Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-04-03
The Army of the United states, ITS
Numbers, and the Responsibility for
the Extravagant Cost of the War.

We call the special attention of the reader to
the following developments. from Republican
source. in reference to the conduct of the war.
II is stated that the army of the United States
now numbers 725 900 men and that the daily
expenses of the war exceed three millions of
dollars. n vsst debt is rapidly accumuating
which will weigh heavily in the future upon
every department of industry, and the day will
come. and that ere long, when those in power
and who have had the direction of events since
March 4lh, 1861. will be held to strict account
ability and be made responsible for the burdens
which will be thrown upon the nation through
maladmnstration. extravaganza and corruption
We copy the following in reference to the ad
ministration of our public affairs from the Gin
cinnati Commercial. Ifa Democratic paper had
thus criticized the action of the Administration
il would have been denounced as hostile TO the
Government, but coming from a Republican
suppose it will be considered by this
class as a bold exposure and denunciation of ex
trayagance. il no harsher term is used, i'm public
expenditures. The Washington correspondent of
the Commercial under date of March 30th, says
Tbs army OF the United States numbers seven
hundred aud twenty i've thousand men. and Que
hundred and eighty eight Brigadier Generals.
The daily expenses OF the war exceed three mill
ions OF dollars. the cost of the army of the Po-
tomac being about one half OF that amount. At
some future period the people will require reck-
oning of the score. They will inquire why such
vast sums have been expended. The books of
each Department of the army will be rgdy
scrutinized. that the responsibility for each
peadture may be liked upon the proper officer
The President. the Chief Executive officer of
the nation. will be required TO answer for the en-
tire expenditure, and the Commander IN Chief of
the army of the Potomac will be expected to
plaia THE necessity for the accumulation OF the
largest item of the sum total of the stupendous
debt which will hereafter afiict the people.
No series Of victories, let them even dazzle
like NapoleJn's brilliant campaign in Italy. will
suffice 10 silence the clamor of the tax PAYERS.
Whatever may be the verdict OF posterity upon
the military skill OF tie commander no result OF
the war. however happy II may be will suffice to
mitigate stern decision against past extrava-
gance. 1has il is clear that those who are re
sp0nsible tor the vast cost of the war, never
figure hereafter prominently IN the political his
tory OF the natou So that any who may enter
tain apprehensions upon this subject. may rest sat
shed that a career of political pFeiermeut i for
ever debarred To all whose acts have needlessly
consumed the property OF the people.
Whatever successes Major General Mcclellan
may hereafter achieve, will never satisfy this
generation that the prodigious expense of the
army under bis command. from the 9Th of De
eember To this period was justifable. For,
corning 10 testimony which have no ri ht Ia dis
7uie, the army OF tie Potomac VAS ia better
plight 10 advance early ia December than to-day.
and according 70 the evidence nov before W, We
have right 70 infer ;hst the enemy were rs
ready retire had advanced At that time, a.
al the period when they did eyacuate their
stronghold"
The cost of the army of the Potomac mean
time, was abundant 10 nave paid for the cOnstruc-
ton and equipment of two first class iron clad
ships OF war per day until now, which would have
constituted navy sufficient IN number aud p0W er
To have sealed up the ports of the civilized world
This i no lille speculation. IL Is an expressed
conviction by high authority. with whom figures
represent facts Some may question the asser-
ton that the army Is not IN IS good condition Tor
aggressive operations as Il was four months ago.
we accept The testimony Of military men. no
room FOR doubt remains. Besides. PLAIN logic as
sists the argument. since troops confined IN camp
during any long Period. without driil and active
discipline Ia the school of soldiers must needs
lose tie skill and aplomb which is the result OF
constant active duty. Observation teaches Us
that when there are ram and muddy fields soldiers
are not apt 10 drill
NAT there we're not satisfactory reasons for
OBTAINING the army in camp during the entire Win
ter Is sufficiently demonstrated by the fact that
the evacuation of Manassas was not anticipated.
but Was a surprise. and that very soon alter that
event IL became necessary to devise an entirely
new plan Of operations. That the sudden disap
pe4raoce Of the enemy Was surprise who can
doubt after Witnessing The burned advance OF the
whole army the d4y after the evacuation Was
known Sometime ago | remarked the ineom
preLensibility of that movement distinguish
Ell personage who ought 10 understand IL. has de
signed 10 iIIastrate Perhaps YOU will understand