Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-12-15
General Banks Expedition Breaking
the Backbone OF the RebeIliOn-

We gave an account in our yesterdays paper
of the parting ovation made 70 General Banks on
his departure frOm shores at the head of q
great and formidable armament
Yesterday this great expedition, which are
founded 80 many hopes and expectations, took
It's departure for, at present. parts unknown. IL
is singular, and We deem it fortunate, that hith
er;o the destination of this expedition has been
kept a profound secret IL has now set SAIL
either for Richmond, or Charleston. or Mobile.
or Texas; but TO which OF those places no one
can tell. Il can only be told where it is not 60
ing.
The remarks of Governor Curtin, of PennsyI-
vsnia, at the eave-taking referred to. if not in
dcative Of the destination of this expedition, are
are at least significant and suggestive He OBJ
served that Ito crush this rebellion il neces-
slry 20 strike a. the heart of their rebellious
country. to purge the viper's nest; or, in Short
t take Richmond, the Capital Of the so called
Confederate States. An expedition to Texas
could do no good at the present time, and until
Richmond was taken we could net hope to put an
cad to the rebellion expect the restoration of
the Union. This is no irifiing affair, and hereto
FIRE we have failed because We have not stead
Iy and earnestly engaged IN the work We
should" For our own part, We have all along
believed that its destination is Richmond. At al
events, if il is not. we think that il ought 20 be-
When Commodore Vanderbilt 10 speak,
General Banks is said to have remarked: "He is
the only man who knows where the expedition is
going"
We entertain great hopes for the results of this
expedition. frum the known and approved char
icter Of the General in command. Ii has been
said Of General Banks. by those competent TO
Judge. that he i tie greatest general officer that
has been taken from the ranks Of civil life He
possesses. also. what the Romans. in their super
stition, deemed the highest and most necessary
quality Of General-"good luck He has been
hitherto eminently felix or lucky, in all his under
takings. AT Cedar Mountain, during the short
and unfortunate campaign Of General Pope, he
successfully wiihstOod with his division the fur-
ous onslaught Of the whole Of Stonewall Jack
sons rebel army; and his prudent and successful
retrest on previous occasion along the valley of
the Shenandoah. in which he brought of bis
army safely. even 10 lis baggage, is worthy Of
being compared with the famous retreat Of Mo-
reau, and i equal 70 that Of Xenophen and his
famous ten thousand in ancient history.
We hearty join in the general feeling of the
public in wishing unalloyed success to this. the
greatest expedition which ever left our Northern
shores. We look for solid results from it, action
no less tllan the taking Of Ric mond, while Lee
and his army are quietly detained at Frederieks
bcrg-nO less than outhanking the enemy taking
them in their rear while Burnside is in their 'front.'
leaving them no chance Of retreat or escape, and
obliging them 10 surrender. and thus efectually
breaking the very backbone Of the rebellion.
Who can tell whether General Banks may not
turn out after all, 70 be the Napoleon Of the age,
whom the nation has so long been looking fort
New York Herald. 9Th