Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-12-03
WASHINGTON. November ..

IL IL the nnyeTssl testimony OF all The armf
officer with whom have eousessei for week
past-and many OF them direct from TIE
afmy-that NJ 10 refiof duringthe war have .here
been 30 much suae-ing. destitufion and sickness
in the army ~ during the whole of the rre-en,
month Those who went through the entire Pen
insula campaign. with all is malaria, poisonous
ssamps and clinging damps, say that that Vas
nothing compared TO this IL that campaign
some attention was pad to the comfort and health
of the soldiers Ii they we're sick or wounted,
there we're sklful surgeons at hand TO minister
TO their wants, and there were proper medi-
eiues 10 relieve them Transport vessels were
constantly employed in carrying To the Northern
hospitals all cases which required better treat
ment than they could have In camp The con
sequence WAS that the sick and wounded were
speedily restored TO health, and soon returned to
their duty The soldiers had. besides. comfort
able tents aud plenty OF good food, and they 0c-
casionaliy, at least, a Paymaster. The con
sequence was, they were always strong and viz
orous: while the presence OF n commander whose
care for their comfort secured them these things
inspired them with his own dauntless spirit, and
made them invincble.
IL il very different now. Tents abolished
Tin winter, tool and shelter tents have been sub
stituted because the men can carry them on their
backs. in addition to that already burdensome
weight of over sixty pounds. And, pray, what is
shelter tent? 1t = piece Of thin canvas in the
shape and size Of one of the sheets on your bed
THAT, and nothing more" The shlyering sol
der is expected TO fix il somehow over him. In
the form of an inverted V thus and his shelter
tent is complete. Under this miserable rag two
of the brave soldiers crawl. vet and uncouforta
BILE. IL is open at both ends The bleak, cold
wind howls over them in mockery The rain
beats in both at the head and feet aud soaks the
wretched rag I'LL its drips water like sponge
The men rise ia the morning, wet. stiff and unre
freshed. This cause alone has added fearfuly to
the patients in the hospitals. rheumatism, in
huenzas, lung fevers, all in consequence of this
inhuman and unnecessary exposure, have disabled
so many of our brave fellows that, according to
the last report sent To the Adjutant Generals
Office, there are in the hospitals aud on the
sick list no less than loo 900 men, who, with
proper care might now be in the field They
constitute of themselves army sufficiently
large to take Richmond, and they form one
sixth of all the forces under pay. | should
have said nomnaify under pay. For, in spite OF
all assertions to the contrary. know that most
of the old troops have not been paid for the last
six months These are some OF the abuses
that call loudly for reformation at the hands OF
Congress.
Ii one half of the care that is thrown away on
courts of investigation of officers bestowed
on the comfort OF the soldiers. and the officers
sent back To their commands, it would be pro-
ductve of the happiest results. The country may
rely upon il. armies cannot achieve great re-
suits unless the men are kept in good condition
and their health and comfort properly cared for
Soldiers are machines indeed. or ought 10 be
But no machine can run well unless il is kept
properly oiled and cleined. What member OF
Congress will bring this matter before the
country?
1t il curious Ia read now the queruous com
plants against Burnside. made by those who
1fasfln af
"vigor" with which the campaign was to be pros
ecuted The New York Times admits that, il
Gen. Sumner had been allowed To cross the Rap
pahanock and take possession of Fredericksburg,
when he first arrived at Falmouth-now ten days
ago-he could have done so without opposition
while now the crossing can only be done at a
terrible loss of life. "A squadron of cavalry
says the Times, .sand four guns, composed the
contemplate force then present To bar orr pas
sage" Non. Burnside is confronted by 10000
troops and hundred pieces of artillery The
Times then describes the admirable position held
by the Confederates-two gently sloping plains
rising one above the other each crowned by lev 81
plateau; rebel batteries planted on these plateau
and other points 80 Ms to sweep both them and
every point in the river where a crossing can be
attempted, the whole arrangement, in fact. in
viting second Balls Bluff affair
Let il be remembered that. if Sumner had been
permitted 10 cross on the 18th, as he wished to
his corps could and would have held this admira-
BILE position. Whe it that wanting in
vigor! The story is industriousy circulated that
Burnside has been waiting for boats to- arrive OF
which To build a bridge across the stream. But
this cannot be SO. for when the head Of his col
umns reached Falmouth ten days ago. the river
was easily fordabe The subsequent rains have
greatly swollen il. and a bridget is necessary now
But why were these boats not on hand wher
wantedg Burnside declares that he was solemn,
/ promised by the authorities at Washington that
the boats should be there before him. But up &c
the 2ith they hid not arrived, md now the tasb
of laying them across will be an easy one
I The rebel batteries are placed to blow eacl
one TO atoms il is put in position. Truly
+ vigor at Falmouth is not worth much. if judgmen
and foresight be wanting here.
During all this time. too. the rebels are receIv
ing, every night. all the Eastern newspapers ant
full verbal intelligence OF all that is taking plac,
I'm our lines Thus they know what Generals ART
at Falmouth. what troops are there. and exactl,
+ what our strength is: and they no doubt know
also. what troops there this city tor il:
+ defense IL is no wonder that the New Yorl
1 Tribune says Everybody wonders why Freder
/ icksburg not attacked at once, and why il /
/ that even now our army seems TO be waiting
until the whole force of the rebels shall arriv,
+ theref"