capture of Wilmington VIII
! add greatly to the moral effect already pro-
duced, as well as to the positive gains ac'
ouired. It will be damaging to the reoe
: cause by the possession it will give us @
3 essential lines of Communications. II liei
!. midway between the positions OF Gran
R6o SaVAn,