The daily Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1862-1863, 1862-12-20
From indianapolis Journal.
General KimkaIl.

The prompt recognition of peculiar
merit has always proven in all depart
ments of life and in all associations of
men, for whatever purpose, bond of
union and a source of strength. The
practical application of this principle in
an army has never failed to produce an
enthusiastic devotion to the Government
that ordered it, and to the Chief who ap-
piled it. The great Captain of modern
times, by its use, made an army of con-
scripts and boys to be feared by all Eu-
rope Althoug h the sentiment with which
it inspires an army may be far less noble
than the intense patriotism which has
prompted million of men to take up
arms in defence of their country in her
darkest hour, yet added to this higher
quality, what should not that army of a
million of earnest, loyal men be able to
perform?
Has the Federal Government received
the full benefit of this element of
strength? Have the chiefs of our i'm
mense armies used this auxiliary force
by making known to the country those,
who, always at their posts, have gained
the hearts of their men-who lead their
soldiers to battle, and direct and control
them on the field-who assure their men
by their presence and win their conf
dence by success?
The Prince de Joinville says our men
were "brave, very brave" We do not
know of an instance where the soldiers
have retreated from the foe in advance
of their officers-and when such are the
men, the Commander is all the more de-
serving the favorable appreciation of his
country who has the experience and skill
to direct, the strength to control, the
courage to lead
The Confederate Government was
quick to use the ability of Lee, and the
prestige of jackson; but the man who
repulsed Lee and 5000 troops at Cheat
Mountain with one-tenth of that number,
and who drove jackson from his stone
walls at Winchester and pursued him for
four DAYS with an inferior force, fighting
him each day, that man now commands
less than full battalion in number-the
remains of the Brigade which was chris
tened " Gibraltar for its desperate stub
bornness at Antietam.
1t was months before the Government
discovered, through the mists and myth:
of Shields fifteen page report of Win
chester, that the credit of that victory
was due wholly to Col. Nathan Kimball
the senior officer commanding in the
field. He was then made a Brigadiel
General, and assigned the command o
the 1st Brigade in Shields Division
During the long and fatiguing wander
ings of that Division which ensued, ht
retook Front Royal, after march of 2;
miles, in which the brigade that was tt
support him was left so far in the real
that they did not hear the sound of tht
cannon, nor was the General command
ing the Division aware of an action unit
afler $50 prisoners, two guns, and large
quantity of forage and ammunition were
captured, the enemy miles away, and tht
exhausted troops at rest Gen. Kim
balls counsel was strong in opposition t.
the movements by which, immediatel,
after the division was scattered anC
two of its brigades cut to pieces at Por
Republic for want of support. At thi
unfortunate affair General Kimbal
marched his brigade 80 miles in tn,
night to throw it between Jackson ant
the shattered remnants of CarrolPs brig
ade-he being, when the news reached