Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-07-13

PHIA IN P~ERIL-PosITIoN or THE ARMY OF THE
POToMAC-GES. LEE WILL HAVE TO DEFEAT
GES. MEADE BEFORE HE CAN ATTACK BALrI-
MORE OR WASHINGTON.
Special Correspondence Of the Chiacgo Times.
WASHINGTON, Jolly 1.
The movements of the Confederate army in
Pennsylvania, during the last two DAYS, have
been full of significance. Gen. Lees headquar-
tiers are at Chambersburg. His forces still occu
py the territory between that place, Carlisle and
Gettysburg. while their pickets extend far be
yond, in all directions. But the heads of his
columns have been turned to the eastward. He
has made no further demonstration toward Har-
risburg. A considerable distance of the railroad
track of the PENNSYLVANIA railroad. west of that
place. has been destroyed; but at present it does
not seem to be Gen. Lees intention to move on
the capital of Pennsylvania. Thoseof his troops
that had adval ced as far as Carlisle are now
moving down the right bank of the Susquehanna.
The other columns. at Chanbersburg and Gettys-
burg, are moving over the roads Of that vicinity
towards York. Wrightsville, Columbia and Ian
caster. When any considerable force reaches
Wrightsville. on the SusQuehanna river, twenty.
five miles below Harrisburg, there will be some
data on which TO base a theory as to Gen. Lees
subsequent movements aud his probable designs.
The bridge over the Susquehanna at Wrights-
vile has been burned. But that makes no diff
~ w O1hs ~ " tC nno WIN nun v
miles of pontoon bridges. If he begins to lay
these ~pontoons across the Susquehanna at Co.
lumbia, that will be all that need be known in
order to penetrate his designs. Tn that case the
fate of Philadelphia is sealed. In four DAYS af-
ter the p%ontoon bridge is laid the army of Gen.
Lee will be in possession of the Quaker City.
and the Confederate flag will be Aying from the
State House. steeple. l know there is a body of
troops at Harrisburg, composed of brave men,
and many of the regiments commanded BY ex-
perienced Colonies. 1 know that the citizens of
Philadelphia will throw up a line of hasty in
trenchments. and will endeavor to defend their
city. But | know that there is nothing in Penn
sylvauia that can withstand the march of Lees
$50 600 veteran troops. if he determines to
march to Philadelphia. This deplorable state of
affairs is the direct and legitimate result of the
conduct of Pennsylvania during the war. She
has surrendered all her means of defense, her
2O0. 900 soldiers, her arms, her munitions of war,
and all her State rights too, and her State SOW
e~reignty, into the hands of the General Govern
ment as she thought. bet really into the hands of
the wretched crew of imbecle fanatics who COM
pose the Administrations here; and now she lies
PROSTATE, helpless. defenseless, at the feet Of an
invading army. Gen. Mcclellan is a Philadel-
phian; Gen. Franklin is a Pennsylvania If
eithor one of them had been allowed 10 act in
this emergency, a few weeks ago, "A force would
have been raised. in PENNSYLVANIA and other
| oEtttr. tldt NOuNu nave VFeNbDleu ILLS lDNdSlOD-
But Gen. Mcclellan is imperiOusly commanded
to keep quiet, and Gen. Franklin is II hurried off to
New Orleans. IL is barely within the limits of
possibility that a force may be raised in New
York and New jersey which may be able to pre-
vent the capture of Philadelphia.
But if, on arriving at Wrightsville, the Con
federate rmy continues its march down the right
bank of the Susquehanna towards Havre de
Grace. that will Indicate a movement on Balti-
more and Washington. and of course. the de-
%struction Of the railroad between Philadelphia
and Baltimore If Hooker had been retained in
command Il dav longer, it is not too much to say
that both Of these cities. TOO, would have fallen
an easy prey to the Coniederates. But the
movements of Gen. Meade. during the last two
DAYS, have been marked by vigor and good judg.
ment. and the fine army under his command has
already been moved TO a point where it can act
with advantage.
Gen. Lee has not taken all Of his troops with
him into Pennsylvania. When be crossed the
Potomac, he left on the south side of that river
nearly all his cavalry. some 5000, under Gen.
Stuart. This body of cavalry has been hanging
on the TANKS of HoOker'S army. and watching
Hooker movements. ever since. They were at
Fairfax on the 26th nit. They crossed the Poio-
mac at Il point only seven miles above Wash
ington. on the 9th. They captured two of our
wagon trains on the 2Sth. near Rockville, in Ma
= y AFth nv ~ 49, ms ~ w Jul hhAbN
in Frederick. They moved thence north, to
Sykesville, where they cut the Baltimore and
Ohio railroad on the 29th Hooker was then at
Frederick. He had justbeen relieved of his com
mand. He had started on n sperial train for Bal
timore, and had gone half way to Sykesville
when the train was stopped, and he learned that
he was running right into the jaws of J. Z.
Stuart. OF course the train ran back 10 Freder-
lex in n hurry. On the same day Gen. Stuart
sent some detachmentS of his cavalry down to
Sandy Spring and Colesviile, ten or twelve miles
from Annapolis Junction, and sixteen miles
from the Relay House 1t seemed. indeed. on
that day, that the railroad between here and Bal
timore was in great peril. But Gen. Meade had
already got his forces in motion. Yestesday. his
movements were such that Gen. Stuart was com.
PEELED to make a hasty march northwards. and
he has now joined the main body of Gen. Lees
army. The Maryland Nights were evacuated,
and everything blown up Yesterday.
The Army of the Potomac. under Gen. Meade
is now north of Baltimore, and in such a position
that il covers that CITY and the railroad between
1t and Havre lie Grace. Gen. Lee will have to
fight and defeat it before he can either touch that
railroad or attack Baltimore. 1t is a fine army.
although greatly reduced from its former strength.
Its corps commanders. its division Generals. its
Brigadier Generals. its ColOnels. and its officers
in all the lower grades are all that could be
wished. Its men are veteran soldiers. All it
needs IL a neau- MAY Zoo grant tnat 6en-
eral Meade will prove himself worthy of his
position
There was u stormy session of the Cabinet yes
terday The President has assumed u reckless,
careless temper. aud il would seem, from a dec
~laratioh he made on that occasion that he is en-
tirely Indifferent 10 the fate of the country. He
was urged again 10 t'ke the only step that would
be sure tn result ia military success, namely: to
restore Gen. McClell II to the chief command.
Rnt he only rpnlial anurilv that ON tha nOint
his mind was made M; that. il he must be con-
auered. he would rather be conquered by Gen.
Lee than Gen. Mcclellan. God help the country
when such sentiments are entertained by the head
of "the Government" X.
The Presidents Opinion.
The Boston Common We lth. an ultra Adolf
ton paper, is authority for the following:
81 have examined this negro business, and
probed it TO the hottom," said the President, in
reply to some Captain who wanted to raise a
negro regiment Its the same thing with all
of you. If | gave you authority to raise this
regiment. the result would he that you would get
Colonel's pay for several months, and | would
get-not a ~nigqer."
The whole business of this war has been con-
Quoted on the same principle
Plumber is the grand objects of IT'S managers,
aud it will 20 on as long AS the plumber lasts.
GENERAL MEADE-The Detroit Free Press
thus characterizes General MEADE:
Ali thinoc heinr coual we would nrcfer Gem