Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-06-10

HfMA VI bH nfbtt OcWIH JNthrVH-ffNW
McDo,ceH and Stanton rrere Fooled-7he Con
guest Of Richmond Ieft for MeClelian Alone.
WASHINGTON. June ).
am now ia possession of facts which enable
me to give 10 the readers Of the Times an in
sight into the real objects aud purposes Of the
recent attack and defeat of Banks by the rebel
Cen jackson Ii will be remembered that three
weeks ago four different Union armies were
marching on Richmond by four different routes
The battle of " lamsburg had been fought and
Gen. Mcclellan was chasing the Hover OF their
army through tie Peninsula. Mcdowell had got
far Fredericksburg by the Doth Of April,
and. although for more than a month aiterward
he did rot venture To move any farther south, it
was supposed at Richmond that he only
waiting Tor Mcclellan to commence operations in
form before that city, when be would JOIN ms
forces. Banks was moving slowly anu cautious
ly down the Valley of Virginia, and up tue left
bank OF the Shenandoah, and, II seemed. would
get To- Richmond soon after Mcclellan, and long
before Mcdowell. Fremont alone, OF all the
Generals, was hddling away his time in the noun
tains, fighting imaginary guerrillas, and adyanc-
ing toward Richmond at the pace that the frog
Jumped out Of the well three Yards upwards du-
ring the day aud five wards 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 OH prevent
ing the operation of the armies of Mcdowell,
Banks, and Fremont, with that of Mcclellan.
They were quite well aware of the strength Of
McCle lan's army, aud 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
and Richmond, and upon presenting always a
bold front by their rear guard, 10 retard the
Lit y
of NAV: 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. IL was in
pursuance Of the plans adopted at this meeting
that of JacksOn's subsequent operators were
conducted
His first movement was a feint towards Frede
ricksburg, executed about the 18th OF MAY. The
effect of this demonstration was 10 convince Nc
Dowel that he was the first object OF attack, and
Centreville and Washington the second. II he
had spent time with his troops. and less in
dawdng about aShngtOn, he could easily have
penetrated through Jacks0ns designs. But, in
an agony of terror, he posts off TO the War De
partment and begS Staunton to let him have the
divisions of Gen. Shields and Gen. Gelry, then
in Banks's army Ii he had asked for Banks
NllOlt army tue DttAStAiA AbutA o1dlNtiN nav
refused him the rule at the War Department be-
ing that Mcdowell has only to ask in order to
eeye 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
Market with the division of Gen Shields Here,
however, Shields was overtaken by messenger
from the War Department, directing him To let
both Banks and jackson "slide," and to hasten
Gen Geary received the same order at the same
time and both, of course. obeyed; and thus
Banks was left with 900 troops. This
actly what Jackson desired. Banks thus weak
ened. reteated from New Market nOrthward to
Strasburg; and jackson, leaving Mcdowell
Shields and Geary 10 the care OF Gems c. "
Smith. Holmes, and Whiting. comm ,nding the
left wing 10000 strong OF the army Of Rich
m0Rd began to pursue Banks On the 9th of
May he precipitated himself on Banks at From.
ROYAL, and drove him, heter-skelter, through
Strasburg. Winchester. and Martinsburg. IN sue
ceSsioI aud clear across the Potomac into Mary
land, at Willamsport.
Now mark the result The whole country was
startled by events 50 unexpected. Mcdowell, IN
another agony OF terror. again hastenS 70 " ash
inston. persuaded that the capital itself now
the immediate object OF the ConiedegateS, and
that. - they now Bud possession of the Baltimore
ana Ohio Railroad from Harper's Ferry u
Cumberland. aud OF the entire length of the
Manassas Gap Railroad. they could return in
strong force to their former strong position At
CenIeville, and thus cut him of from Washing
ton. The Secretary of War ct the same
opinion. Look At the map. and YOU will see that,
viewed geographically they were right Yet a.
military men they certainly did not display much
sasacity IN arriving at such conclusion. For
military reasons Il Was impossible for the Con
leder-,te> To march on " Washington. \ ct stanton
Withdrew MeDoweHs Whole army toward the
capital. for It's defense, aud telegraphed thus 10
the Gov ernor of each one of the Northern States:
The eHemy Ia great force are coming HdSb
ia0foa Please organize aul forward here imme-
datev ALL the volunteers and militia in your
State Edwin NJ. Stanton, Secretary of War.
\ literal compliance with this ridiculous ouleT
would have brought 10 Washington ia ten days
go .0o0 men, and in ten DAYS more another 20l :
000, making 500. 600 additional troops.
The object of the rebel leaders accom-
pshed. Three corps d'armee. including - Goa
excellent troops. s.ere paral wed, diverted from
the object they had in view, and turned back from
Richmond towards Washington. The Monitor.
the G4leua the Naugatuck and four other iron
clad vessels, all with heavy ornaments bad, IN
the meantime been driven back by the rebel
batteries on the james river below Richmond.
AMI il has been thus demonstrated that our
gunhoats can not ald IN taxing that city Rich
mond must be taken. therefore. by Mcclellan :
army alone.
Whatever can be done with the force II his dis
p0sal. Gen Nee elan will 10. But he can not
perform impossbiitie-. The battles the
Chckah0miny, on SATURDAY and Sunday last
show how desperate viii be the resistance which
the rebels will make before welding up the pos
session OF Their capital Their plan of battle on
Saturday contemplated getting around our lei;
flank and in our rear, and then attacking Us in
front. flank and rear al al once. IN Overwhelming
forc,.. The promptne=s and galantry OF General
Heintzelman, and the GOODNESS and steady cour.
ace OF his officers and troops alone prevented the
catastrophe Gen. Philip hearney i one Of his
division commanders, and Drawer officer or
more useful soldier does not live Thus AT the
Chickahominy n we'll a n WILLIAMSBURG. were
the fortunes Of the day saved BY these two Off
eers | am happy 10 see that Gen Mcclellan
official dispatches bear me out IN all | said IA
former letters about these two gallent men But
as witnessed their deeds of valor myself. claim
Ia lie the first u have done them Justice