Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-11-30

of the Rapidan - Defeat Of Burn
sfde,s Army-Exposure Of More Ad.
ministratI on Faisehoods-aboltti
Speeches at GettysbutK-KingA bra.
ham and his Body-Guard on their
TraveIs-The Mexican monarchy In
be formally recognized by the ADJ
ministration.
Especial Correspondents Of the Chicago Tines
WAsHISGToS. November 81.
There has been very little change in the rela-
tive positions Of the two armies on the Raniian.
since my letter OF November - The Copfed.
crates still bold their strongly fortified position
on the Rapidan, chiefly between the railroad
crossing and Orange urt-HOuse. but with their
cavalry -outposts extending to Stannarlsville on
the left and to Germania on the right Thus
posted, they can watch every movement Of Gen.
Meade. and act as circumstances NAV REQUIRE
Ii IS stated here TO cay, IN exulting tone that
our army has advanced to Madison Court-House.
That may be so. To do so would be in exact
obedience to Lincoln's order. But the only effect
OF the movement is to take our army thirty
miles further from its base than il was when on
the RappshannOck and 10 add thirty miles 10 the
already long route over which all their supplies
must be drawn. and to necessitute the detach-
ment OF another division from the main body of
the army, in order 10 guard these thirty addition
al miles Of road. Madison Court House il fifteen
miles southwest of Calpepper, but il is also ten
miles north of the Rapidan. At that point.
however, the Rapidan is a narrow stream. scarce
deeper than Bull Run at Centreville, and there
fore no obstacle to the crossing Of infantry and
cavalry. Artillery would REQUIRE a bridge.
But that is not the point. The point is that,
once across the Rapidan. Gen. Meade will be
eighty-fye miles from his base of supplies. and
will have eighty five miles of road to guard
through hostile and barren country Depleted
by the 10000 men necessary for this service his
little army of. say so 900 troops, can be held at
bay for weeks at the strong position of Gordons-
vile. by 10000 Confederates In the meantime
all the rest of Gen. Lees army can be- and will
be. employed elsewhere. Ii there are SO, 1000 or
IO,OUO OF them, IL would not be beyond Lees
ability TO concentrate them at fredericksburg
where they would be within thirty Eve miles of
the defences of Washington. But there is more
reason TO think that, instead of that, Gen. Lee
has recently sent two or three strong divisions to
Eastern Tennessee. to co operate with the troops
that were already there operating against Burn
side Gen. Longstreet's corps, some DAYS ago,
had already joined the troops sent by General
Bragg across the HiaNa ee River, who took
possession OF LoudOn, and who have now de-
feated Gen. Burnside at Kingson. Burnside is
thus between Longstreet, with probably % 600
troops, on the west. and General Jones' rein
forced from Lees army. with probably IS 900
more troops, at Rogersville, on the northeast
As Burnside cannot have more than half as many
men as are thus arrayed against him. and, as he
is thus caught between two fires. he will either
have to retreat or evacuate the whole of East
Tennessee. or else be cut 10 pieces. The latter
be will not do. He is not the man for anv such
act of herOsm. He may leave his troops to get
out of the scrape; but he will be sure to reach a
place OF safety Burnside wiped out Of this is
really what Gen. Lees detached troops are doinc)
the next We near of LOngstreet probably will be
that he has rejoined Gen. Lee with 40 600 troops
If. then, Gen. Lees army is raised 10 80. 900 or
90,0OO men, while Gen. Meade is seeking to fight
him near GOrdOnsyie. We may look out for an
other grand retreat to Washington. But with
Gen. Lee holding the inner line. and having such
greatly superior forces, what will become of our
army and our capitalg
For some days past the administration papers
have endeavored to make great deal of capital
out of the allegation that the Confederate au-
thorities at Richmond refused TO permit our
prisoners there to receive articles of clothing
and provisions that were sent them from the
North. There is not a word of truth in the
story. Immense quantities Of clothing, blankets,
food in great variety and various articles of com
fort, have been sent 10 Richmond by flag Of
truce, and all of the supplies. of whatever kind,
have been safely received there and faithfully
l
ed. On this point have the most positive and
direct testimony. There need be no further
physical suffering en the part OF our prisoners
there If the southern government is unable to
clothe and feed them. it will throw and has thrown
no obstacle in the way of our doing il. Yet the
whole country was recently shocked, Tor several
days in succession, by elaborate OF the
brutality of the rebel authorities in refusing TO
permit the Union prisoners to receive the supplies
of food sent to them. What must be thought of
the morality of people who will originate and aid
in the dissemination of such falsehOOdsi Yet
they are no worse than the systematic lies with
which the Republican newspapers have been
flooding the country for years, representing the
southern people as monsters Of cruelty, and which
conduct was the cause of bringing about that
feeling of hostility toward the South which re-
suited in the present war.
Your readers will have failed TO observe
tue exceeding bad taste which characterized the
remarks of the President and Secretary OF State
the dedication of the soldiers cemetery at
Gettysburg. The cheek OF every American must
tingle with shame as he reads the silly, fiat and
wish watery utterauces of the man who has 10 be
pointed out to intelligent foreigners the Presi-
dent OF the United States And neither be nor
Seward could refrain, even on that solemn occa-
sion, from spouting their odious abolition doc
trines. The readers of the Times ought 10 know,
too, that the valorous President did not dare TO
make this little journey 10 Gettysburg without
being escorted 10y a body guani OF soldiers. For
the first time in the history of the country. the
President of the United States. in travelling
through part of his dOminions. on n peaceful.
even religious mission. had 10 be escorted BY n
body guard of soldiers. When IL Is added thar
bis route was through Baltimore and part of
Maryland. the recent scene of such hagrant out
RACES the rights OF the citizens of that State,
you will readily comprehend that it for fear
of his own personal safety which led the Presi-
dent to go escorted, any other military desp0t
might 60.
AID Ihis is the man who, not cOntented with
tramDling on the Constitution of his country,
taking away the liberties OF his fellow citizens.
and abrogating the Monroe doctrine, is now ready
to strike hands with the Emperor Napoleon for
the establishment of monarchy in Mexico; for
it is said that overtures have been made TO the
Administration TO the effect that, if our Govern
ment will recognize Macmillan Emperor of
Mexico. then the French armies will withdraw
from Mexico. The Administration, il is said.
has entertained the proposal favorably, and will
no doubt agree to the infamous proposition.
What else could be expected from an Admins
tration with such sntecedents2 Y.