Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1861-06-19

EDIToR SEyTISEL-The battle, OF rather the
surprise OF this place, has beea ylrGusly reported
In Itself, i was not of sufficieut impor-
lance to make il subject worthy Of dispute.
murh ess OF misrepresentation. The man who
Is base ea9ugh q illsiy 30 small an aif,ir, Is 20
predis pOsei e. filsea9oi that no pr0voestion is
necessary % induce hinit5 lie notwithstanding.
the first telesrap5.r &c 'Jr.. Of the matter prove
that there must have been some persons here
thas PgcEe 60 misFepre,es.t the facts concerning IT,
All those reports that piece the surprise OF the
town % the credit OF Colonel Crttenden's Reai-
meut are simply falsehoods. Col. Crittenden ana
Recorder M0resu .iid 40. sel INTO .own until all
tie other TROOPS had returned from pursuing tue
iusitises. nor did the regiment to which they be-
long. IL cana be proved that they Inquired At the
battery, GA top OF the hill toward Grafton whether
the bridge could pas>ed-tS soldier miells have
opened Tor himself passage)-uear half an hour
after Colonel Dumont had crossed H. o. course
they were worthy and true men. and would have
been in the pursuit ii they cord am sorry they
were not. tor then some one would not have Oeen
so great a liar. Leave this unpleasant mater
the Misrepresentation OF a small affair." trust
forever
There were two misteps connected with the
taking OF Phiilippa. which are patcut to INV own
unproieSSlOnal observation. l. The too esriy
discharge OF the artillery; .. The failure of Col
Kelley and the Ohio volunteers to cross the hill
back of the town. The latter NAV have been
and most probably was the resilt OF the former
have noticed that some accounts say that Col
Miroy was 10 have led his regiment over the hill
and occupied the road leading toward Beverly:
hat h f.sl a.
cause OF our failure to hem the rebels in and cap
ture or destroy them completely. This failure,
too, has been set down TO his failure 10 keep up
with Col. keley's and Col. Irvine's regiments
In the hrst place the passage of the hill
assigned to Col Milroy until after Col. Kelley
had gone beyond the point ut which il was 10 have
been assembled All the guides that 1 have heard
speak OF the matter at the time said that Colonel
Kelley had taken the wrong course; and they
urged US 70 go over the hill with view TO RENE
dy his mistake. As to Col Milroy's regiment
failing 10 arrive on the ground as soon as the rest
OF Col Kelley's command, 4 might 6elieue IL, II
had not struggled 10 keep the sfraegIrs Of the Eir
giaId and Ono regiments Hy and OUT OF our pay
for the last nee miles before 0rriuing at Philippe.
l coaxed and begged them to go ON. gave them
my entire stock OF provisions and all the water in
my canteen often rs could fill il, 10 cheer the
poor fellows along. But even that did not al
ways answer, and Col Mroy had 10 threaten
them with the bay0net 10 induce them to get out
OF his way. The truth is, his column was close
up when the artillery first fired. | do not say
what have said to cenSure either the Ohio or
Virginia troops. God knows esteem them too
highly. But there were reasons for 50 many Of
them tagging behind. The Ohio regiment under
took the march with very heavy loads which
! their weakened men failed TO carry, rs was to
have been exported; while the Nirginians, poor
fellows. ia many instances had no shoes and were
but badly provided for in other respect The truth
Is old Virginia is dead, aud these are her orphans.
The Virginia OF secession procivities only pro-
vIdes Tor the comfort of her bastard traitors,
whom she now spawns in too great abundance.
| have noticed the foregoing particulars. be-
cause truth and justice seemed 10 require IL. l
have done 50, too, because do not choose TO al
low some miserable falsiter, even though he may
wear epauletts, 10 expectOrate his falsehoods upon
honest men without at least honest effort 20
wipe them oil with the pure white handkerchief
Of truth. / have not done 50, however, because
OF any personal conc ern have or eel in the mat
ter, tor a MIN in the ranks has no concern other
than to do his duty 70 his country, ia the humble
hope that he NAV at last find a nameiess vet not
a disaonOred grave in the bosom OF ms country,
70 maintain whose freedom he has. in his measure,
contributed This hope depends upon himself,
anu not upon the schemns brains OF heartess poll
tcians; and. when well founded IA a viriuOUs ne
higher than. the Governor, with lying promises in
has mouth, never intended 70 be kept.
We are still "a fmlhppa. bu. no man. however
bright his military genius education NAV be.
can give Veason Tor our remaining here. The
: place Is, az my opinion, utterly worthless as a
military PostOi 40 strafe,esic imD0rtance what
ever or, II 1t be OF any at ali. capital place to
wear men out IN performing guard duty. IL is
like placing a cent Ia the bottom OF Quaker
hat, and guard around IL tor its defense. IN ths
bottom Also, while the enemy have many APP
prOaches upon the broad brim, and the adv aBtsle
vi pungIng ire upon the and it, guard
The policy that wastes the strength and entllusl-
asm % our troops upon place whose value Is
something less than a negative quantity, IN ty, in
my opinion, be criticised with prOpriesy aud con-
demned with justice. While we are thus shut
up in this "pent up Utica" the enemy Is no;
j over forty miles distant, at and in the rear
, OF village NAMED HuttOnsville, where he
awaits reinforcements iron the other side OF
Cheat Mountain. j am could drive
him out OF Western Virginia with two regiments,
ii we could get the chance. Ii this were once ac-
comolished, regiment would be able guard To the
mountain passes against any force that might be
sent against US; and the people here are both vii
ling and able TO keep down the traitors at home.
Personal observation has satisfied me that there
is no considerable sentiment of disaiecti0n toward
the Union in this section of Virginia. During
, rue last several nights Il nave rode out toward
Beyerly-gOing sometimes seventeen miles-and
returnedin the morning. and have in no instance
encountered any hostile party. The country is
thickiy populated, and Yet our scouts-never
more than six horsemen-ride safely over Laurel
Hill and out on the plain beyond. Shades of our
revolutionary fathers is this the way you achiev-
ed your Independence. Is this people chafng
under injury and rising in the dignity of outraged
human nature 70 assert its independence The
very question is repete with insult TO the intelli
gence of mankind. when seriously propounded
These people are loyal: aud il is the confederafes
who basely seek 10 involve them in their own
vllainy and treason, that trying to sever them
from the Union which they still cherish with a
generous devotion worthy of the best days of the
Republic. 800 rHf
We are generally well, and in country where
|, men and women generally die Of old age There
: are but two graves here that are not oyergrowu
: with green grass
How long We shall stay here do not know
trust We shall soon have an opportunity TO dc
deeds worthy of the generous hopes of the people
of Indiana. Such hopes must not fail Of Their
/, realization, and by Gods help shall not.
STAT NoMSIs UNBRA.
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