Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-11-28
Especial Correspondence of the Chicago Tines

Especial Correspondence of the Chicago Tines
WASHINGTON. November 81.
There has been very little change in the rela-
tive positions of the two armies on the Rapidan.
since nv letter of November IL The Confed-
crates still hold their strongly fortified position
on the Rapidan, chiefly between the railroad
crossing and Orange Courthouse but with their
cavalry outposts extending to Stannardsvlle on
the lett and to Germana on the right. Thus
posted, they can watch every movement of Gen
Meade. and act as circumstances may require
Ii is stated here 10 day, in exultipg tone that
army has advanced TO Madison Court-House
That may be SO. To do so would DO in exact
obedience to Lncoln's order. But tie only effect
Of the movement is To take our army thirty
miles further from its base than il was when on
the Rappahannock and TO add thirty miles 10 the
already long route over which all their supplies
must he drawn, aud 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 is fifteen
miles southwest ut Culpepper, but il is also ten
miles north Of the Rapidan AT that point,
however the Rapidan is narrow stream. scarce
deeper than Bull Run at Centreyille, 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 Rspidan Gen Meade will be
| eighty-tve miles from his base of supplies, and
! will have eighty five miles of road to guard
/ through hostile and barren country Depleted
by the $4,000 men necessary for this service. his
| little army OF, say 30 600 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 gu, 900 or
| 10 900 of them. it would not be beyond Lees
ability TO concentrate them ut Fredericksburg.
I
the deiences 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. Ia co operate with the troops
that were already there operating against Burn
side Gen. Longstreets CORPS some DAYS ago.
had already joined the troops sent by General
Bragg across the Hiapa &c River, who took
possession Of Louhon and who have now de
feated Gen Burnside at Kingston. Burnside is
thus between Longsteei, with probably 25 900
troops. the west. ard General Jones rein
forced from Lees army. with probably % 900
more trOops, at Rogersviile, 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 Ia retreat evacuate the whole of East
Tennessee. or else he cut to pieces The latter
he will not do He is not rhe man for any such
act of heroism. He may leave his troops to get
out o: the scrape; but he will be sure To reach
| place of sitc'y. burnside wiped out (f this is
really what Gen Lees detached troops are dong)
/ the next We hear of Lnngstreet probably will be
thar i've has rejoined Gen. Lee with 40 900 troops
| Ii, then, Gen. Lees army is raised 70 80 900 or
! 900 900 men, while Gen. Meade il seeking to fight
] him near Gordonsville. we may look out for an
| other grand retreat 10 Washington But, with
Gen Lee holding the inner line and having such
/ great, superior forces what will become of our
army and our capital?
For some DAYS past he administration papers
/ have endeav0red to make great deal of capital
out of the allegation that the Confederate au-
thorites ~ Richmond refused 10 permit our
prisoners there % receive articles of clothing
and provisions that were sent them from the
/ North There is not 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 al OF the supplies. of whatever kind
! have been safely received there and faithfully
distributed 10 tl,pSe for whom they intend
ell On this point have the most positive and
! direct testimony There need be no further
physical suffering en- the part of our prisoners
| there II the southern government is unable TO
clOihe and feed them. It will throw and has thrown
no obstacle m the Uay ut our doing it,. Yet the
/ whole country recently shocked. ior several
DAYS IN succession, bN elaborate statements OF the
brutality Of the rebel authorities in refusing to
0i food Seht "a them What must be thought of
the morality OF people who will originate aud aid
in the dissemination oi such fasehoodsy Yet
thew are III than the systematic lies with
which the Republican newspapers have been
flooding the coithity ior years. representing the
southern people a. monsters of cruelty and which
condnci the c-luse of bringing about that
I feeling ot hostility toward the South which re-
suited IN the present war
the exceeding hal taste which characterized the
remarks oi the President ara Secretary Of State
at the dedication OF the soldiers cemetery IT
/ Gettysburg The cheek OF every American must
Jingle with shame as he reads the silly, fat and
wish watery utterances OF the man Who has TO be
pointed out IN intelligent foreigners as the Presi-
! Gent OF the United States And neither he nor
Seward could refrain, even on that solemn occa-
sion from spOutng their odlous abolition doc
triues. The readers of the Times ought TO know
too. that the valorous President did not dare to
make this little oufnev TO Gettysburg without
being escorted by bod gusri OF soldiers. For
the tir>t time in the history Of the country the
Z President of the United States. in travelling
through part of his dominions, on peaceful.
even a religious mission had TO be escorted by
BODY guard of soldiers When il is addei that
his route was through Baltimore and part Of
Maryland. the recent scene of such fragrant out
RACES the rights of the citizens of that State,
YOU will readily comprehend that il was for fear
of his own personal safety which led the Presi
dent to 20 escorted. any other military despot
might 20.
And this Is the who, not contented with
trampling 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
il is said that overtures have been made to fhe
Administration TO the effect that. if our Govern
ment will recognize Maximilian as Emperor Of
Mexico. then the French armies will withdraw
from Mexico. The Administration it is said,
has entertained the proposal favorsbly. and will
no doubt agree TO the infamous proposition
Wha. else could be expected from an Admins
traton With such antecedeutsl X.
~ There is immense oyster trade now
+ going on in Baltimore