Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1865-02-16
YHR WILMINGTON JOURNAL.
cosrEDERATE STATES on AMERICA.
SHEER MAN.


Shermaus force has been setdoWn by excited parties
at not less than seventyfve thousand to eighty thou
Sand men, This we believe to be an exaggeration-
We do not think that Sherman arrived at Savannah
with more than forty thousand of all arms and we
do not think that be has since received renforcements
sufficient to do than supply the garrsonS that be
must leave at Savannah and other points, even il he has
received that many.
His movements are enveloped in doubt, and some lit
The time must elapse before they be fully developed
If roma REPORTS we have heard though coming from
Charleston be true then the authorities there expect
to experience the brunt Of attack of an early day
But mere reports strangely confused and mixed
up that there is little safety In placing any reli
ance upon them. There can be little doubt Of the
great desire felt by the enemy to hold occupy and
possess" the forts and public positions in Charleston
well as to subject that cradle OF sedition to their
power nor is it at all unlikely that they may be disposed
to defer for time other schemes Of more direct military
consequence In order to turn aside to Charleston but
whether disposed or not we May be sure that Sherman
will not be apt to sacrifice any substantial point of his
campaign to the qualification Of feeling. BE is
faIy persuaded in his WE nnd that Charleston must
eventually be hia, and that therefore he can afford to
bide his time Unless therefore, attack upon Char
made. Whether it does or does not, we cannot say
After all, Charleston is only on branch line. Colum-
bia il more likely to attract immediate attention, and
to receive unpleasant evidences Of it, being the
main line Our authorities at Richmond do not seem
to anticipate any permanent section OF the lines OF COM
muncation Or if they do do not appear to attach any
great importance to such event At any rate there
appears to be no idea entertained of the evacuation of
EoIi honI frdn
had been anticipated consequent upon the possession
sfthe South Carolina Road by the enemy.
PUBLIC MEETINGS are still the order CT the day in
Richmond. We cannot but look With approval upon
any agency calculated to arouse the spirit of the Con-
federate people from the depression under which it has
IaboEed for some time past, and We think that this
agency is well calculated to produce this eject or at
least to aid in producing it. Upon the press, com.
paratively feeble in number and laboring under the
most painful disadvantages has for long time been
cast the usve burden of strengthening the public
faith cheering the public mind and energsing the pub
lie effort and with few exceptions the press has done
its pgrt with fidelity and not without a fair
snare of ability. But it needs that the spo-
ken word should DE added to - the written line
That man should speak to bis fellow and should
meet them face to face Why, who ever raw
petty political squabbe in which the voice OF
the orator unheard Shall it be silent now when
the destinies of great people hang trembling in the
balance
With the spirit Cf 1861 would rapidly revive The
strength and the confidence OF 1861. Depression the
disease under which people laboring and
suffering. 1t is that by which safety and our lnde
pendence threatened Let our leaders, our egela
tors "speak to the people whether in the army or
out of it. Let us emulate the self sacrificing spirit Of
'6l and all will speedily improve and We will once
more come cut into the sunshine