Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-05-30
FROM WASHINGTON
consequences OF the Defeat OF Sigei-
grants Great victory OF May I2th-
Lincoln Bitterly Denounced by the
Fremont Mcn--Defeat OF Butler,
NAV tcfh.

Fremont Men--Defeat OF Butler,
May 10th.
Especial Correspondence Of the Chicago TimesJ
WASHINGTON, May 2l.-When the good gen.
eralship which the rebels have always been wise
enough to use, results in any advantage on their
side, the administration journals here. instead of
profiting by the lesson, growl and grumble at
what they call the "secesh" PAGERS for being "ju-
bilant' over the rebel successes.-said jubilation
consisting merely Of a statement Of the facts as
they exist. Thus, when it was known a few
DAYS ago. that Sigel was defeated in the Shenan
doah Valley, and compelled to retreat, the-fact
was suppressed as long as possible, then denied,
and then the democratic papers were denounced
for publishing il. The whole facts in this case.
which are far more important than seem at first
sight, and which have not yet seen the light, are
az follows:
General Lee. who was aware that the move
ment in the valley was going on, had directed
Gen. Imboden TO employ his ctvalry in watching
IL, and TO adopt such measures as would keep
Sigels forces in the valley, and prevent them
from e~ffecting a junction with Grant. il that
sh0uld be attempted. At the same time Brock
inridge, in command of his own and Echols' di
visions, was advancing from Southwestern Vir-
ginia towards Stanton. Breckenridge was or
dered to put himself In communication with I'm
boden as soon as he arrived in the valley, and, if
necessary, to act with him until Sigel should be
defeated and driven back 1t was known how
large Sigel's force was. 0ne authority put it as
high as so 900 men. But he cannot have had
over 80, 900. The forces OF Imboden, Breckin-
ridge and EchOls combined did not amount 10
the latter figure.
On the 18th inst. Sigel's troops, marching
down the Shenandoah Valley. had arrived at
Newmarket. a point 80 miles west Of this city
and 80 miles northwest of Culpepper. Here
they were assailed by lmb0den's cavalry, and a
severe engagement ensued. 1t would seem that
Sigel's orders reully were to push through at all
hazards; to cross the Blue Ridge at Swift Run
Gap. % miles west of Culpepper; to cross the
Rapidan at Germania Ford, and TO join Grants
right wing near Spottsylvania. This would give
Grant a reinforcement of probably $4,000 or 80,
0OO troops.
Sigel, who is q good soldier and a gallant Off
Ger, was fully sensible of how much depended
on the ful6lment of these orders, aud he did his
best to execute them. He fought desperately.
and, having at first only about Is 900 rebels TO
contend with. cam very near being victorious
But, at the critical moment. Gen. Breckenridge
came up with 10. 1000 fresh troops, who had been
held in reserve, and this turned the scale against
him. He was defeated with a very heavy loss,
and was compelled to retreat. His loss is not
less than | 900 in killed and wounded. and I40
prisoners, besides two whole batteries of artillery
of six pieces in each.
This, of course. is the end of Sigel's move
ment in the Shenandoah Valley. The statement
made ten days ago, that lmbOden's cavalry had
been ordered to Join Lee, and the statement
made = week ago that Sigel and Couch were
passing through Thoroughfare Gap to join
Grant, are thus proved to have been without
foundation.
Grants alleged great victory had taken place
on the 18th. This victory commenced with the
gallant exploit of Hancock's corps. in capturing
some guns and prisoners early in the morning.
1t endedby the rebels recapturing most of The guns
and cutting up badly two of Burnside's divisions.
If this was a victory it is singular that General
Grant did not follow it mp for four days after
wards, which is the fact. On the 18th, 18th,
18th and 10th. General Grant maintained a posi-
ton of mastery inactivity. That is not his usual
course of proceedings after a victory.
After the defeat Of Sigel, General Imboden re-
manned in the Valley to watch his movements,
and the troops under Breckenridge and EchOls
continued their march eastward. They have, of
course. joined General Lee by this time, and give
him an additional force of 30, 600 men.
The quarrels between the different factions of
the Republican party lead to much more bitter
determinations between them than either of them
bestows upon the Democratic party. The admin
~istration party denounces that faction which re-
fuses to support the claims OF Mr.. Lincoln for the
next Presidency rs "copperheads," and the latter
retort with still greater bitterness. For using
language not half so strong as that now used by
the Fremont men, dozens of prominent Demo
Gratis were immured in the government bastiles
for months. two yaaro a5o. Ii 10 D." trua-Ou to
speak in that comparatively mild tone against
the measures of the Administration two years
ago, it is equally treason to speak against other
measures of the Administration in the violent
tone used by the Fremont men now. Yet moth
ing is done to the Fremont men. The President
himself and four members of his Cabinet are
denounced more bitterly now by the Fremont
men than they ever were by Democrats. Why
are they allowed to do so? Is it because the alb
surd dogma, ''that the Administration is the gov
eminent" is exploded3
Surely the ey es of the people must be opened
now to the ridiculous farce that Butler is playing
south of Richmond, and to the shameless man
Her in which the public has been deceived by his
dispatches. He has accomplished. and can ac-
complish, literally nothing. On the 10th the
enemy attacked his troops near Fort Darling.
and defeated them with a heavy loss on our side
The consequence of this defeat is, that Butler
was obliged to abandon the siege of Fort Oar
ling. and to retreat to his entertainments near
CITY Point. The retreat was conducted with
such precipitation that 7 of our best seige guns
were left in the hadds of the enemy. Y.