The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-02-23

and Grants last Virginia campaign. In
regard to tho attack of the monitors
upon Fort Sumter, he is evidently of the
opinion that it failed chiefly because il
was undertaken in tho daytime, instead
of at night: - ,fn@
eve had great doubts q tas to tho i'm
pending result, and was always OF the
unqualified opinion that. if the enemy 3
lron-clad fleet made a night attack
against Fort. Sumter by coming within
eumclently close range to see the fort,
which was large and elevated object,
and yet not be seen from the fort, the
latter would certainly bo silenoed or de-
stroyed in the course of few nights,
without serions injury to the monitors,
and the channel to Charleston and the
harbor would have been opened to them
after having removed the torpedoes
placed at their entrance
Tho failure of Gen. Gilmore to ap-
prehend the true point from which to
attack Charleston, is thus commented
upon:
"Being an engineer by profession and
acquainted with Gen. Gilmore, I felt
confident, "a coon as he assumed COM
mand OF the forces operating against
Charleston, that he would turn his at
tcntion to attacking Fort Sumter, ms he
had done Fort Pulaski lat the entrance
OF Savannah River) the year before, in
stead Of employing bic means to the
taking of Charleston, which could and
should have been done OF that time by
the way of the Stono River and james
Island. 1 often remarked to my ge neral
officers at that period, thnt the latter
island was the door to Charleston,
whereas Morris Island was only the win
dow to it; and it was fortunate indeed
for that city and the Confederacy that
Gen. Gilmore preferred attempting to
enter through the window, instead Of
tho door,"
General Beauregard is plainly Of the
opinion that the siege of Petersburg by
Grant was mistake. He says:
"Whnt General Lee and myself feared
most, was, that General Grant should
continue to rotate around Richmond on
the South side of the James and Appo-
mattox, as he had done on the North
side OF the former river. It is evident
that, with our inferiority of numbers at
the time 10000 against $50, ,OOO) and
pauclty of resources, we could not have
checked him by placing ourselves in his
front without uncovering Petersburg
and Richmond, which required very
strong garrisons, (morc than we could
safely spare to be abandoned to them
selves even for o moment. For the
same reason, We could not have threat
ened his line OF communication, With
City Point or the lower James River,
where he could have re-established his
Dnse ut any point most suitable to him.
by TINT movement of rotation
Grant would have effectually destroyed
the Weldon and the Danville Railroads.
the only two lines which continued to
furnish Richmond and the army with
scanty supplies Of provisions and am
munition from Wilmington and the
nearly exhausted States Of South Caro-
lima and Georgia. We were living then.
rs it were. from hand to mouth; and any
serious interruption to those lines of
supply would have compelled an immedi-
nte evacuation OF Virginia by the Con.
federete Government and army for
North Carolina and South Carolina, or
Tor tennessee and kentucky, where
new Theatre Of war might have been
established. But General Grant pre.
ferred 'to hammer away all the year on
that line against the Notifications of
Petcrsburg) like On infuriated bull.
which, losing sight of his tormentors,
rushcs mndiy at the led flag which is
Haunted il his eyes. AS General Bos.
quet said OF the gallant charge at Bala-
kIaya, 'Cela est nugnif1ue, mais ce nest
pas IN g"e'7e That is magnificent, but
1t is not according to the art of war;"
Frozen TO DEATH James n.
Taylor, who lives in the vicinity of Mush
Creek, in this County, was found in his
mill, the other morning, so badly frozen
as to prevent nll efforts made for his re-
cOvery from proving successfnl. IT, o,,-