Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1861-10-16
From the London Times Correspondent.
The Civil War in America.

WASHINGTON. september TO-
All that can be seen or heard leads to the be-
lief that the Confederates are preparing for some
great effort and that they have retired portions of
their forces before Washington, either as adevice
10 blind their antagonist while making it. or to
CO operate with the rest of the army by a serious
demonstration above and below the city. If the
Confederates have moved, they mean to do some
mischief. They can scarcely retire and hope to
make a better leap by doing so. Inactivity on
both sides, coupled with prodgious expenditure,
are the best if not the only chances of compro-
mise and peace. Success on either side reyives
the hopes of complete ultimate triumph of the
one, and stimulates the luminosity and the display
of the resources of the other. There is one thing
10 be taken into consideration as an element of
peace. During the winter the armies must go
into quarters. Even so far south as Virginia, the
weather is frequently very severe, snow lies many
feet deep On the ground for weeks at time. The
Potomac is occasionally frozen over completely.
The roads, always Indifferent, become rivers of
mud and sush, through which it would be nearly
impossible to move men or guns and baggage.
When the armies are in winter quarters, will the
politicians work for peace or war? Or will the
leaders of divisions be permitted to carry on ope
tons in the ice and snow, remembering the great
success of Washington after the trajet, which is
so often represented in bad engravngs all over
North America? 1t is obviously the interest Of
Beauregard to strike great blow before winter
sets in, and thus strengthen the base for negotia
tons; but Gen. Mcclellan, / am satisfied, will
not move man If he help it until the very
end of this month or the beginning of October
About that time there will be kind inquiries
about the second fifty millions of the loan, aud
no doubt increased vigor ON the part of those who
are opposed to the war. But if General McClel-
Ian obtains any very considerable victory, and is
able at the first stroke to break through the shell
with which the Confederates have covered their
soft parts in the interior of tie States some mea-
sure short of secession and independence may
satisfy them and when they are menaced with
destruction, they may put up with an offer to live
on fair terms with their concuerors. 1t is to be
seen whether the latter will then offer them what
they might have easily obtained at an earlier stage
of hostility. have been In our Warsaw few
days ago, on my way back from our American
Poland, and if am to judge of the state of the
South where the North does its work from the
condition of things in Baltimore and Maryland.
there is a most melancholy future before the Uni
ted States. OF the ultimate power Of the North
ern and Western States to subjugate the seeded
States in the South If they put forth their strength
and means by sea and land, / have no doubt what
ever The South must die Of atrophy after
time, il every channel of life is shut to it. BY
the end Of this month. the United States viii