Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-09-07

FAx-THK SAFETY or WASHINGTON ESpAs-
eERED. IN ORDER TO CoSouER NEW YORK
Special Correspondence Of the Chicago Times.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 81.
The capture of Charleston is an event as far
off now as it was two weeks ago. The official
reports received here by the Navy Department
are very different from the rose colored accounts
that have been published in some Of the papers.
To Judge from the latter, one would suppose that
a few days more wonId see the dear old flag
floating in triumph over Charleston, and that
nothing can avert the result. But it is well
known in official circles that such is not the fact.
The official dispatches received do not warrant
any such conclusion They claim that they are
making progress toward the reduction of the city,
but they admit that the progress must be necessa
rily slow. On the other hand, it may well be
doubted whether the whole expedition will not
fail. One reason, not the only one, why the at
tack on Charleston the 9TH of April failed, was
because the land forces did not CO operate. One
reason, but not The only one. why the present
attack on Charleston will fail. is, that the navy
does not co operate properly. 1t is certain that
Charleston cannot be taken by a land force alone.
1t is certain that land forces cannot reach the
city until after the naval forces have passed Fort
Sumter; reduced successfully Fort Moultrie,
Fort johnson, Fort Ripley, and Castle Pinckney;
engaged and demolished the three iron steam
rams, and cleared the hlrbor of distractions.
This work cannot be done by the land forces,
and the latter cannot approach the city until it is
done. Indeed, they cannot even take Fort
Wagner. Yet, except bombardiDg Fort Sumter
at long range, the navy is doing very little. As
the siege progresses, il will be seen that it is by
far the most difficult enterprise during the war,
and that the work of taking it will throw Vicks-
burg far in the shade.
The ineursions of the Confederates near this
city continue to be carried on with the greatest
boldness and impunity, and scarcely a day passes
that is not marked By some daring exploit on
their part. On the 2Sth inst. a squadron of rebel
cavalry. some l 200 strong, crossed the Potomac
near Leesburg, at the scene of the battle of Balls
Bluff. and attacked the somewhat celebrated
corps of "Scott's sou" cavalry, took possession
of their camp, captured nearly a hundred men,
made such observations in the vicinity as they
wished, and ~recrossed the river and reached
Leesburg long before any steps could be taken
to intercept them A wagon with medicines or
supplies. or a mail bag cannot 60 10 the distance
Of twenty miles from Washington. on its way to
Gen. Meade's army, without falling into the
hands of some strong party of Confederate cav
airy, unless it is escorted by a stronger detach-
ment of our own cavalry.
The recurrence of numerous instances of this
kind has induced Gen. Meade to establish a regu
lar weekly convoy for the mails, supply trains
and suffers wagons between here and his army.
So many canal boats loaded with valuables aud
army supplies have been captured ON the canal
between here and Point of Rocks, during the
last ten days, that several divisions Of the army
are suffering in consequence. On the oath inst.
a severe skirmish took place at Annandale. be
tween Fairfax and this city, and only twelve
miles from here, between a regiment OF cavalry
from Massachusetts and Mosby's squadron, the
latter having been lately largely augmented, and
numbering now, il is said, over ! 800 men. That
the skirmish was Il serious one. may be Inferred
from the fact that Mosby himself wss slightly
wounded. and lost a Captain and Lieutenant
killed, and IA Lieutenant and l3 men wounded.
Our loss was 3 killed. Z wounded AID l9 prison
ers; and we lost. besides, $50 horses, which Mosby
carried off. IL was to get possession of these
horses, apparently, that Mosby made the attack.
In advancing TO make the attack, Mosbv came on
the Warrenton turnpike. by the way of Center
vile and Fairfax In ietreating. he took the
Green Spring road to Winchester, by the wav of
Fairfax and Aide. A regiment OF cavalry, with
fresh horses, was instantly sent in pursuit by Gen.
Heintzieman, to whom intelligence of the loss of
the horses had been telegraphed. The pursuit
was vigorously kept up as far as Smokers Gap,
2s miles from Washington. but abandoned there
rs useless, as it was ascertained that Mosby had
crossed the Shenandoah there ten hours before.
At the Gap, however, the pursuing party found
a dozen of Mosby's old horses, which had been
/ ridden nearly TO death.
/ need not remind the readers of the Times
hat the above events are exactly a repetition Of
hose which proceeded Gen. Lees recent north
{ ard campaign. They seem, to the casual ob
server mere raids for plumber. They get the
plumber, but they have a higher object They
are Reconnaissance, and the results of each one
are directly communicated to Gen Lee. The
latter officer. with his army recruited to fully
l25 900 strong, and his men refreshed by a
months repose, is now ready TO begin an aggres
sive movement towards this city. which may well
be regarded with alarm. The New York papers
say that Gen. Meade's army is in that city. and
some of them actually enumerate about 40 900 Of
the best troops of the Army of the Potomac
which are there enforcing the CONSUMPTION. One
of those papers attem pts to excuse thei, presence
there by surprising that they are about to embark
there for Mexico. in order to deliver that country
from the French. That is highly improbable.
But, for whatever purpose they are there, the
country has a right TO know why they are there.
and why thew are not here. The New York
Express furnishes an answer when il says that
the administration regards the conquest of New
York IS of more importance than the conquest
of Richmond That is very true. But even the
conquest OF New York will not compensate the
nation for the loss of Washington And it is a
sober fact that Washington is imperiled by the
absence in New York of so many of General
Meade regiments.
The Administration has signi6ed its intention
of creating 1.-THE Department of South Carolina, -
and Of placing Benjamin F. Butler in command
of il. with his headquarters at Charleston, as soon
"a that city shall have been reduced The selec-
ton of such - man would be eminently fit if il is
the purpose of the Administrative 10 win back the
love of that State to the Union. See how the
people OF Louisiana and Maryland love the Union.
Gen Boiler learned them to do so He wouldbe
equally successful in South Carolina. While he
has been rusting in obscurity. however, enjoying
the wealth wrung from the planters of Louisiana
by bis brother Andrew. somebody else has been
stealing his thunder. Schenck. his successor in
Maryland, has out Butlered Butler in his treat
ment of the people of that State The brutality
of Butler in New Orleans pales before the man
ner in which Schenck teaches the people of Ma
rylsnd to love the Union. Truly did Father
Abraham say that he had more pegs than holes
to put them in. SO that. when another big hole
is made where Charleston used to stand. either
Schenck or Butler can be sent there with full as
suraDce that, in six months, the Union sentiment
In South Carolina will be fully developed, and
every vestige of treason crushed out. X
Persfsteut uud uiIIfuI Mtsrenrescut