Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-02-23
From Washington.
The ARMY OF THE PoroMAc MELTING AWAY
The NEW CoNscRIPrIoS LAw-SERFs FOR THE
AMERICAN CzAR-ASTrcIPArIoS OF A SPEEDY
ATTACK on CHARLEsroN-THE RUMoR OF A
RErRoGRADE MOVEMENT BY GEN. HooKER's
ARMY UNTRUE, &c, &c, &c.
Especial Correspondence of the Chicago Times.I
NJ acufxoro% Eakr,,.r,, IN

ARMY UNTRUE, &c, &c, &c.
special Correspondence of the Chicago Times
WASHINGTON, February 10.
Before this reaches you, the telegraph will
have brought you the news that the separation of
the Army of the Potomac into three "Grand Di-
visions" has been abolished and the old organi-
cation of corps d'armiee. the same as prevailed
under Gen. Mcclellan, has been restored The
impression prevails almost everywhere that the
idea of separation OF the army into three Grand
Divisions" originated with Burnside But am
assured that such is not the fact, and that il was
pet measure of Halleck's, and that the latter
prevailed upon Burnside to adopt it as an expert
ment Immediately after McClellan's removal
1t was found to work very badly and il was in
deed, one cause of Burnsides failure to accom-
psh anything at all. The organization of the
army under Gen. Mcclellan was as perfect as
could possibly be, and worked admirably. Gen.
HOOkers order Of February 5 will do much to-
ward restoring matters to that organization, and
it Is. therefore, wise step
The terrible nature of the bunder committed
by the Administration, however, in the removal
of Mcclellan and the appointment of Burnside, is
now becoming evident. On the 5th of Novem-
Der the army could muster fully 900 bayo-
nets, all effective. The discipline of the army
was superb. the men we're in splendid condition,
the morale OF the army was unexceptionabe and
In the eleven weeks during which Burnside
held the command, all this has become changed.
The army is terribly demoralized, as Senator
Summers resolution few days ago declared and
as Gen. Sumner testified before the Congressional
committee, and in spite OF what Burnside said a
few evenings ago in New York As to the pres
ent number OF troops, Wendell Phillips has re
Gently been here in close aud confidential cOnfab
with Mr. Lincoln, Mr. Haleck. Senator Wilson,
arlf ha nbars f,f 4
Congress These men know precisely how many
men Hooker has. know also but l will not
say. But these men whom | have named told
Wendell Phillips, aud he said Few days ago in
New ork aud the statement published in
an Administration newspaper there, - General
Hooker has $1,000 bayonets, and no more"
Now knew that the slaughter at Fredericks-
burg terifc; that there has been some loss
since; aud that, in eleven weeks, the army has
suffered greatly from cold and exposure; but |
never could figure up a total of more than 80 900
put hOrs du combat from all these causes together.
Ii the figures of Wendell Phillips are correct,
therefore, what has been done with the other.
"a 900.
We have fallen certainly upon evil times when
your correspondent find a word To say in favor
of coRSc,iptiOa laU-a law of Congress in
tended To drag unwilling men from their happy
homes, force them against their will into the
Z
mixture of white men and negroes. aud compel
them to murder, it may be- their cousins their
unceS, their nephews. perhaps even their brothers.
BE it so. | will say that word And il is this.
The cOnscrptOn bill reported to the Senate yes
ter1ay by Mr Wilson, OF Massachusetts, Is by far
the iaireS. the least unjust, and the least oppres
sive of all the despOtc acts of this despOtic Ad-
ministratiOn. Ii we must have conscuptiOn
law-if our armies must be replenshed-if the
rbtrf han, sl,a al
the Administration has stumbled upon a really
wise plan
1t is a copy, in many respects. OF the French
conscription law, which is as perfect and just as
any CONSUMPTION law can be. The division of the
cOnscripts into two great classes-he second class
not to be drawn until the first is exhausted-is its
great distinctive feature. If there must be con-
scripts. the young unmarried men between the
ages of Is and 80. and the unmarried men be
tween 80 and As ought certainly to be taken first,
and so the bill provides The experience of all
armies has taught those who have studied the
subject. that unmarried men, men without the
cares of family, make the best soldiers. Indeed,
man cannot be perfect soldier until every fac
ulty of his mind and body is swallowed u2 and
absorbed in his business. His business is to kill;
and the business Of an officer is to make these
kiLlinq-machines as effective in large masses as
can be possible So well recognized are these
I
married, or who has child, is allowed to enlist.
If the BILL as reported by Mr.. Wilson, becomes
law. and the conscriptS of the first class drawn
according its provisions, the probability is that
there will be in that class far more than will
be needed 10 finish the war, even if il -houd last
two years more.
Ii is said that the radicals, with the exception
of few fanatical fools are convinced of the alb
Soute mpOSSibility Of raising negro soldiers at
u III Il
as a substitute for the negro soldiers bill 1t is
very certain that, even if the negro soldiers we're
raised, no white officers could be found to lead
them to the Geld; that. is, no competent officers
| The Confederate military authorities have an
nOunced that they will hang, not only all negro
soldiers. but also all officers with them. who may
/ fall into their hands No officer is ambitious Of
such death AS that. There may be found Il few
rowdies and desperadoes who are so lost to honor
IS 70 be willing 20 command gangs OF lasciviOus
/ black savages. But the number of such men
must be few indeed. The men who alone are
tit to command gangs of niger troops are the
| very men who will not do IT, Horace Greeley
Wendell Phillips, Henry Ward Beecher-these
are the mel TO make negro Generals of But
they know TOO well the fate that would await
them on the first battlefield to be ever caught
with negro brigade.
have been unable to ascertain what the Ad-
/
which was ordered some months ago, and has not
vet taken place in some States. and with has
proved TO be such ridiculous failure in those
States in which it has taken place. Mr.. Stevens
openly declares in the House that the draft can
not be enforced; bet il is certainly unfair and un
just in the highest degree to let the great State of
New York and the New England States escape
the draft entirely after it has been enforced in
the Western States and in Maryland How would
the West fee, if the Administration begins u
draw conscripts from Illinois and Indiana, while
New York and Massachusetts are still in arrear
for their troops under the draft? Would not the
West feel like acting upon that noble declaration
of Senator Tarpie that 1.-THE American Gar will
end no seris west OF the Allegheny noun
tainsI"
When, in a recent letter, | stated that an ex-
petition to Texas could be productive of no good
effects, | was persuaded that what | said was the
truth. Am event that has since taken place there
must now make il evident TO the world that was
correct. allude to the capture of Sabine Pass
by the Confederate troops With Galveston and
Sabine City both in their pos>ession with their
troops holding all the keys to the State; with a
wellaPpo,nted feet in its harbors the Confede
rates W Texas are now prepared 70 dispute our
future occupancy of that State with good pros
pect of success. The New York Times says:
1--WE now driven from our last foothold on
the soil of that State;" to which would add that
to regain ioothold there will require nm expen.
diture of blood aud treasure that no advanta yes
can compensate for. X
Especial Correspondence of the Chicago Tmes.l
WAsHISGToN, February H.
The Government is now anticipating import.
ant news from Charleston. An attack on that
city cannot be much longer DELAYED bv the navy
III