Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-03-30

The following is from the Richmond Examiner
of the 18th inst:
From every quarter where our armies are
hassed-from yicksburg. TuIlahoma, Charles
ton and Fredericksburg-we have the most graf
flying accounts OF the condition of our troops and
their certain ability TO cope with any force that
the enemy may hurl against them. The only
point upon which there is room for apprehension
is that our forces NAV be forced by want Of food
for men and horses to relinquish the strongholds
from which the enemy could never dislodge
them. and that this Is a grave and pressing dan
ger we have many reasons for believing.
It is a fact as well known to the enemy as our
selves that all the country in the vicinity Of our
armies has long been stripped of its provisions
and forage. and that these armies depend for their
existence and maintenance of their present DO
sitions upon the railroads. These being facts
which none. we think. will venture 10 gainssy. il
behooves the Government to keep posted as to
the condition of these roads, and provide that they
be kept in a state of the utmost efficiency. 1t is
useless to pass laws putting men into the army
and returning them to it when they run away IL
measures are not at the same time taken to sup
port the army when it is gotten together. The
Government Should not be content even 20 keep
the railroads in the condition in which the war
found them: it should endeavor, and the effort
would be successful. TO improve upon that con
ditIon- The better the roads, the better supplied
would our armies be. and consequently the more
certain in the resistance 10 the extraordinary ef-
forts for our subjection which the enemy propose
to make during the coming campaign.
The railroads of this State are on the point of
giving out. They have decreased their sneed to
ten miles an hour as "A maximum rate, and are
carrying twenty-five to fifty per cent. less ton
mage than formerly. This change in their rate
of speed and quality Of freight has been made
through necessity. The woodwork of the roads
has rotted and the machinery has worn out, and
owing to the stringent enforcement of the con-
scrlption law as to railroad employees, the COM
panies have rot been able, with all their efforts,
to supply neither the one nor the other. We are
not informed of the actual condition of the rail-
roads in the more Southern States, but conceive
that they are little better off than our own, ex-
cept, perhaps, in the matter of negro labor. The
slaves along their routes may not have had the
same facilities for escaping to the enemy as in this
State.
We have ventured to call attention to this sub
ject because of its vital Importance. and from 8
knowledge that owing TO the great measures oil
finance, impressment. &c, now weighing upon
the Government. IL has been overlooked. 1t is
not necessary for Government TO take possession
of the roads. But it should supply them abund.
antly with the necessary labor and iron, and then
insist on their being kept in first rate order, and
being worked efficiently. To this end Govern
ment should appoint an Inspector of Railroads
Railroads are a part. and an indispensable part. OF
our military system; and &c they are allowed Il
fall through from any causes, Government anc
people may prepare Tor the retreat of our armies
and the surrender of much of the valuable coun
try now in our possession.