Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-08-17
Special Correspondence of the Chicago Times.
WASHINGTON, August Ii.

ARLINGTON, August IL.
The military policy OF the Administrator for
the summer and fall campaigns is now definitely
agreed upon So far as II relates 10 the Army of
the Potomac. it is 20 disiastcful to General Meade
because it is so unwise) that that gallant and
able officer has asked To be relieved of his com
m and. That policy ID as follows: To keen tie
$40 900 or 600 900 men comprising The Union ar
mics scattered at distant points. or Engaged in a
number of disconnected little expeditions, each
one OF them having no relation TO any general
plan. TO send all the veteran troops in the East
that can be spared to Charleston, IN order to sc
cure the reduction OF that city: TO FL uD tue deci
mated aud depleted regiments OF the Army Of
the Potomac with conseripts. but TO act on the
defensive with that army until the cool weather
OF the fall or. if Gen Meade assumes the often
sive at all. TO compel him to cross the Rappa-
hammock. To continue the pursuit of Lees army,
and 10 force the latter TO fight somewhere be
tween that stream and Rjc. mond.
This programme il the most unwise and iniu
dicious that the vi, of man could have conceived
except in regard 10 a single point. II il is per
sisted in. il will result in failure and disaster at
all points except that one. That ore is in re
gard 10 Charleston. Gen. Gilmore has been re-
inforced and j. still being reinforced, in 4 manner
and to an extent that no other Union General
has ever been favored. He has command before
Charleston. or will have i'm a few days, of an
army exceeding in numbers either the army with
which Gen Grant reduced Vicksburg, or with
which Gen. Mcclellan made his Peninsula cam
paign. ana Il; Is composed. too, of the best dis
ciDllned troops IN the service, with all the ap-
plIances that are needed for the work. liz is.
indeed. the first time that Charleston has been
approached with a force at all adequate to its
reduction. or in the manner indicated in m,
letter OF April 81 If Charleston can be taken
at all. il must be in this manner And, un
less the Confederates have concentrated there
IL least 5000 troops, there is A probability.
at least. that the city will fall
The present relative positions Of the armies OF
Gen Meade aud gen. Lee are such that it would
he madness in the former 10 attempt TO reach
X Edmond bv the overland route. or even 20 cross
the Rappshlnncck and seek 10 bring on An en-.
gagement with the latter The whole country
North and South. knows what the strength Of
Gen. Meade's army IVES At the time Gen Lee
eluded him and crossed the Potomac into vir.
ginis. at Wiiiamsport. on the 18th ult After
the fearful losses il had suffered az Gettysburg.
and after being reinforced. on the 10Th or 18th,
by the troops recently in the Peninsula, il did not
number over IS. 900 or 90 000 men. II has not
been reinforced since. and. except by sending con
scripts TO it. the Administration will not further
reinforce il. Ii Is idle 10 talk about the 80. 900
troons under Gen Heintzleman at this city. and
the - .0e0 or 10000 now uuder Gen. Morris al
Baltimore, who. in the absence of Schenck. has
been placed Nv the War Department in the com.
mand of the Middle Department Those 81. 900
troops will remain just where they are Neither
Lincoln, nor Stanton. nor Hslleck could sleep
quietly al nights it one Of HeintzieDan's soldiers
should be sent away from here; while the safety
Of ths Baltimore nd Ohio railroad, which was
opened today for the first time. for the through
travel along is whole extent. from here In Par
I.-.kvrr nil ratufrp ~ cry N Of (,ap Nnrrssf
80. 900 troops. aud 5000 more besides IL were
well indeed for that roac. aud for the country.
if Schenck would stay away altogether, for then
Gen Morris. who is a soldier. would take a sol
dier's method to protect the former.
Gen. Meade. then Is 10 be reinforced by con
scripts Your readers can judge What kind Of
soldiers they will make. After they have been