The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1865-01-10
- From the Chicago Tribune:
The Wilmington ascO-Butler's
Dllemma-Sherman Marching
.'it ON Charleston, &c.

of the expedition against Wilmington
to capture Fort Fisher, which guard
the entrance to Cape Fear River
Disappointment and chagrin lit up The
cOuntcnance of every well wisher Of tn,
Union cause, but the secesh are jubil
ant and gleeful. The current of opin
ion at present runs strongly against
Weitzel and Butler, especially the for
mer, as the latter acted on his advice
Gen. Weitzel is scientific military en-
gineer of high reputation, and has beer
esteemed to be brave and able Off
Ger. lie is the author of many gallant
actions and has won victories of con.
siderable Importance. 1t seems that
he made a careful reconnaissance OF
works at the distance of 900 yards af.
ter the bombardment had expended its
force, and reported to Gen. Butler that
the fort was bat little damaged, and
that it could not be carried by coup
de main with the troops at his command
which numbered only $500 men,
Thereupon the attempt was abandoned
and the soldiers were re-embarked.-
But Admiral Porter disagreed with
Gen. Weitzel, and thought that an as
sault was practicable, at least the prize
was so important that the chance of
capturing it was worth the probable
cost. lie reasoned on the principle of
'never venture never win" A loud
clamor will go up against Butler for
basking out. Indeed, it was rumorcd
last night in the hotel that he had been
superseded, and his corps de armee tur-
ned over to Gen. Ord, but | presume
there is no truth in it.
The case may be stated thus. Gen.
Weitzel, West Point military engin-
eer, and second in command of the
combined forces, after deliberate ex-
animation, concluded that an open as
sault was impracticable, and so advised
his chief, who is not a West Pointer or
military man by training, and he act
ed on the advice and desisted from at
tacking. Thereupon he is denounced
by the public and pronounced ''chick-
en-hearted' by the navy. But suppose
that he hal taken the responsibility of
disregarding Gen. Weitzel's opinion,
and had ordered an assault, and that it
had been repulscd with loss of 1000
to 1900 brave men, then wolfish howl,
long, loub and ferocious, would have
assailed him throughout the length and
bredth of the lond, and the clamor
would probably have consigned him to
private life. But on the other hand, if
the assault had proven successful and
the fort been taken, the country would
have rung with paudits for Old Ben,
who like Jackson, as would have been
said and sung, dared to take response
bility, and ventured even when West
Point pronounced impossible.
But failing in the effort, the same
crowd would have called him "the fool
who rushed in where angels durst not
tread" 1t is said that Success is the
only deity worshpped by the Gods;
and also that Success is the favorite
lido. Of Americans. But at the latest
advices the siege had not been abandon
ed. Admiral Porter, with indominit-
able plnck, was still pounding away at
Fort Fisher on Monday last Gen. But
Ter had returned to the Dutch Gap Ca
nal, and left Gen. Weitzel in command
of the land forces. | have not been
able to learn that any of the troops
have come back. 1t may be promised
that the attack will be persevered in
and crowned eventually with success.
The powder boat proved a magnificent
failure,as Gen. Grant predicted it would |
He had not particle offaith i'm it, saw
ing that he did not believe that 10, 600 |
tons of loose powder, exploded on ship
board, would seriously damage mud
fort several hundred yards off. The ex-
petition ought to have sailed two weeks
earlier. Gen. Grant became very i'm
patient at the delay of the navy in get
ting ready. He wanted the fleet to get
off by the Sd of December, and in con.
sequence of the long delay lost faith in
It's success. Finally it started on the
| 9Th. The time wasted in preparing
'hc humbug powder boat and the sue
seeding inclement weather postponed
he commencement ofthe attack till the
18th, when all rebcldom knew of the ex-
,edition, ,dest nation and exact strength
Fort Fisher and the other works had
lmple time to put the finishing to :heir
for defense.
But it is only question of time
ooner or later not only Fisher but VIII.
nington will be captured. Gen. Sher-
nan is moving Northward with his in.
'incible Western warriors. Men who
lever experienced the sensation of de-
eat, and don't intend to. Leaving
garrison in Savannah of one corps of
Infantry, Gen. Sherman with the other ,
hree corps ofhis cavalry, and the force
Inder Gen. Foster, marched north on +,
he 9th of December. In few days .
'ou will hear of him in the vicinit, of ,
charleston. His business there can be
asily OWNED. If he needs any more =,
roops Grant will supply them. The !
eet will give him all the assistance in ,
IS power. The capture of that internal .
est of rebellion may be set down as a !
easonably certain event at no distant .
ay. Gen. Sherman makes no disguise {
{ his intention of taking Coarleston.- :
he rebels will doubtless offer stub ,
orn resistance, and are ready to spill =
,rrents of blood before surrendering :
leir Mecca; but an investment Of the =
lace will soon bring the defenders n
own to mule meat rations, and hunger h
i'll force even Scptchman-the most =
nyielding of mortals-to succumb. 6
That job disposed Of. Wilmington Ir
omes next in the natural order of Fl
lings. 1t is said that every evil has Il