Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-02-23
Especial Correspondence of the Chicago Times.l

Especial Correspondence of the Chicago Times.
WASHINGTON February IL.
General Foster. whom | mentioned in my let
ter OF February Is. a. beng here in consultation
at the War Department-the officer late in com
mlnd III North Carolina. but now sharing the
command with General Hunter in South Caro-
lina-lelt here yesterday tor his command near
Charleston. | mentioned IN that letter the vast
preparations made by the Administration for this
expedition against Charleston, but stated that II
would prove failure The expedition was n.
tended To be surprise TO the enemy and. no To
the time OF the arrival OF the fleet there, il
Ii was then found however. that the Preparations
that had been made tor the reduction OF Charles
ton. great a they were. were wholly inadequate.
This ought to have been ascertaned before aud
would have been but for the tact that General
Hunter had been kept here all winter, much
against his will During the last four months the
efforts OF General Beturestrd have been directed
10 such changes, notifications, aud improve
menis in the deen>eS of Charleston. that. when
the expedition arrived, the task Tor bO;h the army
and navy TO perform was found 10 be essentially
different from what had been supposed In
word, it the efforts OF engineers make any
place impregnable, Charleston is so
1t has been stated by the friends of the Admin
istration that there is no disagreement between
Gen Foster and Gen. Hunter But this Is not
true Gen Foster Is good soldier and. having
been placed under the orders of Gen. Hunter, he
will obey the orders OF the latter 10 the best OF
his ability. But there i believe that
the maiu object OF his visit here was IA protest
energetically against the employment IN the
petition of nero soldiers He has seen the
sequences of that folly ALREADY The disafiectiOn
IN the army there. ON account of the soldiers be-
ing compelled TO serve with the negroes aud to
salute negro officers amounts nearh TO mutiny.
Where il does not break out in open demonstra-
tons the feeling on the part OF the soldiers i 80
strong ami deep that il has greatly destroyed
their ellie encv.. | TO not knew positively. but /
believe Gen Foster warned the President that. ii
ne did desist from this employ o negroes
the efficiency OF the arm, would be 80 impaired
a. TO render it almost entirely useless Whether
/ these representations will do any good not. |
AN unable TO say /, i probable that this whim
has taken 81 firm hold OF the Presidential mind
/ that Mr. Lincoln ! determined TO proceed wish
the experiment. even 10. by doing so. ne causes
/ toe failure OF ms whole expedition
Ii was intended that the expedition should
I commence operations Immediately on It's arrival.
bnt n>ts al OF doing 50. all operations were sns
pended while Gen. Foster came on to Washing
ton, and they vii. not be commenced I'LL after
his return In the me-ntime the enemy has tai en-
I advantage OF this DELAY and hesitation our
part strong expelitloh mas been nt'ed out %
recapture Roanoke Island. and IL = probable
that the scenes OF Galveston and Texas will be
re enacted at Roanoke Islani aud North Caro-
I lima
Since my letter of February 10. in regard TO the
cunscripton bill. that projected measure has been
/ submitted TO such radical changes and modifca-
/ tons thu, il is 10 longer the SINE bill. In its
present shape. | have not single word OF az
prevail for il. aud every true lover OF his country
l must wish Tor its defeat. The bill now provides
for The creation by the President of swarm OF
officials, TO lie called Provost Mar-hsls. to have
) the rark sud pay OF Captains OF Cavalry These
creatures will be. Ia fact spies upon Their fellow
citizens There will be one in each county and