Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-12-01
Especial Correspondence ofthe Chicago Times.
From washington.
WASHINGTON, November %.


WASHINGTON, November -.
On the 18th inst it was announced with
great flourish of trumpets, that Burnside's army
is at Fredericksburg" On the 18th il was stated
"Gen. Burnsde's headquarters will be to day in
Fredericksburg" Now Fredericksburg is only
sixty miles from Richmond-only four days
moderate marching. The public, therefore, hav-
ing been told that extraordinary vigor now
going to mark the progress of the campaign,
reasonably expected that by this time at farthest,
Gen Burnside would be before Richmond. Cred
ulous publicl In the first place, Burnside's army
was not, and is not now at Fredericksburg. Gen.
Summers column has reached Falmouth. oppo-
site Fredericksburg, with the Rappahannock be-
tween them, that is all. And, in the second
place, it has been found, and is acknowledged to
day in the Administration organs, that the OBJ
stacles in the way of the army are of such a
nature that week, possibly two weeks, must
elapse before any further advance can be made.
Indeed So that il is now really found out that
the march TO Richmond is, after all. not 10 be
mere gala march of four days. There are, then,
really some obstacles 10 overcome Why, really,
this is all very unexpected. Who would have
thought that these pesky rebels would dare to
put themselves between Burnside and RichmOndg
But the pesky rebels have done more than that
The whole of Burnside's grand army may
be said to be- for all practical purposes, at Fall
mouth. Summers corps darmee arrived first;
but the main body, under Hooker, and the corps
d'armee on the left, under Franklin, were close
behind.
We have troops, then, north of the point
where the railroad from Manassas crosses the
Rappahannock Take the map and see what a
region of country is left uncovered aud unpro-
tected. Gen. Sige's corps had been left at Gen.
terville and on the line of Bull Run, as a reserve,
with his outposts at Manassas Junction. But now
mark what follows.
In a recent letter stated that, if this route to
Richmond was taken, the rebel army would soon
be seen north of the Manassas Gap Railroad
Already the prophecy has been fulfilled. The
rebel leaders had been kept constantly advised of
Burnsides movements by their cavalry scouts.
Their left wing, under jackson, fully $4,000
strong was posted west of the Blue Ridge, hold
ing Manassas Gap, Ashby's Gap and Smokers
Gap. Through either one of these they can,
whenever il suits their convenience pour their
troops and march on this city As soon, then. as
they knew that Burnsides army had left War
renton, they sent strong detachment of cavalry
through Manassas Gap, with Gen. Stuart in CON-
mand This cavalry took possession of Warren
ton the moment it evacuated by Burnside.
They did more than that. They pushed on to
Catletts, burned a railroad bridge there, and then
proceeded TO Manassas Junction, Gainesville and
Centerville. By the time they reached the latter
two places. they were supported by some batteries
of field artillery.
Gen. Sigel, good soldier as he is (and he is a
good soldier and a brave and skillfu officer, was
taken completely by surprise by this movement,
so sudden and unexpected He was compelled,
therefore, TO abandon both Gainesville and Gen.
treville, and to fall back upon Fairfax. where he
is now. The enemy, therefore, is now in full pos
session of Centrevile and the line of Bull Run.
The value of the position, in a strategic point of
view is incalculable. Further up the Potomac,
on the Virginia side we have a small force of
cavalry at Leesburg. Common prudence will
dictate that they also be drawn in. But, whether
they not, il is easy to see that in very
short period the whole of the left wing of Gen.
Lees army will have arrived to the support of
those now at Centreville. and that il Will be,
therefore between and Burnside.
What their ulteriOr designs NAV be, no man
can say. What available force they may have.
do not know. What means we have here of de
Tending this city. beseems me not TO say. The
Administration say they are ample. and il is not
for me to say the reverse But this do say: If.
in pursuing the chimera OF holiday march to
Richmond, the Administration has placed the
capital in peril, they will have done more than
might have been expected. An Administration
which removes our only great General just when
we want him the most i capable of any folly. In
the distribution of the commands of the Army of
the Potomac the Administration has acted with
single evceptl0n) as II II was desrous 70 deprive
the army of all real military talent. The excep-
ton is Gen. Sumner, man every inch a soldier,
and unquestionably the ablest General in the
army, next to Mcclellan.
Next in merit comes Gen. Heintzelman. And
where is hel Left out in the cold. with a small
and unimportant command on the upper Poto-
mac. OF all the other Generals, the one who.
throughout the whole war, has exhibited the
greatert fitness to command large bodies Of men,
is unquestionaby Fitz John Porter. Where is
hel Dragged from his command. brought here.
and made to cool bis heels on Willards marble
floor, while his heart is chafng and fretting to
be with his men, and while personal malice and
envy are making football of his fame. The
charges against him supremely ridiculous
that the court which tries him will kick them out
of doors--a fate, too. which ought to be shared
by his shameless accusers. Toc0nclude the list.
there is Sigel, brave man and an able General.
Yet, because he is-a German, and because he is
not in good odor with certain parsonage here,
he is treated with contumely, deprived of the
honor Of going to the front, and keptin the shade
of the Washington forts, and that. too, with a
command so small that 5000 rebels drive
him back.
, The facts which have come TO light within a
few days indicate that the Confederates will de-
pend for TIE defense Of Richmond chiefly upon
the elaborate works on all sides OF that city; and
that they have on foot an expedition. combining
both land and naval forces, destined 70 operate