Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-05-02
WASHINGTON, April 81.

WAsHINGroS April 81.
The successful defence of the town of Wash
ington. in North Carolina nv the little band of
soldiers under General John G. Foster is the
theme of universal praise here IL is, indeed
one OF the most brilliant affairs Of the war De
prived of nearly all of his troops who with
most of his officers, were sent down to reinforce
General Hunter. preparatory to the recent attack
on Charlestoh.) General Foster, with fifteen hun
dred men, was sent 10y the General in Chief and
in pursuance of the incOmprehensiole strategy of
the War Department. to Washington, in North
Carolina, where. the enemy quickly discovering
his weak condition. he was Immediately surroun
ded bv superior numbers, seventeen thousand
Confederate troops his communications and
means of retreat cut off. and his gallant little
band in imminent danger of being starved into a
surrender or cut to pieces. Reinforcements sent
To his aid were intercepted and driven back and
il must be candidly stated. as matter OF history.
that. notwithstanding their loud assertions in pub
lie to the contrary, il was feared ut the War De
partment and at the Executive Mansion that Gen
eral Foster had surrendered Surely there would
have been far more justification for him. if he had
surrendered than there was for the surrender OF
Harper'S Ferry
From this hopeless condition, General Foster
has succee Q in ex'rcating himself with a degree
Of skill. GOODNESS and courage which few Generals
in the service possess. There are times when it
becomes the duty of General to EXPOSE his life
to the same dangers as those braved by his sol
diers This was such an occasion The aterna
tive act of cool and determined daring. or
inevitable surrender; and Gen. Foster is not the
man TO hesitate. when such alternative is pre-
scented. Surely, Providence watches over him:
for in the accomplishment OF his perous feat
not only was his pilot at the wheel, shot dead by
his side but cannon ball passed directly through
the berth that he had left not ten minutes before
The Judgment of the General was vindicated by
the course of the soldier for rs the result of his
daring exploit. he brought such forces To the aid
of his belelguered command, that the enemy
compelled to raise the siege and to retire bafled
aud disappointed.
An incident Of the siege worthy Of cOmmemOr
alton, was the timely arrival with reinforcements
of Gen. n NJ. Nsglee. Gen Heckman. and
eral other OF the officers formerly under General
Foster. and who. il will be remembered bv your
readers, were few weeks ago, ignominiouslv
sent away from before Charleston by General
Hunter. because they woud not countenance him
in his folly Of raising regiments OF negroes. These
brave men cut their way through the enemy. and
brought to Gen Foster the aid without which he
might have been driven TO surrender after all
Such are the men whom Hunter in obedience to
the behests OF the authorities here. sent away in
disgrace. from before Charleston Could there
be !, more striking commentary ON the folly OF
the Administration?
Yes there IS one more: it is this: This affair
at Washington. y Z has no relation TO the pro
gress of the war whatever. 1t has not the slight
est bearing upon any other part OF the Spring
campaign. or anv other campaign There was
no reason why Gen Foster, should have been
sent to Washington c Adi. besides the
mere saving oi his men AMI the ectaf of the event
(which i due entirely to himself ard General
Naglee) his briihint exploit J. Of no service
whatever towards fnrtberng the progress of the
There i n rumor here to the effect that with
in leW DAYS past, Mr. Lincoln has been strongly
urged 10 semi away from netr Nick~bvrS por
ton OF Gen Grants iOaces now idle there and
send them to reinforce Rosecrans: and that Mr.
Lincoln after consulting with Stanton, refused to
90 So saving that the latter General has troops
enough, and that he intends to keep Gen Grants
troops "pegging" away at NIcksbGrg all summer.
| do not know that the rumor is true but il is
more than likely to be 80. II would be just such
act OF folly as might be expected of Nj Lin
coin. who has directed all the military and naval
operations Of the last SIX neutrality-suspicious.
which have resulted in such disgraceiul failures
According u the best authorities. the Rebel
forces in the West amount To fully 2JO 600 troops
Zone half OF their whole armv.) who are dis
at Port Hudson, 10000 at Mobile. and $50 900
under Gen. Johnstons personal commtnd on the
strategic line OF the Rebels in Tennessee. ex-
tending from Chattanooga 10 Columbia; the main
body being az Shebyviie aud Tullahoma. and
Gen Johuston's headquarters being at the latter
place Now, if Gen. Rosecrans has "a many
troops a Gen Johnston, il may reasonably be
expected that he will be able to withstand Gen.
Johnstoa's onset whenever II j. made. and TO re
tain possession of y ishville. and 70 impede the
operations of the Rebel troops in Kentucky.
90 not know how many troops he has. know,
however that the ConledeTates believe that his
whole force does not exceed 10000 electives. II
this number Is anything like an approximation To
his real strength. il i the hight OF folly in Mr.
Lincoln n refuse him reintorcements. The TROOPS
on the Mississippi river. under Gen. Grant. Gen
McClernand Gen. sherman, and Gen. Banks,
cannnt be less than 2O0 900 in number They
car. accomplish nothing there-postively moth
ing-during the whole summer. II they are kept
there the PROBABILITY is thst one-hsif the entire
force will fall victims 70 the climate before the
cool weather of the fall, which vii! not be tail the
end Of October, while. in the meantime, Rose
GRAMS runs great danger Of being overwhelmed ,,