Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1861-07-31
who TO Biamet

The correspondent of the Philadelphia
Press writes from Washington, after the disaster
at BULL's Run, that eve have sent into Virginia
have fought the greatest battle ever fought upon
the Continent. and we have not only been beaten,
bnt our army has been routed, and many of Its
hest regiments wholly demoralzed." Who to
bi:me for this sad disaster? IL is said that Gen.
SOFT was unwilling to risk an ADVANCE upon Ma
nlssas, and advised against it, and that Gen. Nc
DowELL wrote the day before the engagement
that he anticipated defeat Mr. RICHARDSON,
OF Illinois, during a speech in the House on
Wednesday last, says that Gen. ScorT, in a con-
vcrsation with him, remarked: 81 am the biggest
coward in the world" / rose from my seat
"Stsy," said Gen. ScorT, 81 will prove it,
have fought the battle against my Judgment, and
j think the President ought to remove me to day
for doing it," "As God is my judge" he added,
after an interval of silence, al did all in nv
power to make the army efficient, and deserve
removal because did not stand up when could
ard did not" Afterwards Gen. Scorr alludes to
n conversation with the President, as follows:
Your conversation implies" said the President,
that forced you to battle" Gen. Scorr indi
Gates that he did, for HE reply, which is as fol-
lows, does not exculpate him: al have never SER
vel under President who has been kinder to
me than you have BEEN" The New York Times
OF Friday last, contains editorial by authority
exposing Gen. Scorrs plan, and drawing the dis
tinction between that and that of Cabinet which
shows that the latter controlled the advance Of
the army of the Potomac, instead of the former.
And this, too, by men who have no knowledge
whatever of military affairs. Should Gen. ScorT
have thus yielded his judgment in reference to an
important movement of the army, the result of
which might change the whole character o: the
war? Does il not prove most conclusivey that
he lacked that decision of character which is the
most important element in a military leader? He
permitted political Generals to control move
Inent in which his reputation as a soldier was at
stake not only, but possibly the destiny of the
Government he was serving Instead Of yielding,
he should have promptly resigned his own COM
mission and thrown the entire responsibility of
the disaster upon the Administration, to whom it
properly belongs. An intelligent correspondent,
IN estimating the results of the disaster, forcibly
remarks:
Were this defeat to be mourned, in the estima
ton of the world, by the comparative extent Of
loss of life on the two sides, one might strike a
balance not much against the Federal Govern
ment But unfortunately, the defeat is, is NOR
al point of view more disastrous to US than would
be the loss of tens of thousands of lives. The
victory is morally Of value to the COnfederates.
equal to all the crops of cotton that they can
grow for FIVE years-equal in fact to the value of
hundreds Of thousands Of the lives of their best
people 1t confirms their Independence, as they
beiieve-and il is only necessary that they should
have this belief to make the fact itself substan-
tial reality. Every hesitating man in the South
Is rendered firm by this event, in favor of disun-
ion. Their victory will save them perhaps ten
years war. at any rate, as they think, it will
render impossible and absurd the threatened ad
vance upon Richmond. They do, in fact, threat
en- Washington; and boast, not without some reas-
enable ground that hold it by their sufferance,
and as an assurance that they seek only for indie
pendence and peace.
The facts in reference to the unfortunate and
Mtimed advance of the Army of the Potomac il
illustrates the incompetency of the Administration
for the discharge of the high duties entrusted to
il. The Republican leaders in Congress are also
equally cuIpable. All assumed responsibility
in urging forward the advance to Richmond
gainst foe fully prepared to meet it, and vel
informed as to the point of attack and the forces
to be employed. A victory to the enemy was o.
the highest importance. as it would encourge ana
consolidate the entire South, while decisive de
feat would have been ruinous to their cause. Blu
the members of Congress and the Republican
leaders wanted to see the fun of battle. and the
clamor prevailed regardless of the stake at issue
A few more such mistakes, and the Fedora
Army will be thoroughly demoralized. And wha
homes. with such materials to administer the Gov
eminent, but that similar disasters will follow
If they should, we can only anticipate anarchy il
the future, until even the people will welcome
military chieftain, ambitious and equal to the oc
casiou. who would assume authority and restor
tranquility and stability to the Government. His
tory furnishes many remarkable instances o
rulers who have arisen to power under ike CIR
cumstances, and they may be repeated.
q John B. Davis, of Brookvilie, has beel
appoin1od sssistant Surgeon Of the 2ist regi