Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-12-04


~,r~v ~orf .WAsHIseToS. Nov. %.
The long expected movements Of the Army OF
the P0tomac-whieh has been so often trumpeted
really commenced The army has at last crossed
the Rubcon-or. the Rspdan. which amounts TO
the same thing In order to give the enemy every
possible facility FOR kno~ing the real strength of
the Union forces, the Administration papers have
very Ob!igingly enumerated the various bodies OF
troops engaged in the movement namely. the
81, 3D.. LIST, 18th and 9th corps. AS il Is well
known that each corps does not contain over l2-
600 men, the enemy could not have desired a
more explicit statement
An attempt has been made to hull the country
into false security by the assertion that Gen.
Lee has only about IS 900 troops, and that Gen
Erell - so disabled not to be able 10 take the
held 1t will not be long, now. however, before
the result of this highly ;njudicious step on the
part OF our army is known. and, while hope for
the best, cannot but fear that the forebodings
OF disaster which have expressed in former let
tiers will be more than realized.
Although it is stated that the FIVE corps are all
engaged in the movement, yet every knows
that strong detachment from each must have
been left to guard the long line of communica-
ton between the Rapiian and this city. That
this is absolutely necessary, and that even The
large force so left is entirely inadequate 10 the
duty, is evident from the fact that on Thanks
giving day two of our wagon trains were captured
by the enemy. between Culpepper and the Rap
pahannock river. One train, consisting of thirty
five wagons and drawn by one hundred and forty
mules, was captured by Mosby and driven off to
Luray, on the other side OF the Blue Ridge
through Sperryville and Thornton's Gap This
train, with its valuable contents of bread, meat,
and oats, will no doubt reach the rebel army in
safety. The other train, longer one. was fired !;
but the fire was extinguisbed before the contents
OF the wagons were consumed.
1t would seem, from the accounts that have
reached here up TO this time, that the Confeder
ates have made their first stand at Orange Court
House. Even If this position is carried by our
troops or abandoned by the Cohfederates, the
reasons why Gordonsvilie will have to be assault
ed and carried. as stated in my letter of Noyem
Der 25th. will still exist
The events now in progress near Chattanooga,
according to the private accounts that have been
received here, are by means indicative of the
hnal result OF the campaign Ii will be remem-
bered that the movement on the part of Bragg
whatever il is, has been made in accordance with
the programme agreed on between that officer,
Gen. Johnston, and JEFF. Davis himself. 1t may
be retreat; but, TO those who look below the
surface of things, it appears TO be more like a
strategic movement, intended 10 draw the Union
nooga and to involve their columns in the intr-
cacies of the mountain passes of Northern Geor-
gla. No one doubts the military abilities Of Gen.
Grant. But be is now entering upon campaign
which will tax those abilities to the utmost. To
penetrate with his army the interior Of Georgia,
and to do this without disaster, will be. If he
succeeds in doing II, the greatest achievement of
the war. The idea OF marching his army through
Georgia and South Carolina to Charleston which
ia Nv off ials hara -
reiute.
The friends of the PRESIDENT mean those men
who boast, with reason, that they control his &C
ton to great extent-claim that his next mes
sage will take decided radical ground, and will be
step IN advance OF the emancipation pr0clama
ton. They say that il will contain the enuncia
ton of the principle, which is hereafter TO be
engraited on the Republican creed as part of the
policy of the government, that 40 State will be
allowed to return to the Union until it has abol
lshed slavery, and that, hereafter slavery can
never exist in the Union They say that il will
also boldly meet the issue of the exchange of
prisoners, OH the ground stated in 10Y letter of
Nov. H. and will declare that il is n part of the
policy of the government that there shall be no
distinction made hereafter in any respect what
ever. between white men and black men in the
army. They say that the message will also re
commend TO Congress "to provide by legislation
for comforting the right TO vote upon the black
man who has fought for the government
To this complexion, indeed it must come at
last if the Republicans can retain their power
The country has been warned. time and time
again, that the fundamental dogma of the Re
publican party was negro equality in its broadcast
and most offensive shape And is seems that The
time has now come when this loathsome thing is
to be thrust into our faces. The revolution upon
which we have entered must, however. run its
course. We must drink TO the dregs the cup Of
humiliation, which we deserve for permitting the
frat entertainments upon our liberties and upon
the Constitution. The usurpations of the Re-
publican party might have been stopped if the
people had taken time for reflection when the
country was first plunged into cruel. and unjust,
and unnecessary war. The abolition of the ha-
beas corpus, the illegal arrests the denial of trial
by jury. the conscrpon bill, were, each one, a
far deeper stab, far more deadly blow, against
the nation and the Government. than the act of
few crazy rebels in firing Fort Sumter.
The latter act, artfuly brought about by the
Administration reused the minimizing masses of
the North to pitch offury. The former named
acts, on the part of the public servants of the
people, failed to the psople a sense of
the peril 10 their liberties. They submitted in
silence. and they now poweress at the feet of
executive despotism. The revolution must go
on But there will come day when our liberties
will be regained, although il costs oceans OF blood
to accomplish il
In the last paragraph OF my letter OF October
25th, there was a hint for the capture OF Rich
mond which, If the Administration had been
wise. might easily have been improved Ever
since that time. the road to Richmond. upon the
route indicated, has been open and compare
lively unguarded Since that time, the beastly
Butler has been placed in command, at the very
spot from which An expedition to Richmond
might set out with fair prospects of success. If
the Administration really wished to end the war;
what splendid opportunity is just now afforded
for the success Of such expedition. II such an
expedition we're now advancing on Richmond
from the south. there can be little doub; that
Gen Meade would be able succeed in bis pres
ent movement On the other hand ii by con-
centrating all their troops 10 confront General
Meade. the latter officer should be defeated
Richmond would be thereby left so utterly de
fenseless that il would fall easy prev to Gen
Butler. but such victory is not what the Ad
ministration desires Butler was not sent 10 his
present command 10 win victories in the field, or
TO lead or even TO plan military expeditions
he was sent there IN pursuance of the policy of
retarding and protracting the war. which has be
come the policy of the Administration He was
sent there in oroer TO make il sure that Rich
mond should not be taken. The Confederate
government knows Better inside and out They
know there is no fight in him. They know they
are safe from all attacks from the South, and
therefore they concentrate all their troops in
North Carolina and Eastern VIRGINIA IN renal