Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-04-18

in sight, and finished her day's performance BY
capturing three valuable vessels, all loaded with
stores, the want OF which is now grievonsly felt
by our brave and accomplishing soldiers. Gen
eral Wool stated that one Of them was empty
vessel. But he also stated that our troops
would meet With little or no opposition on their
way TO yorktown. He did not intend to make
an incorrect statement in either case. But in
both cases he was misinformed. Or. what IS far
more probable, the telegraph has been made to
alter what he dd say. The probability IS that
he stated. shat our troops r0ald meet with
formidable opposition then way 10 York
town. and that some official" purposely al
tered it that it should read that we would not
meet with much opposition. But TO return TO our
mutton
This exploit of the Merrimac was performed
under clear sky and in bright sunlight, and was
witnessed by the whole Union feet lying in the
Roads, Monitor and all. Yet they might have
been so many logs of wood for all the good they
did. Here was the opportunity for which. the
coustry has been Officially" informed, they had
been painting Tor weeks past, with steam up, and
crews at quarters. Yet all they could do was to
send oil a messenger to the Secretary of the
Navy for orders. and await his reply In the
mean time, ne Merrimac, disdaining 10 shot
against such adyersaries, fired three guns with
blank cartridges nj the Union feet, and followed
>
into Norfolk harbor The stars and stripes were
hosted at half mast on one of the prizes and on
another were dragged astern in the water and SO
the rebel hesf returned
No one can tell under what orders the Union
fleet acted. But | will venture 10 say that had
the gallant Norden been on board the Monitor,
the saucy Aerrimac would not have got of 80
easily, and the three vessels would not have been
captured. Commodore Tatnall commanded the
Merrmac.
1t is the opinion of army officers, who are in a
position to. speak Understandings, that the next
heard OF the Merrimac and her eleven attendant
vessels WILDE that they up the Y ork river, at
Yorktown, plunging shells into our army before
that place. Whether there or not, it is certain
that the rebel feet will play important part
somewhererear Yorktown. 1t is in the power OF
the Union fleet to prevent this. Whether they
will be permitted to do not, your readers
will perhaps be POLITICALLY" informed.
The grestest Indignation is felt here at the de
ceptiOn which hts been practced in regard to the
recent battle at Pttsburg. 1t is feared that the
country has been entirely misnformed as to the
facts, which now appear to be radically different
from thosa Officially" published. Our troops
remained-masters of the field on Monday night
but there was no pursuit, and the rebels retired C
their strong works at Corinth in good order The
victory remains with Us, but il is dearly bought
one, and cur forces are in no condition TO pursue
y succession of such victories as that will moi
very soon terminate the war No wonder the
reports of the victory were received 10y Congress:
in ominous silence.
What bsson do these things teach? Simply
this: That the war has just begun; that the hare
work connected with the suppression of the re
bellion his only now commenced that the
South, ce>sinced by the victories at Roanoke
and Fort Donelson, and by the loss of Columbus
Island M. 10, and Nashville, that the North i.
in earnest have at last Out forth all their strength
IN the desperate attempt TO defend the few States
OF which they retain possession. Above all, they
teach the necessity of having more troops in Tn,
field, and the inpocy of stopping enlisiment
and disbarding regiments that have been raised
Ii Gen. Grant had had $4,000 troops, instead o.
$1,000, ne would not have been defeated at Pitts
burg on Sunday If Gen. Buell. bad had 81 00l
wherewith to have reinforced him on Monday
instead of 40 900, Beauregard's whole ARM
would really have been defeated, and COrintl
would now have been ours The South is strong
in resources and in courage-that has beer
proved. Gel. Muligan. or any other officer wh(
has ever really fought the rebels will admit that
They will have well-equipped armies OF 500 ,OOl
men IN the field by the lst of May To detea
those armies and TO hold Maryland. Kentucky
and Tennessee, to say nothing OF Missouri, VI
will require--how many troops? 1t is simpl,
question of arithmetic and common sense.