The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1865-02-03
From the Richmond Wig (edao rial, Jan. 81.
The Loss of Fort Fisher a Benefit.

The Yankees have intelligence of the
capture of Fort Fisher. As usual they
pronounce it "the greatest and most i'm
portant victory" they have ever won,
"the most crushing blow the rebellion has
ever received" The fall of Whining
ton theg expect to take place imme-
diately, and many grand and glorious re-
suits to follow. They boast of the largest
and most powerful navy in the world. and
aud if now and then, at intervals, perhaps,
of twelve months, some fortified place n
the coast is reduced, they are not only
content, but full of exultation. They for
get that it will only be when we are re-
lcved from the necessity Of defending
harbors and their cities, we sh ii be able
to make war after the style that suits us
best, and will be most fatal to them
Eurly in the Revolutionary war Mr..
Charles Lee, certainly the most accom-
pllshed if not the ablest General on our
side, advised the abandonment of all our
coast cities, for the reason that the attempt
to defend them would scatter our forces
too much and throw too many of them
out of active service. At later period,
when all those cities bad been occupied
by the enemy, he REQUIRED to the COUNSEL
he had given, aud justly claimed that the
event had proved its wisdom. We have
very little doubt that our remaining ports
along the coast, including even this city,
could, upon grounds of military expedi n
cy, be now surrendered to the enemy with
positive advantage to ourselves. Let
Yankee dom, therefore, rejoice over the
Fort Fisher business as much as suits
the people of these States are neither
weaker nor less determined in ccnse-
quence of its loss Let them comfort
themselves with the belief that We are be-
ing CONSTRUCTED in territory and broken
down in the strength of our armies. The
more We are circumscribed the more rea-
Oily will our armies cooperate. Success
in war depends but little Oh the numbers
that answer the roll calls, provided there
be enough to give spirit and confidence.
Devotion and valor multiply numbers, and
the means OF concentration at desired
points is better than vast armies operating
without concert of purpose. The Consul
lar armies of Rome were rarely twenty
thousand strong, and with these they con-
quered the world. Xenophon conducted
his mastery retreat from the capital of
Persia with ten thousand men, and Mil
tiades, with the same number, vanquish-
ed the hosts of Dorius. Alexander set out
to conquer Asia with thirty thousand, and
did it. Napoleon, with the same number,
yanquished four successive armies in
Italy, each nearly double his own. Fred
erick the Great, of Prussia, with popula-
ton of five million, successfully resisted
league of one hundred million. History
istull OF examples of what small armies, well
handled and sustained by determined
people, can do. We feel an absolute as
surance that this war will add another H.
ustrious instance to the catalogue. We
have not yet begun to fight as proud race
driven to desperation will fight. We bave
not begun to suffer as other nations, with
far less at stake and far less aspiring, have
suffered. We realize what may be r,quir-
ed Of us, and, in view oft all, we have not
the first thought of yielding nor the least
fear of falling.