Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-11-02
Exposure OF Lincoins FoIiy-ResuIts
of his silly Order 10 Gen. Meade
Violation of his Promises to the
People of Maryland.

Exposure OF LincOlns FOliy-Resuits
of his silly Order 10 Gen. Meade
Violation of his Promises to the
People of Maryland.
Especial Correspondence of the Chicago Tines
WASHINGTON, October %.
The events of the last seven days have shown
the folly and utter absurdity of the Presidents
order to Gen. Meade Ito pursue after Lees army,
to find the enemy, and to fight him wherever
found; and that he (the Presidency would be re
sponsible for Meade's defeat il he should be de
feated." During the last seven DAYS the Army
of the Potomac has been engaged in endeavOring
to execute this silly and most unmilitary order.
Gen Lee retreated from Manassas Junction to
the RappahannOck about the 18th or Goth, and
across that stream about the 2lst or ODD in order
to draw our army that far away from the capital.
Gen. Meade understood the device, and would
not have fallen into the If left to himself.
But Old Abe's orders peremptOry; and, in
executing them, our army has fallen into the
trap that Gen. Lee set for it, By the 23d inst.
the whole of Gen Lees army had crossed to the
south side of the Rappahannock, and our army
was in full possession of Warrenton and Warren
ton Junction. That night Gen. GOrdon's brigade
of Early division laid two pontoon bridges across
the river, three miles above Kelly's Ford. The
work was done in five hours. the moon making it
nearly light as day
! On the morning of the 24th the whole of that
portion of Ewells corps which is now with Lees
army land believe it is only two divisions prob
ably 20 900 or "a 600 men) recrossed to the north
side of the river, and were drawn up in line of
battle across the railroad track On that morn
ing the % and 80 corps of Meade's army were
advancing from Warrenton Junction, in obedi-
ence to Abe's order "to find and fight Lees
army" The cavalry divisions Of Gen. Gregg
and Gen. Diven were in front. At Bealton Sta
ton our cavalry scouts reported that the enemy
was in force a short distance ahead. drawn up in
| line of battle; and, almost Immediately after
wards, the latter attacked with vigor. After a
short skirmish our cavalry were driven to the
rear, and an engagement took place between the
enemy's infantry and artillery and the main body
of our forces. The result of this engagement
was that our forces withdrew, and the Confeder-
ates remained masters of the field. No explana
ton has been given to trhy the action resulted
in this way. 1t is certain that the Confederates
had not over $4,000 men engaged, and nothing
but an inferiOrity of numbers could have caused
our brave boys to retreat. i know something of
the troops of the Sd corps, and | know there is
no better fighting material in the army But
why were not these two corps supported by the
rest of the army2 1t is evident that, from some
cause or other, the rest of the army was unable
to support them, and that since that time the
army has made no further advance. The whole
army is probably now massed at WarrentOn and
Warrenton Junction. The Confederates retain
the advantage which they gained, and the two
divisions of Exell's corps remain at Bealton Sta
ton, on the north side of the Rappahannock.
n o attempt has since been made to dislodge them
But where is the main body of Gen. Lees army?
In moving his army from Washington to the
Rappahannock, Gen. Meade did exactly what
Gen Lee desired above all things Its probable
that now, leaving Gen. Exel's two divisions in
front of Meade, 10 keep his attention engaged.
Lee is at Fredericksburg with the main body of
his force say about 65. 900 troops. Take a map,
now, and the position of the two armies.
Meades army is 80 miles from W Washington with
al enemy in his front whose strength he does
not know, and cannot ascertain without battle
Lees army, If at Fredericksburg, is only 80 miles
from the delenses of Washington. which, as they
bold the interior lines, they can reach by march
over excellent roads. in two days. In fine. it
looks very much as if Old Ace had caused
Meade's army to fall into the trap which Lee had
set for him. and as il Lee could very easily turn
Meades left flank Indeed, it is stated TO day
that the whole Confederate army has again
crossed to the north side OF the Rappahannock,
ard extends in a long line from BeaIton on the
west to Stafford, at the mouth Of Aqua Creek
on the east IL this be soft the Coniederates
have really crossed the river again-there must
be battle OF else Old Abes order must be dis
obeyed and the army must again retreat to the
capital At all events, Meade has pursued after.
and found the enemy. The only question now
is, will he obey the remainder of Old Abe's order,
and eight the enemy," or will he notf If he
does he will obey Old Abe. and be defeated; for
Lees army is at least %, 600 stronger than ours
And the defeat of our army will place Washing
ton within Lees power III he does not fight he
will disobey Old Abes positive orders-he will
retreat 70 Washington; but il ne gets here before
Lees army, he will have saved both his ar
nv and the capital. But he can only save either
his army or the capital by downright disobedienct
to L'ncoIn's order. Well may the people blush
with shame at having such President. He SAID
to gentleman, few weeks ago. who had asked
r for the interpOsition Of his influence with the
War Department: Cant do it sir: can't do il
don't amount TO pig tracks at the War Depart
ment" History will record of him. though no
T in the same classic language. that he did no
amount to pig tracks at anything else. except a
relating vulgar stories. In that line be is unap
proachable.
Your readers have no doubt seen the account
of the 0utrages that are committed on the farm
ers and planters in Maryland BY the officers il
command Of bodies Of negro soldiers, who e
from one plantation TO another, carrying off al
8 The able bodied black men. think mentione'
in one of my letters the insulting treatment which
I Hon. Reyerdy johnson. of that State met will
at the hands of the President. VIXEN he came her
to expostulate the subject. Since then tn
: matter has grown worse and worse, and the cir
cumstances attending this robbery Of men Of thei
q property have become more and more aggrava
ted The last instance of the kind wss affray
u few days ago, between planter named Soth
} oron and a negro recruiting officer. in which th
y latter shot and killed. No one regrets sue
occurrences more than ] do. But let any Of you
readers place themselves IN this gentleman's DO
sition and how would they actf The slave prop
n erty Of this gentleman exclusively his own
N and as sacrely guaraI.. eed TO him. as the sum-
$1,000 in gold. .he worth of the three negroes
y He saw men rob him Of this property in the fac
a of day. If the bad used the same violenc
in robbing him of bis 5000 in gold he woul
have been justified in shooting down the robbe
n He could see no difference between the man VIII
's robbed him of one species of property and th
e man who would rob him Of the other. and there
n fore shot the man. lie has already suffered Bit
l. tery for the act. But the blood Of that ma
10 rests upon the head Of Abraham Lincoln, for B
N had soiemnly promised the people Of Marylan
It that they should be exempt from the emaDcp'
is ton proclamation, and should be secured In u
II possession Of their slaves; aud a word from hi
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