Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-06-20

how much greater would be his triumphs
had be been a.ioWel 70 Wcrk cut las original
plans aith b. original force. Between linn and
the soldiers there exist the warmest feelings. On
their part. perfect confidence aud entte respect.
On his part perfect reliance on their bravery and
good conduct. But the soldiers OF she army OF
the Potomac are different men from thpse who
lett their homes in April, 1861, or in the July or
August following. They have learned since
then that the freedom and equality of a citizen
IL one thing. aud that military discipline is quite
another. They have become soldiers. which is
what their country wants just now, and have left
the citizen at home. They love their commander.
because he has made them soldier; because.
from the first. he interested himself in Their com
fort. and shares their privations now. | have
marked hIm we'll. have seen him in the flush
OF victory. and when disaster and defeat seemed
trembling in the balance; ard | have never known
him u be otherwise than self possessed. courteous,
and d%ignifed, in his entire deme NOR
The great question which now agitates the
psblic mind is. "Why does not Mcclellan ad
vance on Richmond. aud take that citv7" What
is the meaning OF this ominous pause. which has
lasted now thirteen cass, and which follows Me-
Clellau's stirring address TO his soldiersI Son e
inkling of the explanation OF the matter may be
found in my recent letters, but the whole truth
viii never be known ill developed by the PR
gress of events. General Mcclellan Is doing all
that any military Commander can do, but he can
not control the clemens. and he cannot
achieve imposs bilt e. 7 e rebel army 1T
Richmond is greatly superior 10 his own IN num-
Der, amounting to near 2O,00O troOIs And the
effect of the heavy and continuous rain OF the
last two weeks has been not only to swell q e
ChiekahGminy to tie proportions of a resi- ectable
river. but also TO food the whole country Tor
miles on each si,e and to convert even those
portions which are not submerged into a bog or
swamp. III which any military operations are ut
terly ont OF the question. | lie ing these facts
from an officer of high rank who left McClellan's
headquarters yesterday.
The rumors which have filled this city day af-
ter day and every day for a week past. of disas-
tiers TO our naval feet up the James river, near
Richmond. are not without foundation. but they
are not b lsed upon actual facts. The fact that
our entire naval force there, including the far
famed Monitor, has been for SO many weeks he
fore the rebel works, without being able To make
any impression upon them, has been seized hold
upon by Southern sympathiZeIs here as prima
fGeie evidence that the rebel works are impregnl-
be. But that bv no means follows. IL Il proper
naval force had been sent there in the first in
stance, Fort Darling and the rubel works on Dfu-
rvs Bluff could have been taken with very lIttle
trouble. Strengthened and protected as they are
now, it will require a fleet OF mortar boats and
the cooperation of "A land force. But they can
be taken whenever the Secretary Of War wishes
them To be taken, and whenever Old Gideon ex
ercises a little energy.