Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-02-17

cCCCccOH cQuCC1C tittooSH tile CCitclltii
doors, Daughter, and iarding the golden pave
ments OF the New Jerusalem. [laughtev;l but
he can not exercise little faith Just the size
of a mustard seed. in the prescence, skill and
sagacity of our accomplished young General.
Obi if there is one thing mere beautiful than
another, il is that trust which we repose in anoth
er in dark hours of trial and death IL is said
that reason was the 6rst-born, but faith inherits
the blessing Reason is apt 70 be fallible, short
sighted. eager impetuous and impatient of con-
tradiction: while faith is gentle and docile, ever
ready to listen TO the voice by which alone truth
and wisdom can effectuaIly reach her. God has
created two lights-the greater light to rule the
busy day-reason; the lesser. TO rule his contem-
plative night-faith; but faith shines only so long
as she reflects something Of the illumination of
the brighter orb. Where a man has no faith he
has no light of reason
e There are some things in which man must
exercise his trust The American people, unlike
my colleague, have read the history of Gen. Nc
Clelan. They know his military studies, his
travel and observation bis practical railroad life,
his mode of dealing with men and bodies of men,
his prudential reserve, his unfailing patience, pat
rotism and confidence in his own resources
They know that the enemy would havebeen glad
TO have had him at the head of their forces. They
know that he has never blundered that he safe
if not brilliant; that his power TO surprise and
combine rare qualities Of his military genius;
that his knowledge of topography, engineering
and field strategy, his method and industry and
his quick apprehension of military strength and
weakness. eminently fit him for this high com
mand. Knowing this and reasoning tpon this,
now that the night is upon us. they will keep
their faith in him, and no hostile criticism of
the gentleman here can shake that faith The
attack of nv colleague is like that Of the "pig-
my with straw against giant cased IN ada
mant."
NV colleague is not satisfied with anything
short of an advance at every hazard. He is not
satisfied with the President, for he defers TO Nc
Clellan; not satisfied with any commahder-in.
chief, for no one can command even three hun
dred thousand men; not satisfied with What has
been dore; not satisfied with what is to be done.
He would discourage all our efforts, aad make
taxation weigh like useless burden on an anx-
ious and saddened people. His policy would dis
organize the army, and realize his theology by
making a hell on earth [laughterl without giving
US the satisfaction of future state, where seces-
sion may have its fit and eternal doom. Laugh
ter.
So much for the critic, Now what's the crit
icism?
First: he carries us to Missouri, and says that
General Curtis was sent with some ten thousand
men against Price, when there was almost GER
tanty of Prices capture, when all at one an or
der came from a general officer, either there or
here, which called a halt, and nothing was done
Now, either my colleague meant that General
Mcclellan or General Halleck, by their hesitation
and delay, have allowed the campaign against
Price TO be suspended, if not abandoned l do
not care which General he meant; it is simply
not true that either of them have been thus dere-
lct. The facts are these Generals CARTS, Sigel
and Asboth have been ordered towards Spring
field to attack Price, if it was thought best in
their judgment They sent forward large cav.
airy reconnaissance, and found that indefatigabIe
and able General Price in sach force that they
concluded TO hold council of war, ard decided
that six additional regiments were neeied On
notifying General Halleck, he at once ordered
them from General Pope's command, near Seda-
liza, to move to the scene of operations. General
Halleck's opinion, in letter received by General
Mcclellan only two days ago, was that they
would either beat Price, OK drive him out of Mis-
souri,. Perhaps my colleague never got as far as
Springfield, and he does not know the almost
matchless strategy of Price He has ventured to
appear in force in Southwestern Missouri, but he
takes care to be in convenien. range of the Bos-
ton mountains, where be can hide in that almost
locality, and where il is easier for
him to 60 than our Generals to follow. But it is
utterly unjust to General Mcclellan TO say that
Missouri soldiers. General Halleck has received
no orders inconsistent with the most prompt move
ments in Missouri
When General HalIeck took command of the
army in Missouri, he found mountsns of dificul
ty to overcome-as Buell. did in Kentucky, as
Mcclellan did herein the organization and
equipment OF the troops. General Halieck
found, it is true, fine paper organization. He
has labored with a statesman's foresight, publi-
cists learning and soldiers skill to bring order
out of chaos. He found troops without concen-
tration, and required arms. transportation and
supplies, which General Mcclellan has strained
every nerve to afford. There has been no delay
by any orders of General Mcclellan. His orders
TO Halleck, as to Buell., have been to hurry his
movements as fast as it was safe and possible.
state these as the positive facts of the case; and
If gentlemen want she facts, let them go to the
headquarters and they can have them.
Again, MY colleague makes the specific charge
that he is informed, on authority which he is not
permitted to question-and suppose to quote
that some ten or fifteen thousand Confederate
troops, near Ronney were in the power of our
army of forty thousand, and that the capture 80
easy was not made, because an order came from
headquarters here not to advanced This is
charge as sweeping it is irresponsible and
groundless. do not care who is his authority, l
luCSttOil u utIt anu IOW. MY COitdHut rtduS
certain telegraphs which have strangely come in
10 his possession, to show that Lander and Kelly
dispatched that they could take the rebels, and
all that was wanted order; and prestoi
here they are. We have had good many such
successes in anticipation. / believe we had one
st Piketon. 1t is said that General Lander tele-
Eraphed and General Kelley sent messenger to
apprise each other of the absolute certainty OF
success. General Lander | admire for his eau
ion and ntrepidity: but will state the facts 70
which | suppose my colleague refers state
hem correctly General Lander went to relieve
General Kelley at Romney-Kells being sick
He reached Hancock on the 9Th of January.
He found the enemy, under General Jackson, on
the other side of the river, in considerable
fifteen or sixteen thousand. The
snemy had driven few of our troops across the
river. When General Lander reached his post
the enemy were shelling, or about to she'll. Han
cock. General Jackson summoned Gen. Lander
10 surrender. Lander declined. jackson sheled
away at Hancock without effect. Lander sent
for reinforcements General Mcclellan sent one
Of Bankss brigades by forced marches, at once
W bile there. General Lander sent two or three
long dispatches, suggesting various movements
TO cut off jackson. Gen. Jackson had shorter
distance to return to Winchester than General
Banks had TO narch to cut off Jackson's retreat,
besides the river, which il would take forty eight
hours to cross, as they had no means of crossing.
General McC Clellan refused to trust command 10
cross the river under these circumstances, with
no chance of retreat provided. General Lander
then sent another dispatch to General Banks criti-
cizing the President, General Banks, and others;
to which Mcclellan replied that General Lauder
was too suggestive and critical" l think here
IS the rub: Mcclellan had seen enough Of the
Balls Bluff business--that affair which I do not
refer to except to say that no one attaches the