Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1861-12-04
Our Army Correspondence--Fr
Missouri.


SYRACUSE, No., Sept. 23 1861.
EDITOR SENTINEL: The Grand Army of the
West which so recently settled like locusts upon
the devoted city of Southwest Missouri Spring
field, is no more. 1t has resolved itself into its
original elements under the commands of various
division Generals. BY the by, that reminds me of
a tribute due one of these dignitares which shall
feebly pay. General Sigel is unquestonably the
best General in this Department. I'll give you
my reasons for this conclusion His ply iognomy
bears unmistakably the impress of genius. You
can readily, without previously knowing him per-
sonally, pick him out of any crowd of officers in
this Department. When you look at his broad,
massive forehead, his clear, flashing eve, and that
popularity of expression denoting WILL concen
traton, and powers Of rapid combination and
analysis, you are satisfied that you see great
man. one especially fitted TO lead an army. He is
the only man I've seen out here who looks tile
General. True, we have men sporting whiskers
and stars, who look fierce, starchy and even
talented; but that something beyond, which now
and then in the worlds history, stands prom
inently out attracting all eyes and battling descrip-
ton, is wanting
Everybody except envious regular officers loves
Sigel. The soldiers of his command adore him.
Thoroughly conversant with all the details of
modern warfare, he preserves order and all neces-
sary discipline, and vet retains the enthusiastic
love of his men His commands Obeyed. not
through slavish felr. but because nobody doubts
their propriety "Sigel said SO" stops all debate
The dispute is ended. An emanati0n from a su-
perior being has settled the controversy. The
esprit de corps is fixed institution in his division.
To be able to say 81 m nit Sgel," is the soldiers
pride with US, and when said is accompanied with
Look Of pity to the listener, saying intelligibly,
Poor fellow, I'm sorry for you that you are not
NIT Sigel''
You can't make General God alone does
the work. Military schools may aid and direct,
but without genius the world is not likely to be
astOnished with results. Army regulations ar
ticles of and the like are we'll enough in their
way but they never create genius. sincerely
believe they, in some essentials, tramme it. Ha-
bituating the mind to operate within prescribed
limits, constrains its. Byron's Hours OF Idle
ness, was written according to certain academic
rules but the English Bards and Scotch Re-
viewers" is the work of unfettered genius. Ma
poleon succeeded only by breaking over ordinary
rules, and by originating Farther back i'm histo-
ry you have the idea / am driving at, aptly illus
| trated. Had Alexander been an ordinary West
/ Point man he never would have united the Cor
dian knot, nor would he have cut it that would
have been contrary to "discipline" A regular
army officer is Mortified at the idea of the mems
knapsacks being carried in wagons on forced
march. If a man falls out of ranks from sick
ness or fatigue, without surgeons certificate it
is terrible thing to permit him to ride To take
sick soldier 10 private house, is sdcrilege be-
cause. says West Point the Government has pro-
vided surgeons and hospitals. The whole end of
army discipline is TO destroy individuality and
make man machine. Is this necessary | de-
ny it, and confidently appeal to history. Conf
dence IN his ability and attachment to his person.
| fred up the followers of Napoleon, not the re-
straints of discipline Religious fanatcism, pre-
senting strongly individual character which CrOm-
well directed, but did not control, made him Pro-
tector. The heavy and exact discipline of the
Austrians at Solferino, gave way before the
wild charges of the Zouaves and Turcos.
But am not to be understood as attacking all
discipline, but rather that mathematical exact
ness which. putting at defiance common sense,
makes no exceptions to general rules, does moth
ing except it be ''in the books" and seeks to
reduce the soldier, in all respects. to mere ma
chine. But beg pardon for this DEPRESSION.
Where we shall go next is unknown to US. We
are encamped prairie, and the fierce winds
OF winter find ample scope in sporting with our
''musln houses" One blanket and that half
cotton, lily protects volunteers, hitherto accus-
toned to warm beds, from colds, resulting in
winter fever. and other diseases, decimating our
ranks i don't know why we are staying here
perhaps To test the physical endurance of the men
by killing off all who can't stand winters cam
paign in muslin tents.
Southwest Missouri is ruined, but not conquer
ed. Price and his army of thieves are in the
neighbOrllood OF Springfield, and will spre,d
1 themselves out over the unprotected portions of
the State, for subsistence during the winter. He
will likely attack and take important points But
why notr We have marched up the hill and
down again.
have just been favored with copies of several
New York illustrated papers, containing wood
cuts" of the Bridge over the Osage," "Ssel
crossing the Usage" Springfield" sc. They
are humbugs, and Mr. Simptol is either very
poor artist; or his sketches are from imagination.
Nothing in nature resembles his "picturs
/ Hickory WITHE.