The daily Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1862-1863, 1863-05-15
s@ We print on our first page, thi,

Illinois "Copperhead Legislature.
Rg We print on orr first page, this
morning, letter from Agate, the nom
de plume of one of the editors of the
Cincinnati Gazette We have generally
found Agate communications to be as
reliable as the nature of the events he
describes will admit, and quote him now
because we are assured that he says all
that can be truthfuIly said in regard to
the future OF the Army Of the Potomac.
The fifth campaign Of that large army,
which has cost the Government nearly
as much as all the remainder of its
campaigns, in failure The last repulse
at Fredericksburg grows darker the
longer We look at it, and it requires all
the ingenuity of Agate to discover any
bright side to the picture. The whole
effort was bloody failure. Whether it
was owing 10 poor fighting or poor gen
eralship. we are not competent to decide.
All we know is, that our most mag
nifcent army-as regards numbers and
equipments-after months of prepare
ton, moved across the Rappahannock,
took choice of position, en.renched it
self, and awaited attack, confident in its
ability, or apparently so, to defeat it's
opponent On the other hand, the rebel
army left its entrenchmentS-from which
we had attempted to dislodge it in vain
marched and attacked our troops in
their chosen position, drove them out
of their entertainments, and fnai y
forced them to re-cross the Rappahan-
mock, leaving their wounded in rebel
hands. St0neman's raid seemed to afford
partial relief to the Responding feelings
<,f-l---r--t,I~, rry Tear utit-v, v,,-----.:fl
prove to have been greatly overrated.
These are unpleasant reflections; but
what good can result from continued
effort to delude ourselves and our read
ers2 What is the use of fattering our
selves that Hooker is this, that, or the
other-that the army is not demOralized,
but is in fine spirits, and anxious to be
led against the enemy? The very earn
estness Of the press, in its efforts to con-
vince the people of the good condition of
the Army of the Potomac, will increase
their anxiety and uneasiness; for, they
say, d" If these things be so, why protest
60 much
I'm afraid things are not going right,
on the Rappahannock," remarked an
Observing friend, at the time the country
was electrified with the feryid accounts OF
Rockers generalship and success.
Why, we inquired, don't the news
IL seem favorable.
"Yes, but you notice the correspon-
dents keep repeating our troops are
in fine spirits; our position is impreg-
nable;' Hooker thinks he cannot be
beaten &c; land" he continued,
q have ever found such expressions the
sure forerunners of disaster and defeat !"
Unfortunately for the country, he was
not deceived in this instance "Impreg
nable POSITIONS and safe communica
tons" have been the curse of the army
of the Potomac. Always looking after
these. it has invariably lost sight of vic
~. 1t has been so repeatedly unfor
= that we fear there is no future
[ 40 NLLtless it is disbanded and min
70 our other armies who seldom
"a but to victory. Had our army a
turfreesboro been mindful only o
"strong positions" and undisturbet
communications, it, too, would have
met with 8 result similar to that which
has crowned all the efforts of the arm.
of the Potomac. But the Western boy
went in to win, and they fought unit
they did win. So they will do again
when their commanders announce tn
word
The rebel armies in the field must b
whipped or it is folly to talk about takini
cities. If Hooker can't whip Lee in al
open field fight, when he has the adVar
tages all on his side, it is quite certai
he could hbt oyerpower him behind th
strong Publications which environ Ricl
mond
~ We hear frequent complaints q
..-,, ;ys,f~iae done to uTOccuple