Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-09-14
special Correspondence of the Chicago Times.l
WASHINGTON, September 3.

One of the New York papers has a long and
pungent editorial. headed why is the Fall of
Charleston Delayei?" This, after the assuran-
ceS of the specify fall of Charleston that have
been officially sent all over the country for weeks
past. is particularly rich. As the siege pro-
crosses, however. the difficulties in the way of
the reduction Of the city become more apparent.
Indeed. the Developments of the last week fully
verify all that | have said on the subject in recent
letters. Fort Sumter has not surrendered. The
dear old dag dies not wave there vet, but the
Confederate flag does. But Fort Sumter is
pretty well knocked to pieces, and is now little
better than a mass OF ruins Ii is probable that
the land upon which the fort stood will soon be
in our possession; but. when that event takes
place, the real work of taking Charleston will
only have begun. 1t can not he taken bv as
sault, nor will it be shcled. Fort Wagner has
been approached 10y parallels, and the last paral-
lei was completed weeks ago. Everything
was ready for the assault, except the troops
that were to make the assault. They we're not
on hand. IL seems that the promise of the Ad
ministration, about sending "A large army of
troops TO Brigadier General Gilmore, was not
performed. A great blow was made about the
vast number of troops that we're beng sent to
! Brigadier General Gilmore, and the troops were
really brought up here from the Army of the
Potomac. and sent hence. But they were not
sent to Charleston They were sent to New York,
and there they are now. There are eleven regi
menis of infantry oi Tie regular army, composing
the army corps 90 General Sykes; eight regiments
from Ohio and Indiana. ten regiments from New
England Xix regiments from Michigan, Wiscon-
sin and MDresDia; seven regiments of cavalry
and artillery from New York. and twelve lregi
ments from other States. making in all fifty four
regiments, together with $50 pieces of artillery
a total strength y! ~, 1000 troops.
This f,,rp if sent la Gharleston a monfh aCO.
in addition TO the force now there. would have
take en- that rity. Inste,d 81 that, they are sent TO
New York 10 e1f'r the cunscription there And
it is bctause they were sent TO New York that
Gen. Gilmore Is n,ble To take Charleston. With
the frrce- at his command, Brig. Gen, Gilmore
cannot take the works comprising the defenses of
Charleston by storm Nor will he shell the city.
1t Is stated that the government received official
notification To day that same 900 Union prso-
ners had he.n removed from r chnond and
taken to Oh sriestun This is the retaliation
Threatened by Gen Beauregari. lt is scarcely
likely that Brig Get. Gilmure will leel like
throwing bomb shells into a city ia which | 200
Of his own kith and kin are l,ing around loose.
He will, therefore. he compelled 10 continue the
regular operations of a siege. But he las arriv-
ed at n point where further operations are impos
sible, without large reiniorcements, and these it
is not likely he will receive at present, or for
some time. Even if he does receive them, the
land forces cannot take Charleston, as | have
said before. until the other forts in the harbor are
reduced, the ram destroyed aud the distractions
removed, and this is a task beyond the powers of
the navy S, that the fall OF Charleston seems
as far off now as ever.
There are no other things. not generally known,
that are retarding the fall of Charleston. One of
them is the nature of the soil in which the opera
tons of Gen. Gilmore are conducted. and in
which, of course, the bitches composing his
parallels have to be dug. This is SO porous and
sandy. and the land lies so low. that the paral
lels, after being dug. become in a few hours filled
with water. Now, the use of parallels is to ena-
BILE the besieeer to approach the besieged without
being exposed to the fire of the latter. But to DO
this, the parallels must be dry. In this case. the
parallels, becoming filled with water, are entirely
useless.
The country may well ask. with a~mazement.
why have 50, 900 Of the best soldiers of the Army
of the Potomac been removed from that armyT
Is II because the Administration invites the Con
federates under Gen Lee to attack WashingtcDf
II looks very much like it. Ii was reported at
the War Department yesterday that Gen. Lee
had already begun to cross the Rsppabannock,
! and that one corps, or one third of his army was
on this side OF that river, Mt a point below Fred
ericksburg. If this report proves to be correct,
it il no more than I stated, in my recent letters.
would take place in case Gen Meade was not
largely reinforced before the end of August If,
in consequence Of the stupidity of the Admins
~tsation, Washington is now endangered. it viii
not be difficult to fix the responsibility where IL
belongs / learn o.day. however. that the report
Of Lees crossing the Rappahannock is not con
frmed, but. on the contrary, that a considerable
portion of Lees army had been sent to Charles
ton to assist Beauregard in the defense of that
place. Whether the last report is true or not,
can not vet be determined; but Il is quite likely
to be correct. At all events, in connection with
the reconnaissance recently made to Bottoms
bridge, it shows the importance of taking Rich
mond this fall. and how easily that city can be
taken If properly attacked. Indeed, it Is not too
much to say that Charleston can not be taken as
long as Richmond remains in the hands Of the