Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-11-24

We do not like to speak Of misfortune to the
FEDERAL arms. but fear that the march 70 Rich
mond by the army Of Gen. Burnside viii be a
failure We do not profess 20 be posted in mill
tary science; but, nevertheless, looking at the
physical character of tie route from Washington
% Richmond. ia has always appeared 20 us 20 be
ah impossibility TO carry army by that route
A glance az the map will show that 6oFdonsylle
j. the key 70 the whole region. No Federal army
can approach Richmond from the north while the
rebels bold Gorlonsville, because the nearer that
army reaches Richmond il places the whole coun-
try north. even to Harper's Ferry, at the mercy
OF the rebel force who can scamper down The
valley and commit ell manner OF outrages. and
can cut of the overland communication with
Washington. #
The peninsula Is the only base that can offer
any certain safety in operation. With an army
on the peninsula and another at Fredericksburg
prepared 10 co operate. Richmond can be taken
and not otherwise. Mcclellan forced his army
no the peninsula until be took Hanover Court
House; had McDowells army then advanced and
held that country, Mcclellan would have taken
Richmond. But his aid was withheld. Mcclellan
was forced TO abandon Hanover. the rebels again
had communication with Gorionsyille, and again
swept the valley with impunity.
The reports are that the rebels are again at
Warrenton. and that Burnside's army had swung
round to Fredericksburg. Sigel is said to be
west of the mountains guarding the valley To
do so effeciua!ly he must have force large
enough 10 repel any rebel army that may be
/ brought against him, and If he has an army of
that strength he might advance to Gordonsville.
! The change of base TO Fredericksburg is a con-
/ fessiOn that the Federal army must have base
| resting upon water communication. As the army
advances toward Richmond that base must rest
upon York river, and when the army. reaches
that point. then it is upon the Peninsula, just
- 4 Il
capture of Hanover Court House is necessary for
the safety of that army, as we'll as for the de-
struction of the rebel communication through
Gordonsyille.
IL General Burnsde's army Is now resting or
Fredericksburg, il shows that the men mt Wash
ngton have at last been convinced that the It
tempt to march the army and transport its sup
plies overland is failure. POpe's disastrous
expedition failed TO convince them of that but
Burnside necessities have probably demonstrated
the fact.
Has Gen Burnside an effective army strong
enough TO proceed TO Richmond ut this season
We OF course do not know the number Of h:
, force. but il will require immense army to nc
compsh the work before them. Every inch Of
their route from Fredericksburg 10 Hanover viii
; be contested Swollen streams and deS;roye,
bridges will meet them at every point and finall,
suppose they overcome MI these difficulties, the,
will then be at the Chckahominy swamps, where
the army eight months ago. We confess
reluctantly to an impression founded upon tn,
reports of the movements of the Federal ano
Union armies, that there will be no further ad
vance Richmond this fall. We believe tn,
change of base to Fredericksburg was n neccs
sity, made imperative by the impossibility o
. reaching the rebels at Gordonsville, and chang
J. for such cause is of those reverses that ar
{ unfortunate, because they evidence lack o
foresight and judgment which the experience o
the war in Virginia ought to have given to tn
" authorities having the matter in charge. If
do not involve "A general retreat of the army t.
V Manassas and to Washington, We think the coun
try will have cause to reoice.-Chieago Post.