, 1865-01-04
GER WASHINGTON LETTER.
TEE WILMINGTON FlASCO-
TsETE.Eye'S DILEMMA
GEN ERR GIkANTsS
OPINION.
Sherman Marching on Charleston
---YaIue Of the Rebel Certi-
fCatcS.

The leading topic Of conversation in all
Washington circles, is the failure of the expe-
dition against Wilmington to capture Fort
Fisher, which guards the entrance to Cape
Fear river. Disappointment and chagrin sit
on the countenance Of every well wisher Of
the Union cause, but the secesh are jublaut
and clccfhl. The current of opinion. ut pre-
cent runs strongly against Weitzel and But
lcr, especially the former, rs the latter acted
on his advice. Gen. Weitzel is scientific
military engineer Of high reputation, and has
beca estt temed to be a brave, and able officer.
He Is the author Of many gallant actions, and
has won victories Of considerable Importance.
1t seems that he made q careful 1cconnois-
sance Of the works at the distance Of GOO
yards after the bomhardmcnt had expended
its force, and reported to Gen. Buttes that
the fort was but little damaged, and that It
could not be carried BY q coup De main with
the troops at his command, which only
numbered $500 men. Thereupon the at
tempt WAS abandoned and the soldiers
werc rc-emb2rkcd. But Admiral Por-
ter disagreed with Gen. Weitzcl, and
thought that an assault was practicable
at least the prize was 50 important that the
chance of capturing 1t was worth the prpba-
BILE cost. He reasoned on the principle OF
''neyer venture never win." A loud clamor
will 70 up against Butler for backin. out.
Indeed, 1t was ru1nored last night in the ho-
tells that he WAS superseded, and Ills corps tle
arn,ee turned oEer to Gen. Ord, but presume
there is no truth in It.
The case may be stated thus: Gen. Welt
zcl, West Point military engineer, and Sec
ond in command Of the combined forces, after
deliberate examination concluded that an
open assault WAS 1mprac!icable, and so sd-
vised his chief, who is not West Pointer or
u military man By trimming, and he acted on
The advice and desistcd from attacking.
Ihercupon he is denounced by the public, and
.pronouuced " chick hearted " by the navy.
but suppose that he had taken the responsi-
bility Of tiisreguraing Gen. Weitzers opinion,
and had ordered m assault, and that 1t had
been 1epulsed with the loss OF 900 to 2,00o
bFayc men, then O Woltlsh howl, long, leud
and fc, ocious, would hare assailel him
throughout the length and breadth Of the
land. and the cla1nor would probably have
consigned him to private life. But on tho
other band, if the assault had proven SUCCESS
ful ard the fort been taken, tue country would
have r,ing with plaudits for Old Ben, who
like Jeckeon, as would been sa'd and sung,
darrell to take responsibility, and venturiI
even when West Point pronounced impossi-
bic. -.-.
hut failing in the effort, the same crowd
would have called him the "fool who rushed
| in where angels burst not tread" It is said
that Success is the only deity worshipped by
The Gods; and also TINT Success is the favor
| lie idol Of Americans. Dut.at the l4stest i'd
| vices The siege had not been abandoned.
| Admiral Porter, with indomnitablep pluck, was
still pounding away at Fort Fisher on Monday
last. Gen. Butler had returned to the Dutch
| Gap Canal, and left Gen. Wcilzel in command
Of ihe land forces, have not been able to
| learn that my oithc troops nave come back It
| may be promised that the attack will be per-
severed in and crowned eventually with sue
cess. The powder boat proved magnificent
failure, as Gen. Grant predicted it would. He
be did not believe that 10000 tons OF loose
| powder, exploded on ship board, would seri-
| nus,v damage q mud fort several hun
drrd yards of. Thccxpedition ought to have
sailed Two weeks earlier. Gen. G1ant become
ytry impatient at the delay ofthe navy it get
ting reudy. He wanted the ileet to get of By
lie Sd Of December, and in consequence Of
the long delay lost his faith in Its sue
cess, Finally 1t started on the
18th. The time wasted in preparing the
hunbug powder boat and the succeeding iu-
element weather postponed tue commence.
nlcnt OF The attack It'll the 25th. when all
rcbcld, m knew Of the expedition, destination
and exact strength. Fort Fisher and the
uthcr works had ample time to put the finish
ing to their preparations for defense.
But 1t is only question OF time; sooner or
later not only Fisher but Wilmington will be
canturcd. Gen, SAer1lan is moving North
ward with his inyincib1e Western warriors.
Men who never experienced the sensation oil
deteat and don't intend to. Leaving garri-
snn in sayannnh Of one CORDS of infantry, Gen.
sherman with the other three corps Of his
cavalry and The force under Gen. Foster,
1narchrd north m the sIth Of December. II
,aw davs ron will hear of him 10 the vicinity
ofChaTIsston. Ills business there can be easily
divinrd If he needs any more t,oops Grant
viii eupply them. Tic fleet will give
him afi the assistance in Its
power. The capture Of that internal
nest Of rebellion may be set down
as a reasonably certain event at no distant
day. General Sherman makes no disguise o1
lis intention to take Charleston. The reb'
els will doubtless offer ! stubborn resistance
and arc ready to spill torrents Of blood be
fore eurrendelng their Mecca but m invest
1nent Of the place will soon bring the defend
crs down to mule meat rations, aud hunger
will force even Scotchman-thc most un
yielding Of mortaIs-to succumb.
That job disposed Of. Wilmington comes
| next in the natural order Of thinG5- 1t t.
caid that every evil has its tsconpensatlng good
This rule holds good In rebel fortiticattons
Il would cost the Government in time Of Peac'
s1O0 OCO. COO to erect and arm the line Of fort