Indiana State sentinel., 1862-09-15
One Way 10 End the war.

Throughout the war the rebel Generals have
exhibited strategy, skill and dash which have
given them the advantage, except in few
instances, in the conduct of the war. At
Corinth BEAUREGARD completely outwitted HAL
LICK BUELL. with his army has been forced
back to Nashville, and it Is yet in dan
ger. KIRBY SMITH moves quietly into Ken
lucky. and now the line of defense is the
Ohio river. Every effort is being made to
protect Cincinnati and Louisville from the ad-
vance of the rebel hordes. McCLELLAN's mag
nifcent army is defeated upon the Peninsula,
driven from its position, and its remains are
taken back to the camping ground near Wash
ington from whence they started, the best
equipped and the best organized army that was
ever sent to meet a.foe. The rebel Generals are
not idle. At once what our telegraphers term the
"dispirited, !" "l-clad" and ''poorly armed" rebel
army is sent from Richmond to meet the braggart
POPE. He is crcumvented and his division is
only saved from destruction by a rapid retreat.
Now the two opposing armies occupy the ground
they did one year ago, and Bull Run has again
become battlefield. Instead of Richmond fall
ing before our advancing legions, our own Capital
is threatened BY the " bold and impudent" foe
Maryland is occupied by a large rebel force, ad
vancing upon Washington Baltimore. and the
daring enemy are even invading Pennsylvania.
In December, 1860 the present Secretary of State,
at dinner speech said, that in sixty days the
threatened troubles would end, and since the war
commenced the country has been promised every
three months that in sixty or ninety days there
from, the rebellion would be crushed out by the
triumphant tread of our conquering armies.
Who is responsible for the present state of af-
fairs2 All the men and all the money that
the powers that be have asked for, have been
promptly given them. Everything mas been fur
nished that has been asked for. No troops, un-
der similar circumstances, were put in the
field in better condition. Infantry, cavalry and
artillery have all been equipped with the finest
arms that could be procured. Our soldiers are
not sent into the field without shoes and in rags
And what is the condition of the army opposing
us2 The special dispatches to the Cincinnati
Gazette thus describes it:
The rebels are wretchedly clad and generally
destitute OF shoes. The cavalrymen are mostly
barelOotel and the feet of the infantry are bound
up in rags and pieces of new hides. Their uni
forms are in tatters, and many are without hats
or caps; they very sanguine of success, and
say when they get to Baltimore they will get
erything they need. They have very few tents,
the men mostly. when camped, sleeping on the
bare ground.
- We cannot but admit that men who fight un-
der such circumstances must be inspired with
zeal for their and a terrible earnestness
which gives them courage, endurance and hope.
Their self denial almost equals that of our fathers
p in the Revolution. whatever may be their errors
and crimes. Officers and men alike fight for
their cause, not for emoluments or pay.
But we started out to suggest one way to end
the war. If Mr.. LINCOLN could effect an ex-
change of officers with JEFF. DAVIS, and if they
could be inspired with the same zeal for our
cause as they have been in that Of the South it
would take but short time TO change the aspect
of affairs. If BEAUREGARD had had the COM
mand Of HALLEcKs army before Corinth, would
the latter have escaped the former? We think
not. If LEE, and JOHNSTON, and JACKSON had
been at the head of McCLELLAN's magnificent
army, the Stars and Stripes would in all pababil-
ity be now waving over Richmond. We do not
intend, in making this suggestion for a change of
officers, to disparage the zeal and capacity OF the
very large number of those who have fought gal
lantly and successfully the battles of the Union,
but none can deny that the commanders of the
rebel armies have thus far displayed generalship
far superior TO our own. A change OF officers is
of course impossible. but il we have men capable
of leading our armies successfully, they should
be placed in command even if they should be
advanced from the ranks. Thus far in leading
Generals we have failed. and we can see but little
hope in the future without change