Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-06-16
Specia; Correspondence Of the Chicago Times
Prom Wasniurtou.

FROM ~nhurt0 ms
IA Expose Of the Rebel Plaas for the Defense Of
acknowledgements of The Recent Move-
menfs Of the Rebel General Jaekson-Hop
MeDoreH and Stanton rere FoOled-2Re Con-
guest Of Richmond lst for Mcclellan Alone.
WASHINGTON, June 5.
am now in possession of facts which enable
me to give to the readers of the Times an in
sight into the real objects and purposes of the
recent attack and defeat Of Banks by the reb ell
Gen. jackson. 1t will be that three
weeks ago four different Union armies were
marching on Richmond by four different routes.
The battle of " Williamsburg had been fought, and
Gen. Mcclellan was chasing the flower of their
army through the Peninsula. Mcdowell had got
as far as Fredericksburg by the Doth of April,
and. although for more than a month afterward
he did not venture to move any farther south, it
was supposed at Richmond that he was only
waiting for Mcclellan to m operations in
form before that city, when he would join his
forces. Banks was moving slowly and cautious
ly down the Valley of Virginia, and up the left
bank of the Shenandoah, and, it seemed, would
get to Richmond soon after Mcclellan, and long
before Mcdowell. Fremont alone, of all the
Generals, was fddling away his time in the noun
tains, fighting imaginary guerrillas, and advanc-
ing toward Richmond at tho pace that the frog
jumped out o. the well, three yards upwards du-
ring the day and five yards backward during the
night. The Confederate Government, therefore,
on a review of "the situation" after the battle
of Williamsburg, became convinced that the only
hope of saving their capital depended on prevent
ing the cooperation of the armies of Mcdowell,
Banks, and Fremont, with that of Mcclellan.
They were quite well aware of the strength of
Mcclellan army, and of its admirable condi-
ton in regard to arms, equipments, artillery, cav
airy, &c. But they depended upon the natural
features OF the country between Williamsburg
aud Richmond, and upon presenting always a
bold front by their rear guard, to retard the
march of Mcclellan to Richmond until the end
of May: and this, they judged, would give them
time enough to attend to Mcdowell, Banks, and
Fremont. A council of Generals was according
" held at Richmond about the 9Th or 10th Of
May. at which General Johnston, jeff. Davis,
and General Jackson were all present. 1t was in
pursuance Of the plans adopted at this meeting
that of Jackson's subsequent operations were
conducted.
His first movement was a feint towards Frede-
ricksburg, executed about the 18th OF May. The
effect of this demonstration was to convince Nc
Dowell that he was the first object of attack, and
Centreyille and Washington the second. If he
had spent more time with his troops, and less in
dawdling about Washington, he could easily have
penetrated through Jackson's designs. But, in
an agony OF teffOts he posts Oh 10 the ar De-
partment, and begs Stanton to let him have the
divisions of Gen. Shields and Gen. Geary. then
in Banks's army. If he had asked for Banks's
whole army, the Secretary would scarcely have
refused him, the rule ut the War Department be-
ing that Mcdowell has only to ask in order to re-
ceive. Gen. jackson. before this time, had re-
tired with the main bedy of his army to Staun-
ton, his rear guard being at Harrisonburg. Gen.
Banks, pursuing him, had got as far down as New
- III 4 ... - a. Cl.~lI- H.
however, Shields was overtaken by a messenger
from the War Department, directing him to let
both Banks and jackson "slide," and to hasten
to reinforce Mcdowell by the most direct route.
Gen. Geary received the same order at the same
time, and both, of course, oheyed; and thus
Banks was left with 5000 troops. This was ex
actly what Jackson desired. Banks, thus weak
ened, retreated from New Market northward to
Strasburg; and Jackson, leaving Mcdowell
Shields and Geary to the care of Gems. G.. W.
Smith, Holmes, and Whiting, commanding the
left wing AS, 900 strong) of the army of Rich
mond, began to pursue Banks. On the Oath of
May he precipitated himself on Banks at From.
Royal, and drove him, helter-skelter, through
Strasburg, Winchester, and Martinsburg, in sue
cession, and clear across the Potomac into Mary
land, at Williamsport.
Now, mark the result. The whole country was
startled by events so unexpected. Mcdowell. in
duOSucI dROul VI lCIIOIB uHdiu H1obChc W w ASH
ington, persuaded that the capital itself was now
the immediate object of the Confederates, and
that, as they now had possession of the Baltimore
and Ohio Railroad from Harper's Ferry to
Cumberland, and of the entire length of the
Manassas Gap Railroad, they could return in
strong force to their former strong position at
Centreville, and thus cut him off from Washing
ton. The Secretary of War was of the same
opinion. Look at the map, and you will see that,
viewed geographically they were right. Yet as
military men they certainly did not display much
sagacity in arriving at such a conclusion. For
military reasons it was impossible for the Con-
federates to march on Washington. Yet Stanton
withdrew McDowells whole army toward the
capital, for its defense, and telegraphed thus to
the Governor of each one of the Northern States:
1.-The enemy, in great force are coming on Wash
ington. Please organize and forward here imme-
diately ALL the volunteers and militia in your
State. Edwin M. Stanton, Secretary of War"
A literal compliance with this ridiculous order
would have brought to Washington in ten days
260 900 men, and in ten DAYS more another $50,
900, making 500 900 additional troops.
The object of the rebel leaders was accom-
plished. Three corps d'Grmee, including rs, 1000
excellent troops, were paralyzed, diverted from
the object they had in view, and turned back from
Richmond towards Washington. The Monitor,
the Galena, the Naugatuck and four other IRON
clad vessels, all with heavy had, IN
the meantime, been driven back by the rebel
batteries on the James river below Richmond
and it has been thus demonstrated that our
gunboats can not aid in taking that city. Rich
mond must be taken. therefore, by McClellan's
army alone.
Whatever can be done with the force at his dis.
posal, Gen. Mcclellan will do. But he can not
perform impossibilities. The battles on the
Chickahominy, on Saturday and Sunday last
show how desperate will be the resistance which
the rebels will make before yielding up the pos
session of their capital. Their plan of battle on
Saturday contemplated getting around our left
flank and in our rear, and then attacking us in
front, flank and rear all at once, in Overwhelming
forc,'. The promptness and g~allantry of General
Heintzelman, and the GOODNESS and steady cour
age of his officers and troops, alone prevented the
catastrophe. Gen. Philip Kearney is one Of hi:
division commanders, and a Drawer officer or a
more useful soldier does not live. Thus at the
Chickahominy, as well as at Williamsburg. were
the fortunes of the day saved by these two off.
GERS. / am happy to see that Gen Mcclellan
official dispatches bear me out in all / said in
former letters about these two gallent men. But
as | witnessed their deeds of valor myself, i claim
to be the first to have done them justice.
The Republican Union Movement in