The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1865-01-21
Before and After.

Before ana Alter.
It Is trEly astonishing to read IN
Southern papers, Of the small oonse-
quence of any particular place to the
Confectionery" after it has been cap
tured 10y our troops We have often re-
marked upon this popularity, and it Is
unnecessary TO give any general repe-
tition, at present, Of the rebel com
ments on the fall Of Vicksburg, Allan
ta. Chattanooga, Savannah, DC; but will
take the simple case of Wilmington.
For more thar a year, the rebels have
been Boosting of the war material re-
ceived at that port, and of the cotton
shipped from it, and IT has been re-
peatedly declared that it was far more
essential to keep that port open than
to hold Richmond; and Jeff Davis, in
his late annual message, states that
nearly 1900 bales Of cotton had been
shipped from Wilmington, but small
portion of which was captured. The
report Of the rebel Secretary Of War,
dwells with particular emphasis, upon
this point, and declares that there have
been imported into the Confederacy at
the ports of Wilmington and Charles
Ton. since October %, 1864 1852, 600
pounds OF meat, 1907 900 pounds of
lead, .933, QUO pounds of saltpeter, 546,-
900 pairs Of shoes, $4,000 pairs Of blaD-
kets, $4,000 pounds Of coffee, $1,000 n |
} aes, 81 packages ofrevolyers, 2,639 pack
ages of medicine, 43 cannon, with a
large quantity Of other articles Of which
We need not make mention The
shipment OF cotton made on Gov
eminent account since March !, 1864,
amount, to s. $4,000 in specie, Of
this. cotton to the value Of sl,5OOO00
has been shipped since the first
of July and up to the lst Of Decem-
Der 1T IL a matter Of absolute I'M
possibility. says the Richmond Dis
patch Of the Sd, "for the Federsls to
stop our blockade running at the port
of Wilmington. IF the wind blows of
the coast, the blockadiBg heetis driven
OF. If the wind blows landWard, they
are compelled to haul of to great dis
lance to escape terrible ses which
dashes on q rocky cOsst5 without a hsr-
Dor within three days sail 81 The shoals
on the North Caroline coast are from
five to twenty miles wide, aud they are,
moreover, composed Of the most treach-
erous and bottomless quicksandsI The
whole coast is scarcely equaled in the
world for danger and fearful appear
ance particularly when a strong cas-
terly wind meets the ebb tide. It is an
easy matter for 3 good pilot 70 run a
vessel directly out TO sea or into port;
but. in the stormy months, from Ooto
Der to April, no blockading vessel can
lie at anchor ia safety of the Carolina
coast. Therefore, supplies will be
brought IN despite the keenost yigi-
lance.
If anything were wshting to prove
the importance Of Wilmington 70 the
rebels, the rejoicing over the defeat OF
Butler, IN the frat attack on Fort Fish
er, ought to have supplied it yet the
Richmond Dispatch now, hss the eff
frontery TO declare that many regard
the fall of Fort Fisher as a blessing in
disguise. They say goods imported
through Wilmington have been Of little
good TO us, while millions of dollars
worth Of our cotton has found its way
into the hands Of our enemies 1t is
proper TO sdd that possibly our force
which, according to Gen Lees dis
patch, was making heavy demonstra-
ton against their rear, may retake the
Fort"
If the Dispatch really believed this
blessing in disguise, why is it SO snx
ious about the recapture of the Fort;
and why would Gen. Bragg be 30 desi
rous to retske it pa feat. however, he
can never accomplish
The light manner or passing over dis
asters, by the rebels, win scarcely sue
coed in making an impression on the
public; none but fool can be duped
by any such attempts at conceaIing the
truth,
The editor of the Cincinnati Gazette evi-
IDENTIFY regards himself as tile first military
genius of the age and thinks il great
misfortune to Che country that ne has not
been selected to direct al the operations Of
both the army and the navy. Ip an edit
oral last Monday, he critcises the plan Of
the frst attack on Fort Fisher, concluding
With the remark that "the end Of the ex-
petition Was worthy Of the plan IN the
course Of the article, speaking Of Grants
order, be says;
The order based the expectation Of sue
cess on the absence Of the euemy's forces
rom Wilmington, looking after sherman in
Georgis. Il was dated December 9Th. The
smelI force found by Sherman N Georgia,
shows that this ground was unfounded
The statement that +" this ground was IN /
founded" is untrue. Exactly the state Of
things which Cen. Grants order anticipated
prevailed. Wilmington was stripped Of its I
garrison BY Bragg TO oppose Sherman, and 1
there were not over Eve hundred men in 4
Fort Fisher. Had Butler ordered an assault .
on the Fort, it would have been successful. (
The Wilmington Journal, rebel paper. in
3 defence Of Bragg foF not taking men 70
"loOk after Sherman" says" be brought
reinforcements-all he could get---e0sH to
lks naint Of strips.ng ~ dsfeAess -tsrs IL J