Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-01-18
WAsHlNorov. January 2.

The government has involved itself in new
complications, in relation 20 the exchange of
prisoners, By appointing Gen. Butler TO conduct
that business, aud by putting it altogether aud
exclusively into his hands. Ii would seem that
the Administration can take no step whatever
that Is not the most foolish step that could be
taken. In this instance. the appointment of any
other man than Butler would have been better.
The Confederate government is firm in their de-
termination to hold no official intercourse with
one who has been pronounced an OUTLAW. At
present. Mr. Lincoln has been persuaded by his
friends TO make it point of honor that they
shall treat with Butler, and with no other person.
Aud, unless he al ers his mind. it looks very
much now as ID our poor fellows at Richmond
have good prospect Of looking forward to many
months more imprsonment-an Imprisonment
aleviated only by the comforts sent TO them by
their kind friends at the North. 1t is almost
certain, for it is susceptible of clear proof that
this complication, and the appointment OF Butler
for this purpose. were designed by the men who
control Mr. Lncoln's actions, for the express
purpose of embitterng still further the angry
feelings already existing between the North and
the South, and Tor preventing any kind feelings
from sprinsing up between the people of the two
sections Had it not been for the persistence of
The radicals in this respect. aud the power which
they have always exerIed over the President, and
policy ot the Administration. the war would never
have been marked by those features OF strocity
which have disgracei il, sud which. more than
anything else, will prevent final reunion
OF the States. Ii is to them that the
country is indebted for causing the
war in the first place. Il is 10 them tbst the
country is indebted for Mr. Lincoln's silence
from December. 1860. to February. 1861. when
ten words from him would have prevented the
- T.. :. al
that the country is indebted for the abandonment
of Gen McClellan's plan for conducting the war.
formed in November and December. 1861. and
which would have resulted. before the close of
the year 1862, in the defeat and dispersion of
every rebel army in the 6eld. and in the military
occupation OF New Orleans. Knoxville. Chatta-
nooga, Richmoud, Charleston, Wilmington,
Savannah Mobile and Galveston. Ii is TO them
that the country is indebted for the forced re-
tirement of Gen. Mcclellan. and the infction Of
the Popes. the Burnsides aud the Hookers in his
place. IL is To them that the couutrS is indebted
for the inauguration OF the policy of robbery.
rape, burning of private houses, destruction of
furniture, stealing OF pictures and stationery, and
making war on women and children. so faithfully
carried out by Pope, Burnside Schenck, and
Milroy. II is 10 them also, that the country is
indebted for the emancipation proclamation aud
the contscation act. and all their bitter fruit; for
the conscription act; for the prevalence OF mar
tial law all over the North, and for the yirtusl
abrogation of the Constitution. This is the work
of the radical abotionists. who control the
ton of the Administration Had it not been for
them, the exchange Of prisoners would have been
regularly continued under the cartel agreed upon
between Gen DIX and Mr.. Ould. But they per-
suaded Mr. Lincoln to make soldiers out OF ne
gro slaves, and then TO claim tor them the same
rights as our white soldiers enjoy; and now, to
make this demand still more offensive. they have
persuaded the President TO have il made by the
only officer in army whom she Confeierates
designate a. a beast.
am happy TO SAY thai the example set by Col.
Egan's brigade. in re enlisting Tor the war, has
been vers generally followed by great many of
the veteran regiments composing the Army OF
the Potomac. all the regiments which re-
enlist have furiough granted 10 them, aud they
are passing through this city every day on their
way home tn recruit fc- the var May success
attend thcml Old regiments. re-enlisied. will
be a thoesand times more effective IN the spring
than regiments composed altogether of raw men.
From all that we can learn oi the plans and re
sources of the Coniederates, il is evident that
they are fully prepared ior vigorous spring and
summer campaign. Their armies are much less
numerous than ours. IL cannot be shown that
they have quite 4U0 900 troops. but they are all
well disciplined. and. in defensive war. are
equal to 700 900 acting Extensively. II seems TO
be understood that, at the opening OF the spring
campaign, they viii be divided between General
Lee. on the line of the Rapidan. and Gen Joseph
E Johnston, between Chattanooga aud Atlanta.
with a small force under Beauregard at Charles
ton The general features OF the war. on their
part. viii be strictly defensive. Onr armies,
| when they advance, will meet With little resist
| ance until they are drawn far inso the interior ol
| the country. but then they viii DO assailed with
! what the Ccnfederates will try to make over
| shelning numbers Military men understand
perfectly that. until Richmond falls, Charleston
cannot be taken. 10 the East, therefore. the ex
l ertions of the Confederates win be confined
chiefly to the defense of their capital: and it i
not likely that any change. viii be made in th'
mode of conducting that defense which has hith-
| erto been SO successfnl.
In the West it is likely that our operations vii
carry US into what has hitherto been ferra incos
nifs. II will be seen. on examining good map
4 that between lChattauoogv and Atlanta there ar
l tvo rivers. The hrst u the north branch Of thl