Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-01-27
bis army being both willing and able-tO 20 when

his army being both willing and able-to 60 when
he pleases and where he pleases-
The regiments here have been brigaded, Col
kim6all commanding the LIST brigade, CON-
posed OF the bloody 18Th, the veteran l4th, the
e4th Pennsylvania and 7th Virginia, and he is
already as popular with our new friends as he
was with our old ones Of Cheat Mountain, with
whom ana by whom he suffered and fought and
conquered. Should meet the enemy with our
present organization you may hope for good re-
port from the LIST brigade Tor let Others act as
they may the 18th and l4th will never disappoint
their friends at home. Colonel Kimball, (fofthe
greater portion of the time we have been in an
enemy's country, has been performing the duties
of Brigadier General without either the rank or
emOuments Of the position, but under ali the re-
sponsbliities attaching 70 such service. Some
OF the Colonies friends have hoped that after
time his services would be appreciated and re-
warded, but "poor innocents," that they are not
to know that such expectations would never be
realized. True, he has experience, he has ca
pacity, he holds the Oldest three years commits
sion from the State, if not from any other State;
he served his country honorably in the war OF
40 With Mexico; he is aud has always been ready
to die for his country-but for good and cogent
reasons fully appreciated by the powers that be,
he will continue to be sighted and inferior men
appointed over him. Having said what he is, let
me also say what he is not and has not been. He
is not and has not been the boon companion and
tool of those who surround State and National
officials; he has not iawned and cringed and bar
gained; he has no powerful relations at court: he
Is not a man of fortune; he is no Democrat, no
Republican, but an old-fashioned Clay Wing, and
has ever been consistent and modest; he is no
fossil, and coward, but courageous and full of
vigor, and how can such usan hope or his friends
hope that he will succeed in commanding posti0nf
Such men, if they live through the war, might
prove dangerous to the hopes and aspirations of
"kid gloyed" Office seekers, WHO keep at a re-
spectacle distance from danger, and grumbe
about things of which they know nothing. Let
them be warned that people will appreciate and
honor the mea who expose their lives daily
and hourly in the defense of the Government,
while Generals who are appointed from political
and personal considerations, and of whom it
would be compliment to say they know the diff
ference between fright in 'front.'" and cleft in
front" viii sink into merited obscurity, if they
don't sink the Government with them. Let all
the newspaper world cry out and demand that
our armies shall be commanded by men who have
shown themselves competent, aid in whom the
rank and file have confidence.
A rumor prevails in camp, seemingly well au-
thenticated that the President has wisely declined
TO accept the resignation of Gen. Reynolds, and
that he will join his command in few days
God grant that it may be so. Nothing would so
much rejoice us ALL
Indiana has a reputation now made, and which
all of her soldiers are determined to sustain at
any and all cost. To assist in doing this, why
can't we have our own men to command? 1t is
human nature for officers of high and low degree
to be partial TO men from their own State, and
general officers in making their reports, without
intending to do injustice to Others, will see the
conduct of soldiers from their own State in the
most favorable light and consequence there
OF, when the troops from our State are COM
manded by officers from other States, either op-
portunity will be denied, or else our men will re
ceive but partial notice This is 4 very unimpor-
tant consideration, however, compared with the
diminuton of their ardor naturally resulting
from placing our men under the control of Off
GERS they know nothing about.
! The men of the 18th are now comfortably stu
ated in good tents and if not wearied to death by
/ forced marches, resulting in disease which per-
| forms the work of secessionists more rapidly than
their arms, they will be soon in condition to
"whip their weight in wild cats" They are
cheerful and eager for the fray. They cry aloud
for action, action, AS preferable TO the marching
and counter marching which prostitutes and de-
stroys their energies.
A new set of orders have this day been issued,
stringent in their character and looking 10 thor
ough discipline-allo of which looks like business.
1t is good omen Would like to write you more
in detail, but it would be imprudent to do so-the
| channels of information to the rebels too
| open.
There is a source of vexation 10 soldiers which
the press correct if they will take il i'm hand
Packages sent by their friends are subject to the
most rigid scrutiny and are often detained to IN
quire at express Office to which they were di-
rected, when we are told they we're detained as
contrabdnd This species of pilfering BY Gov
ernment officials should be stopped If the Oh
ect of this system of espionage is intended to pre-
vent liquors from reaching camp, it would be
much better to reship the articles to the parties
who forwarded them with charges added.
IT'S not the private alone who is thus plumber.
ed. but officers of every degree must submit to it.
/ and many delicacy, with now ahd then certain
liquid comforts, find their way down some Gov
eminent officials throat, while the friends al
home are laboring under the delusion that they
have reached their destination
Speak outl Speak outi
Yours truly, HoosIER.