The daily Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1862-1863, 1862-07-10

ny One of the most discouraging fea-
lures of the war is the seeming inability OF
our military commanders to obtain prompt
and authentic information of rebel move
ments This, no doubt is largely owing to
the fact that the rebels are operating on
their own ground, and are sustained by the
sympathies of the people, who are prompt
to notify them of federal movements, and
ingenious in concealing their own. Our
officers are always in the dark. They ap-
pear to be totally ignorant of the forces
opposed to them, and without ability to
remedy the difficulty. So long as this
trouble exists, we may reasonably expect
repulses and disasters at particular points.
If Union army of 100000 men can be
amused for weeks by column of $4,000
or 10000 rebels-under the impression that
it is besieglng and on the point of bagging
1OO, OOO-it is not strange that the rebels
have so much success in concentrating on
isolated divisions and overpoN ering them
by numbers.
Our military authorities, now, are at
loss to know where Gen. Besuregard and
his army are located. Gen. Mcclellan and
his officers are positive the migratory rebel
General is at Richmond, with the flower of
his troops, and participated in the attack on
their army. They assert that this opinion
is confirmed by prisoners who belonged to
Beauregard's Western army. On the other
hand, Gen. Halleck and his officers main
tain that Beauregard's army is still in Mis-
sissippi, though just where in that State,
they do not appear to know.
A correspondent of the Missouri Demo-
GRAFT teIegraphs to that paper that there
is in command at Tupello with from 40
600 to $4,000; and that Breckenridge left
that place few days ago with 10000 men,
for what point is not known. He says it il
the unanimous testimony of scouts, desert
ers, and spies, that 70 rebel troops have
gone East.
Gen. Halleck could have obtained infor-
nation of rebel movements, if he had not
been so fearful of the negro. That despised
and down-trodden race, under the impress
sion that the Federal troops we're coming to
give them freedom, were anxious to convey
all the information in their possession, but
they were abruptly driven from the Federal
lines. The blood of many loyal soldier
has been made to flow by this mistaken
policy of Gen. Halleck. An officer Of the
42d regiment informs US that they would
have been attacked at disadvantage seve-
raj times in Tennessee, had it not been for
information brought them by negroes. In
no instance, he says further, haze the ne
groes eper deceiUed them. This officer is not
a man who can be charged with entertain
ing any admiration for the negro. General
Banks army was saved by the friendly
warning of a negro, and had the advice of
a negro slave been taken, JEFF. Thompson
and all his gang would have been captured
at Fredericktown. Gen Burnside's feet in
its successful attack on Roanoke Island was
guided by a negro pilot, and the valuable
services capable of being rendered to our
blockading feet by Robert Small, in the vi
cinity of Charleston, is apparent to all.
The slaves know every road and by-path
in the Southern States, and would prove
Invaluable as guides to our troops, were
they not spurned from our camps and de-
livered up to their masters. Still, we sup
pose the sacrifice must go on. Our friends
and nsighbOrs must lose their lives in sud-
den assaults by concealed foes, or by blind
attacks ordered by bewildered commanders,
rather than avail themselves of valuable in
formation from so degraded source as
negro. 1t win not do to irritate Kentucky
conservatism.