| From the Richmond Daily Dispatch |
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| January 30, 1862 |
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| Our Railroad Connections |
| *** Turning our attention,
therefore, to the great Southern line of railway
leading to the gulf States and gulf cities, we find two routes of
importance and value. One of them running through east Carolina, from
Weldon to Wilmington, is threatened by Burnside; and the other,
leaving this city and passing through Danville, Greensboro',
Salisbury, Columbia, and Atlanta, along the Piedmont country that
supports the feet of the Alleghenies, though not threatened, and the
safest of all our routes, yet lacks a link of forty miles, between
Danville and Greensboro', not yet completed {the
Piedmont RR}. The President, with great sagacity and propriety,
urged the completion of this link upon the country in his annual
message; but whether Congress has responded to the recommendation by
directing the immediate execution of the work, is still involved in
the mysteries of their secret conclave. This much is certain, that the
work is not yet accomplished; perhaps it is not yet begun; and the
fact remains, that our only line of connection with the South, except
the one through the mountains of West Virginia and East Tennessee, is
imminently threatened by Burnside. |
| We confess to have lost all
apprehension of serious danger or harm to result from the naval
expeditions of the enemy. In their history, so far, they have proved
unwieldy, inefficient, and frightfully costly to the Federal
exchequer. They have inflicted little comparative damage upon us; and
in a military point of view, have turned out to be the most wretched
abortions. Great expectations were cherished of Burnside's armada; and
the probabilities are, that it will prove the most stupendous failure
of them all. Notwithstanding these things, however, the most harmless
weapon that can be employed against our adversary is contempt. To
despise and underrate an enemy is the most fatal blunder known in
warfare. The presence of twenty thousand men in the waters of North
Carolina, with many cannon and all the equipments of an army, is a
subject deserving any other treatment than that of supine indifference
and contempt. There are no troops engaged in this war capable of
better service than the brave Carolinians; and the enterprise of
Burnside will cost him many lives and casualties if it does not cost
his whole army. But, yet, a mere accident; a successful sudden push of
a handful of troops in some unguarded direction, may bring them
abreast of our railroad, and enable them to break up the line of
travel by burning a few wooden bridges. |
| Is it meet that we should
subject ourselves to so imminent a hazard without providing the
remedy? Ought not this Danville and Greensboro' work to be immediately
put in hand and at once completed? Better that the whole industry of a
great region of country contiguous to the needed line of road should
be stopped and put upon the work, than that the interests of the
entire country dependent upon open railroad communications should be
imperiled. |
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