Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1863-01-16

bers that they look like bait thrown out for the
benefit Of the rebels TO come In and gobble them
up in detail. All the losses we have ever sils-
tained In this department, have been because
our forces have not been massed at such points,
and In such numbers, that our delachmente
could euccoP or aid one another, when attacked
by superior numbers. And notwithstanding all
our sad experience Of the past, nothing seema
to be doing to avoid the same calamites in the
future. Our strategy consists In distTibation In.
stead of combination. | would like to see an
intelligent reason for the present distribution oi
the army Of Kentucky, or the necessity for the
number Of forces kept Idle here, when 1t ls
known, that there ls not aa armed rebel force
within the boundaries o. the State.
| IL Is eaid we have now one million Of armed
men in the field. And yet such has been the
want Of supporting combinations, that Rose
Grams came well nigh losiDg his whole army for
want of numbers. Sherman, after almost cap.
turing Vicksburg, had TO retire for want Of
having an army Of reserve of hand to reinforce
him in his critical condition. The gunboats
from below, and those which accompanied his
expedition, did not eeem to know anything OF
bic operations, nor did they aid or act 10 con.
cert With him. The whole affair seems to have
been loose jGlnted. Banks, with a large army
and large naval force should have been there
to support him; but there are no tidlngs OF him 4.
General Grant, With bis large army, is "lyiDg
around loose" without any apparent object In
view hrst advancing and then compelled ~ re-
tire, because few hundred men got In his rear,
and destroyed million or more dollars worth Of
stores 0or want of propse protection), and cut
OH hls communication with the base Of his op.
eratons Gf he had any).
tell you my opinion 10 frankly this The
Government has made moot terrible mistake
Ia putting at the head of our armies, divisioDs
and brigsdcs, the Captains and Leutenan,s of
the regular army to the entire exclusion Of
volunteer ofHoera who have shown sckn0Vl.
edged military ability.
Some Of the very beat fighting of ihia whole
var ha5 been done by the latter class of officers.
And IL Ia becoming matter of the grsvest
Importance to the country 30 look into this sub
ject
The officers, who make up ninety hine hund.
redths OF the whole corps of officers in the field,
are volunteers. They have deep and pstri-
otto intefeat In bringing thia rebellion to q
speedy termination, Their social relations
and education, their business, their dearest in
terests, are all identified with q speedy res.ora.
tion of peace, And while do not doubt the
patriotism of the officers Of the regular army,
they are but human, and the difference between
one hundred end fve, and three hundred and
FIVE, and four hundred and seventy seven dol
lars Of salary, makes e great difference In the
motives which operste upon the human heart
in these days or corruption. And, besides the
difference In the salary, they will dislike as
much to return again to the small pay; and
last though no! least, to 60 back to the little
Lieutenants and Captains, after having carried
one or two stars on the shoulder so long,
| will be quite humiliating. They will then be
deprived of the fawning and A,.!ery OF the
silly and supercilioua; their champagne din.
ners aud evening parties, their monepolizIng all
the fine horses to their own use, and the profits
to be made through corrupt qusrtermasters,
will all disappear The glitter and show of
fac reviews and inspections, the dash of o score
of aids and orderliea, Eill vanish like dream
Whatever may be said to the contrary, these
things do exercise a powerful influence on e
good many OF our leading army officers, and
make it their personal interest to have tho war
continue as long as possible.
have spun this letter out to quite length,
| would like to make IL longer by referring to
some matters connected with the condition oi
our affairs In this State Bat il snothsr oppor-
tunty offers to write soun sgaiD, or II we remain
here few days longer, will write you another
letter. O. H. O.