The Daily Dispatch: August 18, 1863., [Electronic resource]

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Our Seacraft cities.

--During the Revolutionary war there was not a single seaboard city which was not in possession of the enemy. Some of them, New York for example, they took and held during the whole seven years. And they might have held them for seventy without affecting the vitality of the cause of independence. The British themselves were cause of this, and, when the war of 1813 began, the Duke of Wellington advised the British Cabinet that it was useless to attempt the conquest of America South. It would have been better for us, in our opinion, if we had never attempted to hold Vicksburg, or any of our Mississippi or seaboard cities. We are riot certain but it would be true wisdom at once to evacuate those which remain, and at least save our soldiers and munitions of war. Some of these cities have been a positive injury to the Confederate cause, with their blockade running and Yankee trade. But we must economize our soldiers. We must not suffer any more of them to fall into Yankee traps and pitfalls. Better give up in time a dozen cities than lose such an army as Pemberton surrendered at Vicksburg. Let not the country or the world hear of such a sacrifice as that again. Save our men, save our munitions of war, and let the cities go. With the establishment of our independence the cities will be regained; but if we cling with a death-grip to the cities we may lose them and our independence both.