Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-02-10
SOD correspondenee Of The ChIcago TImes:


Important from Washington.
ApprOcal Of Gen. Hunters OrdeJ--ResignatiOn Of
Volunteer Ofcers-MOvements of Gen Beaure
0ard-His absence from Manassas, and the
srfhdrGlral thence of $4,000 Troops, lria not
IOeaken that Position What he lrH attempt 10
do in Kentucky.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 81.
The PRONUNCIATION of Gen. Hunters order of
Jan. %, announcing that the expedition which
has been trumpeted through the country as
Lanes Expedition" was 10 be commanded by
Gen. Hunter himself, which order was received
here yesterday, causes the liveliest satisfaction
among all conservative men in Congress, is the
army, and in civil life. My letter of Jan. stat
ed that Lane was MOTTO have the command of the
expedition, ana that the expedition itself would
not be conducted on Lanes detestable principles;
and my letter of Jan. Is exposed the brazen fab
rication concocted by the AbOlitionists to the eff
feet that Lane was to be Major General with
authority from Gen. Mcclellan to arm the slaves
of Kansas. You may rest assured that the Com
manderin- Chief will not lose sight OF this affair
General Hunter received his orders from head
quarters few days ago He understands fully
Gen. McClellen's plans in regard to this expedi-
ton, and he will carry them out 10 the letter.
The COMMANDMENT Chief has shown that he
knows how to deal with INSTRUMENTATION Jim
Lanes position is a subordinate one; and the
military discipline which spared not even Fremont
the great high priest of emancipation, will most
assuredly not suffer any vagaries on the part of
his Kansas imitatOr.
Officers of volunteer regiments stationed here
continue TO send in their designations. The
causes assigned various and in nine cases out
of ten fictitious. The real reasons are disgust &C
camp life, and known incompetency, and the
dread of the ordeal of the Board of Examiners.
The army is well rid of all such cases. They
leave vacancies that will be quickly filled by the
right kind OF men, By the time spring affords
an opportunity for campaigning (and nothing
will take place before them Gen Mcclellan will
have under him fine body of officers as he
could wish.
The change recently made in the command of
/ the Confederate army on the Potomac was made
there is now reason TO believe, at Gen. Beaure-
CARDS own instance. There is no doubt that the
! Confederate lines on The Potomac, from Harper's
/ Ferry to yorktown. practically impregnable
and that their position on that line can he held
with much less force than is now massed there.
1t would seem, from the vast number of Union
/ troops, under Gen. Buell. in the West that there
is strong probability that the recent victory at
Somerset will be followed by still more signal
/ achievements. Hence the necessity for the pres
ence there of some Confederate officer of more
than ordinary ability. Ii is not certain that Gen
Beauregard will attempt any offensive movement
/ in Kentucky. The positions held there by the
Contederates are not susceptible OF so perfect a
defense those in Eastern Virginia
In the latter State an attempt to turn any
OF the Confederate positions would be attended
with as little success an attempt to carry them
/ by storm. But there is probably no point in Ken
lucky now held by the Confederates that is secure
from attack on all sides. Even Bowling
Green and Columbus could be turned if attacked
I h-a ota LII.
rails with brains The Conederates think that
this is the game of Halleck and Buell., and hence
Beauregard is sent to Kentucky. 1t will proba-
bly, be his first to make il impossible for the
| Union troops to get around either Columbus or
Bowling Green. This will require some time;
but if be is allowed time he can and will do t.
If any impression is made by the Union troops in
Kentucky west of Glasgow, it must be done at
| once.
Do not suppose, because 10 600 or Is 900 Con-
federate soldiers have been withdrawn from Ma
nassas that there is any intention on the part of
the COnfederates of abandoning Manassas or
that the Confederaes there are any the less strong
by such satisfaction This is the idea which the
COnfederateS wish General Mcclellan 70 get from
the movement. But he knows that If he were to
send away 10000 men he would be as able to de-
fend Washington as if he had kept them. 1t is
yumored that ID, 900 Confederates have gone to
the North Carolina coast. But it is more than
likely they have gone with General Beauregard
to where they can be of some use.
One theory about Beaureeards movements is,
that he is going directly to Bowling Green, with
the intention of attacking Gen Bnell's army
This theory is not destitute of FEASIBILITY There
is an Uninterrupted railroad communication be-
tween Manassas and Bowling Green and the roll
ing stock on the roads, at the control of the Con
federate Government, is adequate to the trans
portatiOn of very large bodies of troops Taking
into consideration the condition of the roads near
the Potomac, and the strength and extent of his
defensive works there, Ger. Beauregard would no
doubt feel safe in taking with him to kentucky,
not 5000, but $4,000 troops. 1t would, of
course, require some time for the transportation
of even half that number; but they would be ar
irving every day. And ii Beauregard on his ar
rival at Bowling Green, finds there already So
600 troops, the chances that he will at once
begin a series of man9uvers with the view Of
cutting off Gen. Buel's army. One thing is
certain: The first battles will now be fought not
on the Potomac, but in Kentucky.
1t is a fact that thousands of the horses and
mules in this city, owned by the Government,
are suffering terribly, both from cold and expo
sure, and from insufficient food. 1t is common
sight to hundreds of these poor beasts, who
have no tongue to utter their wrongs, pa sing
along the avenue on the mornings after snow
storm, with their backs covered inch thick
with frozen snow. They are exposed day and
night to these ptiless storms. and not only have
no shelter, but have not one quarter enough to
eat. They die off daily in scores. These are the
team horses and mules The cavalry and art-
lery horses all have shelter. but even some of
them have scarcely enough to eat.
The English newspapers received by the last
steamer intimate that, upon the assembling of
Parliament, strong attempt will be made to eff
feet a recognition of the independence of the
Southern Confederacy by England A private let
letter received here to day from a well informed
gentleman in London states that the attempt will
probably be successful.