Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-03-23

OENERAL LEWIS ALLAcE-MAJ0R GENERAL
E. o. Dan. AND MAJOR DoSN P,ATT IN WASH
IseroS-THEIR REcEPTIoN-WHAr THEY DID
AND WHAT THEY DIDS'T-EsTABLIsHMENT OF AN
I~SFIRMARY FOR MAJOR GENERALS.
WASHINGTON, March Is, 1863.
Our excellent old General in Chief, the som
nolent Halleck. is not in the most amiable humor
in the world, and the same thing is to be said Of
the judicious, agreeable and atiectionate Stanton.
All the great men here. except Chase, swear like
pirates. Even the President occasionally in
dulges in a mild d-nl Seward swears double
and twist OaIhs, and smokes like tile pit, not to
speak OF the 'smiies" he takes 1t is very sad.
There was a very large, not to say big, thing
the other day. IL was the fashion, you know, for
some time, for played out officers to make a bee
line for Washington and get into the bosom of
Father Abraham. They were always indescrib-
ably anxious for something to do, to save this
p~erishing country. La point of fact they didn't
do it-not much. But the collection of the
debris of our had generalship about here was
offensive. IL was especially a bore to General
Halleck to have the bestarred defuncts rushing
about here with their stats, making Il nuisance of
themselves. 1t was not comfortable TO have
fifteen or twenty Major Generals stopping at
Wizards, each with a ''plan, y covering the major
part of out doors. tn bring the war TO an end in
ninety days. and all more or less i~nfesting the
White House. The consequence was, the ex-
emplary Halleck-who is a big brick, and occa-
sionally carries a small brick in lis hat-issued
an order, iorbIdding officers to visit Washington
without orders. In its terms, the fact was per-
ceptible that it was intended especially for the
officers of highest rank.
But what should we have last week but an over
flow of Major Generals. &c, from Cincinnati.
The Buell. Commission, supposed some months
since to have been moribund--wel it busted. or
took a furlough-and Major General Lewis Wal
lace, and Major General +. O.. Ord, and Major
Donn Piatt, Judge Advocate, suddenly appeared
at the Capital OF their country. They had bust
ness of the most extreme importance with the
President, General in Chief, Secretary of War,
and nearly everybody else.
Major General Lewis Wallace had a pair of old
saddlebags full of resolutions OF the City Coun-
Gil OF Cincinnati, and of the Legislature of Ohio,
and perhaps of other bodies largely informed of
the merits of military chieftains; and some copies
of T.. Buchanan's Reads Atlantic Monthly
article on the sanguinafy ''siege of Cincinnati, "
in which General Wallace distinguished himself
by leading the brilliant charge of a heavy staff,
that penetrated 10 within a mile aud a half of our
outer pickets. The main object of the visit of
Major General Lewis Wrllace to Washington, as
a matter of course, was connected with the bust
ness OF the Buell. Commission. But incidentally
he wanted to lay his literature before the Presi-
dent and secure IA bran aew department in Texas,
or the Moon. Major General Ord and Major
Piatts business was not so well defined. The
Major. it is thought, sought an opportunity to fill
his belly with the east wind. He might have
been induced, if he had been given time, to make
a slight speech from some noble portico. The
Major General thought the Washington .atmos
phere good for a bronchial affection; besides, he
wanted some steamed oysters.
The Buell. Commute arrived on Saturday
don Carlos was not along) and rushed to the
arms OF Halleck and Stanton. The reception
which they got was by no means cold. In fact,
it was not. The first inquiry was, well, what
in h and d--n are you doing herel" Stan
ton swore he would cashier the whole crowd
yes. he'd be id if he did not have the shoulder
straps off of them-double stars, gold leaves and
all. Iii reported thar he suggested the death
penalty. But General Wallace anu Major Piatt
escaped by reason OF their rowing commission as
President ard Judge Advocate of the Buell. In
quiry. 1t authorized them TO travel where they
pleased, and therefore cut under the general order
excluding loafers from Washington. They were
told as they had authority to travel to do so with
out delty They called for hack after their
cheerful interview with H,lleck and urged the
driver to the depot The train was gone, how
ever. But Then the next one started they were
punctually on hand, and | have no doubt they
are in Cincinnati 10y this time, discharging their
important functions according to the best OF their
ability. | am informed that upon leaving Wash
ingtOn their countenances were expressive of the
utmost soIemnity and satisfactorily. Wallace
did not get to see the President at all, and re
turned with his stock of literature intact. 1t is
to be regretted that the President was not brought
to the point OF reading the article on the siege oil
Cincinnati. Ii is a wonderful work of art.
But the grief is to come. Poor Ordl How
shall | describe his fateg Stanton said there wa;
ample of. He pitched upon Ord lie lowered
with Indignation at the idea of Il Major Genera
visiting Washington without orders or excuse
real or technical. In short, he did not speak re
specially of several Major Generals in our coun
try 5 service He said il was time to establish an
infirmary for broken down Major Generals, anC
he'd be id il he didn't commence with Ord, anC
by sending him to Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylva
MIA. Poor Ord received the orders rs if il were
sentenceof death. He would about as soon hav,
been sent to the Penitentiary. He bemoaned hi
sad fite, and swore that he owed his ruin t.
"tlat id INSCRIPTIONS politician. Don PIatt.
How Don brought it about has not been stated
but his evil communications are supposed TO have
corrupted Orl's good manners.
Ord has reported at Carlisle Birracks, and hai
sent to Cincinnati for his carpet bag. extra pal
of boots and black servant. Stanton roundly anG
profoundly asserts that all Major Generals. no
otherwise disposed of. are to be committed tt
Carlisle Barracks. Fremont and Mcclellan ar
to be sent there next week, and means are to b,
taken to prevent card playing and other immora
practices.
T Halleck still mutters and thunders and growl
about Lew Wallace and Don Piatt-and. If b.
can make out a case, he will send them to Car
Isle Barracks vet He swears that if it were no
for their rowing commissions, which were techni
cally sound, he would dispose of them OF thei
country 5 good.
L in L.