Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-03-10
Washington Correspondence.

Gen. Mcclellan Hard Pressed-Has no friends
in the Ca6iRef-H0Ld on the President grotcinq
SmaH-Ercitsment-Rumors of a Fight-Ot
an Attack on Manassas-FaLse Report Disap-
Fight or Retire-N0 AhernatiUe-Resut of his
Retiriag-Anticipoted Congressional Storm.
WAsHINGroS, March .. 1862.
To the Editors of the Enquirer:
On Wednesday last | commenced a letter to
you to explain to you many reasons why General
Mcclellan must fight at once, or be superseded
The Cabinet all against him-some because
they hate his politics, others because they think
the clamor in the country for fight is getting
to be too strong. All make use of the same cry:
eWe must have fight" The Senate is largely
against him, because he is not an Abolitionist.
The Republicans OF the House are against him
IA majority for the reason that actuates the
Senate. He has no hold except by the favor OF
Lincoln. That the hold of cable; it is
wearing down to a bed-cord in size.
did not finish nv letter, because, while in
writing it, | heard of the order of the Secretary
of War as to telegraphs and newspapers-of Nc
Clelan taking up his headquarters in Banks's di-
vision. | thought the fight had come and burnt
nv letter.
Well, we could hear nothing authentic, but
everybody believed that two divisions had gone
toward Manassas, and orders given for general
battle on the whole line. The railroad cars were
all seized; troops wee hurried to the Relay
House. Banks had ,sed the Potomac-had
taken Harper's Ferry, Charlestown-had gone
toward Winchester, been whipped badly-in full
retreat-no, that was false rumor; he had only
been repulsed-received reinforcements, taken
Winchester, and was ready, with Lander, to
swoop down through Manassas Gap to the juno
ton Meantime Hooker hid ferried across to
Acquia Creek-the whole center had advanced
a terrific fight was going on-"inteligent contra
band" had come in, who said it true-men
could even hear the guns.
Anxiety and expectation were on every face.
There was hurrying to and fro. Hacks were in
requisition; trunks we're speedily packed; hotel
and board bills suddenly paid. The railroad
trains going to Baltimore could not accommodate
quarter of the flying multidudes, who thought
they were surely escaping from the Richmond
Tobacco Warehouse prisons.
AboltiOnsts we're triumphant. They had gain
ed their policy. They believed the Confederates
would be beaten. If so. the Abolitonists would
get all the credit If they did not, it was because
we had not emancipated the negroes-had return
ed slaves from the army-and because of militia
ry incapacity-must change Generals and change
policy
Well All got up yesterday morning full OF
expectation, when about two O'Clock General Nc
morning. No fight on the Potomac-no
advance on Manassas-no movement by
Hooker-Banks had crossed to Harper's
Ferry-had taken Charlestown without any
opposition-and for some reason-what is iti-
nobody knows-wbether change of plans, bad
arrangements, or what-hs army had quietly
stopped. concluded to remain for the present, and
General Mcclellan repaired to town. Indeed.
there was some tall swearing. The thing had
fzzled, or there never was anything IN the al
legged movement to Justify all this amount OF
fuss and feathers" We had all our anxiety,
speculation, anticipated Inauguration of Abo-
litionism for nothing. Lincoln swore-forgot to
tell smutty stories-caIled Cabinet meeting at
night-had a devil of a time generally-and fur
ther | am not advised, but will predict that un-
less Mcclellan makes his fight this week he will
be driven from the chief command.
Every possible ingenious mode of attack
which deyilish fanaticism can devise is being
used against him, and if he does not head
them all off by moving he will go by the
board The real secret Of the enmty TO him
is that he is not an Aboitionist, and that he has
some notion of love for the principles of Consti-
tutional Government. Tbe avowed cause is that
he is wasting the reputation, treasure, &C., of the
nation, and restraining the ardor patriotism. &c.
or the people. and by mere delay consolidating
the power OF the enemy
1t Mcclellan is driven out, the Administration
goes straight over to fanatical Abotionism.
Wade. Sumner. Lovejoy, Hutchins & Co.. will
then control completely, and the Union sentiment
at the South will be forever destroyed. Whether
the fight will be ordered by Mcclellan nobody
seems to know. He keeps his own counsels.
As | write driving snow storm prevails, the
successor Of four days of as fine, dry winter
weather ever man looked at. think worse
storm will rage in Congress commencing this
week, and its end no man knows. PoroMAc.