, 1865-02-24
From the London Times, February /, 1861
THE CIVIL WAR im AMERICA.
(FROM THE TINES
CORRESPONDENT
New YORK, Jan. II.

NEW DIRK, Jan. IL.
The capture of Fort Fisher has filled
the Northern people with more than
usual Joy, and been unwelcome to no
true Federalist, unless to General Butler,
who was explaining before the Commit
tee on Military Affairs at Washington
how impossible il was to take it, when
the news arrived that the deed was done.
The naval portion Of the second oXpedi-
ton by which the result was obtained
was as strong as The first, while the mill
tary was much stronger, ard conducted
by a General who had the fttt OF Butler
fresh and Green in his recoIleclion TO
warn him Of the personal consequences
of failure. The capture of Fort Fisher
does not necessarily involve that of Will
mingtoa-17 miles distant up The Will
mington or Cape Fear Riycr-but as the
Government and General Grant have re-
solved upon obtaining possession of the
city at any price, and will rot be deter
red from their purpose by any weak con,
sideralions Of cost, it is to be presumed
that an attempt will immediately be
made to carry lis dttences either by a
c0Hp de main or the slower operations of
a siege. AS the city will be attacked in
font by the victorious troops Of General
Terry, and in the rear by a large co-ope-
rating force from NeWbrrnc, ii will lax
all the energies, resources, and skill Of
the confederate General in command at
WiImington-Supposed to be General
Bragg-to hold the city against the pow
crful odds opposed 10 him, if not to
escape with The garrison as c~IevcrIy as
Hardee did from Savannah when he found
the position to he tcnabIe no longer. The
News of the fall Of Fort Fisher sent
down the premium on gold from 1184
TO 1l44 per cent, but the fall was not
maintained, and the price rose later in
The day to 1853.
The "peace mission" Of The elder Mr..
Blair to Richmond has ended as all scusi-
bic men expected. Mr.. Blair had no
authority, no credentials, and no public
purpose. His private purpose was, it
appears, to reg !Iu possession Of some va,u-
taken from his house at Silver Springs
by the invading army Of General Early
in the summer Of 1864, in which object
lie is stated TO have been successful. As
n private individual, and not as a public
functionary or an ambassador, he had in
terviews with some of the Confederate
Ministers and other personal friends, and
learnt from them whatever they chose to
communicate on the great subjects of
war and peace, and has returned to
Washington, in all probability, a wiser
man than when he left it.. General Sin
'gleton, a strong Uniouist, but a sturdy
opponent of war as a means of restoring
the ancient compact between the States,
has also been allowed, rather than au-
thorized by Mr.. Lincoln, to pass the Fe-
deral lines and proceed to Richmond,
and will in due time, if he mixes much
with influential people, make his way
hack, as thoroughly convinced as Mr..
Blair that the restoration of the Union
by negotiations is impossible as long as
the South has armies in the field or que
rillas in the mountains. DR.. Zacharie's
mission, whatever may have been its OBJ
ject, has been but little spoken of but
when he returns it will be strange if hea
has anything newer or better to tell the =
President of the views, wishes, and deter