Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-04-05
FROM WASHINGTON.
Importance of the Padu an Disaster
why Lincoln Keeps Gen. ucCieii-
an IN the >hade-Determtna OF
the Rebels 10 Retaiiate for Alleged
Outrages-IincoIn Alone TO Biame ~
this be Done.
Especial Correspondence Of the Chicago Times
Mach 30

Especial Correspondence Of the Chicago Tines
WASHINGTON. March %.
The Administra alton seeks to make light of the
disaster at Paducah. in Kentucky; and Mr. Lin
coin has already made il the subject OF one OF his
hideous Jokes. But the importance of the affair.
az a part OF the rebel operations ~ the west Is
quite evident TO every intelligent army ofncer
here. and il is freely discussed IN military circles
IL is the general opinion among military men
that it ioreshadows the bold ness and autacity
land some even add the probable success which
will characterize the rebel campaigns OF 1904
The enemies oi Gen Grant endeavor to blame
him for the affair, for they say that II ought to
have been his special province TO have ioreseen
and provided against 1t. 1t i not necessary for
me to demonstrate TO the readers OF the Times
how unjust and unfounde1 this view OF the case
is. If Gen. Grant promptly takes measures to
repair the mischief that has been done; to stay
the rebel advance in Kentucky, and 70 prevent
the recurrence of similar disasters in future il is
all the country can ask of him.
The responsibility Of the affair, like that oil the
Florida disaster and of our other recent defeats,
rests directly upon Abraham Lincoln VINO, TO
crafty his personal hatred and TO advance his
personal ends. keeps many OF our best Generals
unemployed, and still cOntrves so to scatter the
army a to render fully one-half of our military
=
will be one of the first thing to which Gen. Grant
will turr his attention He has already insisted
that both General Mcclellan and Gen. Fremont
shall DE assigned 10 duty forthwith; and the
President. after many demurs and excuses has
consented. Among the objections Offered by
Mr. Lincoln were. that these two Generals were
both prominen. Presidential candidates, and that
if he gave them commands NOR. after keeping
them both so long unemployed people would say.
1T o 4 kfv hon off md ia 10
their friends There's logic for you. That is
an argument worthy of great mind
Respect for the office which Abe Lincoln holds
prevented General Grant from replying to this as
il deserved. He cOntented himself with saving
that the people would do justice TO his motives,
which, Of course were simply zeal for the ad-
vancement OF the service. But To his friends he
did not hesitate TO express his wonder and as
constituent that so mean motive could infiu-
ence the conduct of the chief magistrate in a
matter where the success of the war was so
vitality concerned
am aware that some diversity of opinion ex-
lists concerning the authenticity of the orders
found upon the person of the late Col Ddhlgren,
in regard to the burning and sacking OF Rich
mond But the evidence l. all now IN, and II
cannot be denied that the weight of testimony is
decidedly in favor of the genuineness OF the docu
mens in question. One fact alone. which has
conclusive The men concerned in the exped-
ton understood its obec perfectly and the sur
yivors all concur in the fact that those objects
were precisely what is set forth in Dahlgren 5
order and which if carried out, would have in
volved the burning of the city of Richmond. the
massacre of unarmed and defenceless people. the
plumber and sack of private houses. the nameles:
outra ges on females
Whenever, hitherto, the Confederates have in
/ yada al tba no nf hpI
has been such as befitteI the armies of Chris
tan nation. The towns of Carlisle. ork. Cum
berand and Harper's Ferry have all been in then
/ power. and all might have shared the fate which
| Lincoln wished to befsll Richmond Exaspera
ted by such deliberately fendsh plot, it il
scarcely probable that in future invasions thu
rebel soldiers will be so forbearing. If all thu
horrors of visited this summer upor
some of the fourishing towns in Pennsylvania
Ohio and Indiana. the blame will lay direct,
upon the shoulders OF Abraham Lincoln. for Ia
gave his full consent and approval 10 the design
of Dablgren
There is another way in which the Confeder
aies feel disposed 10 take vengeance upon us 10
an attempt to burn and sack Richmond, and TO
our actual bonbardment of Charleston and burn
/ inc of several of their towns besides for tn
things done by Turchn. Mcneil, Wilde. Pope
Butler and Milrov; things which cannot be JUST
fed by the rules of war They are now enter
tanning the design of burning our large cities b.
means Of the nstrumentality of hired despera
does, or of destroying them. as with an earth
quake by causing the explosion of the lhrg
powder magazines known To be in their vicinity
These facts are so well known here, that grea
alarm and apprehension exists among those VIII
are interested in property, and whose famie
reside in those cities. And some very Iadica
Republicans hitherto strong advocates of "exter
mination" and "wipng out the South, and ar
dent apostles of abolitionism and the intermar
rage of black men with white women. have bee
to see the President, and have urged him to issu
an order forbdding in future all such acts as phi
} lage or rapine. The President only laughed a
them To issue such al order would seem 10
much like embracing the views of Genera
Mcclellan. So that the Turchins, the Pope,
and the Buffers, will continue their performance
at the South But when the midnight skv
} lighted up with confagratons at the North
when some great CITY at the North is destrnye
in night. as with an earthqaAke-and when th
frenzed cries of unprotected females freeze wit
horror the powerleSs lockers on-then let it l.
; remembered that Abraham Lincoln, aud he alone
l. the author of these calamities
Do you observe how many papers are no.
convinced of the designs of Nr Lincoln to kee
himself in power for another term by ANY means
designs which exposed and denounced month
ago? y