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Feb. 8, 1820 - Feb. 14, 1891 |
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| Major-General William Tecumseh Sherman | ||
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The Fall of Wilmington
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Had any one, at the time of the Presidential election in November last, predicted the military achievements of the three months of Winter, he would have been looked on as a lunatic. The fall of the great rebel strongholds of Wilmington, Charleston and Savannah, the occupation of the Capitals of South Carolina and Georgia, the march of SHERMAN from Chattahoochee to the ocean, and from the ocean to the Great Pedee, the rout and demolition of HOOD's army, the scatteration of COBB's forces, the double hegira of HARDEE, the flight of BEAUREGARD, the flight of BRAGG or HOKE, the advance into North Carolina and toward LEE's rear the possibility of such a speedy achievement of such vast labors -- the possibility of such a marvelous and unbroken series of successes, entered into no sane man's head. But this bold catalogue gives a faint idea of the greatness of the triumphs of the armies of the Union, and the staggering blows and irretrievable damage inflicted upon the rebellious South. This morning it is Wilmington which we proudly record as being under our flag. Since the fall of Fort Fisher and the subsequent reinforcement of our army, operations have been steadily prosecuted by Gen. SCHOFIELD, looking to the capture of the city. The advance and success of our forces on the 11th, the movement of our troops to the west bank of the Cape Fear River, and the capture of the great earthwork called Fort Anderson on the 19th, rendered the city untenable; and it was almost immediately after the latter event that the rebel garrison decamped, and on Wednesday last -- WASHINGTON's Birthday -- our troops entered and took possession of the long-sought prize. The various and vital bearings of the capture of Wilmington have often been shown. But now, it is of incalculably greater importance than ever it was before, from its relations to the present march and prospective advance of the army of Gen. SHERMAN. The large force of Gen. SCHOFIELD at Wilmington will now be relieved, and the Twenty-third Corps speedily effect a junction with their old comrades under Gen. SHERMAN, with whom they so long campaigned in the Southwest. (On this head, we may note, en passant, that the army of Gen. GILLMORE at Charleston, is now also released to co-operate or combine with SHERMAN.) Whether or not Gen. SHERMAN will now strike in the direction of Wilmington, is a matter about which nothing is known at present; but it is altogether likely that he will concentrate all the forces possible before he makes the grand and final advance, in cooperation with the Army of the Potomac, and under the orders of the Lieutenant-General, upon the rebel capital and LEE's rebel army. |
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My Source: Book: The New York Times Complete Civil War 1861 - 1864 |