Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-11-17

ance 70 the cause of the Union. Accordingly
General Mcclellan had no sooner arrived be
fore Rchmand than be undertook to discover
what he had to hope for on this side. No official
advice, either from Washington or Fredericks-
burg, had informed him of McDowell's presence
at that point, only sixty miles distant, but rumor
and probability agreed so well in placing him
there, that the General in Chief resolved TO make
an attempt to establish communications with
him. On the night of the Goth he sent forward
General Porter's division with few squadrons OF
cavalry, in furious storm, to Hanover Court
House, village about twenty miles north of
Richmond, where the railway to Fredericksburg
crosses the Pamunkey. The troops of Porter
moved rapidly, and about midday on the 2Ith
came upon the hostile division OF Branch, at Han
over Court House. This they assailed with Wig
or, dispersed It, and took one of its guns. AS
sailed in their turn by Confederate troops who
had suffered them to pass by the woods in which
they lay hidden. the Federals turned on their new
enemies and scattered them also. This brilliant
affair cost the Federals 400 men, and left Gene
raj Porter in possession of cannon, of 5OO pris-
oners, and of two bridges, one on the Fredericks-
burg and one on the Virginia Central road. The
advanced guard of Mcdowell was then at Bowl
ing Green, Gfteen miles from that of General
Porter. 1t needed only effort of the will, the
two armies were united, and the possession of
Richmond certainl Alasi this effort was not
made. / can not recall those fatal moments
without a real sinking of the heart. Seated in
an orchard in the bivouac of General Porter,
amid the joyous excitement which follows
successful combat, saw the Fifth Cavalry bring
in whole companies of confederate prisoners, with
arms and baggage, their officers at their head
But neither the glad confidence of the Federals
nor the encouragement of their enemies de-
ceived me, and asked myself how many of these
gallant young men who surrounded me, relating
their exploits of the day before, would pay with
their lives for the fatal error which was on the
point of being committed. Not only did not the
two armies unite, but the order came from Wash
ington to burn the bridges which had been seized.
This was the clearest way of saying to the army
of the Potomac and to its chief that in no case
could they count on the support of the armies of
Upper Virginia The reason Of this I'M
fortunate measure the successful dash of
Jackson. He had driven Banks beyond the Po-
tomac and created such confusion that he was
supposed to be OH the point of entering W ashing-
ton. With over 40 900 men TO defend the city,
the line OF the Potomac so easy to hold, and the
vast entrenched camp around the capitol it was
not thought 70 be safe jackson had
gained his point. Henceforth the army Of the
Potomac must count upon itself alone.
The battle of Fair Oaks, the "Seven Days
Battles, and the final retreat to the James river,
are graphically described OF General McCLEL-
LAS's skill and GOODNESS through these eyentful
scenes the Prince writes in enthusiastic terms.
On this subject we find the following:
Throughout this grand and daring movement
nothing disturbed the serenity of the commander.
On the terrible 30th of July, when his aids sank
under the heat and excitement of the task they
were accomplishing, al saw him." writes the
Prince "stop to rest for moment and sit down
in the verandah OF a country house on the road.
The mistress of the house came up and COM
planned that the soldiers were eating her cherries;
with a smile the General rose himself and went
out to stop the pillagers.
OF the battle of Malvern Hill the Prince
states:
II was for the Confederate useless butchery.
| The Federal success due TO two causes: First,
TO the fortunate foresight of the General who, IN
spite of numerous natural obstacles 10 the passage
Of artillery. had spared nothing 10 bring his on,
and next to the frmness of his troops Men do
not make such a campaign and GO through such
experience as they had endured without coming
out more or less formed to war. If the'r prima
tive organization had been better the survivors of
this rude campaign, | do not fear to assert, might
be regarded as the equals Of the best soldiers in
| the world.
Notwithstanding all the notifying blunders
and disasters Of the campaign, the Prince De
JoINvILLE still expresses his confidence in the
final success ofthe Union cause, and remarks:
lam not one of those, however, who will thence
infer that the Federal cause is lost. Compared TO
those OF the South the resources of the North are
far from being exhausted. and who knows all
that in a day of peril can be done by the energy
of free people, battling for the right and for hu'
| nnanitv