Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-02-03

disappointments Of the campaign on the Pc
ished their patriotism. They fought well,
faithfully, CALAMITY. under Gen. Pope; yet
were compelled TO fan back on Washing
ton, defeated and almost demoralized. The
enemy, no longer occupied in guarding his
own capital, poured his troops northward, en-
tered MARYLAND. threatened Pennsylvania,
and even Washington itself Elated by his
recent victories, and assured that our troops
were disorganized and dispirited, he was con-
fideut that the seat of war was now perma-
nently transferred 20 the loyal States, and
that mis- exhausted soil was to be relieved
from the burden of supporting two hostile
armies. But ne did not understand the spirit
which animated the soldiers of the Union. /
shall not, nor can /, living, forget that when
was ordered TO the command of the troops for
the defence of the capital, the soldiers with
whom | had shared so much of the anxiety
and pain and suffering of the war had not
lost their confidence in me as their COM
mander. They sprang to my call with all
their ancient vigor. discipline and courage.
led them into MARYLAND. Fifteen days after
they had fallen back defeated before Wash
ington they yanquished the enemy on the
rugged heights OF South Mountain. pursued
him to the hard-fought field of Antietam. and
drove him, broken and disappointed, across
the Potomac, into Virginia.
The army had need of rest after the ter
rible experience of battles and marches, with
scarcely an interval of repose, which they
had gone through from the ti,ne Of leaving
the Peninsula, the return to Washington, the
defeat in Virginia, the victory of South Noun
tain. and again at Antietam 1t was not sur
prising that they were IN a large degree des-
titute of the absolute necessarles to effective
duty Shoes were worn out aud blankets lost
clothing was in rags; III short, the army was
unfit for active service, and an interval for
rest and equipment was necessary.
''Whep the lowly-forwarded supplies came
to us. led the army across the river, reno
waited refreshed, in good order and discipline,
and followed the retreating foe 10 a position
where | was confident of decisive victory;
when in the midst of the movement. while my
advanced guard was actually in contact with
the enemy, / was removed from the com
mand Instead of
reporting victorious campaign it has been
nv duty to relate the heroism of reduced
army, sent upon an expedition into an enc
my's country, there to abandon one and orig
mate another and new plan of campaign,
which might and would have been successful
if supported with appreciation Of its necessi-
ties, but which failed because of the repeated
failure of promised support at the most crit
cal and, as it proved the most fatal moments.
That heroism surpasses ordinary description.
Its illustration must be left for the pen of the
historian in times of calm reflection. when the
nation shall be looking back to the past from
the midst of peaceful days. For me now it
is sufficient to say that my comrades were VIC
tors in every field save one, and there the
endurance of single corps accomplished the
object of its fighting, and, by securing to the
army it, transit to the James River, left to
the enemy a ruinous and barren victory.
Il am devoutlv grateful to God that my
last campaign with this brave army was crown
ed with victory which saved the nation from
the greatest peril it had then undergone.
II have not accomplished my purpose il, by
this report. the Army of the Potomac is not
placed high on the roll of the historic armies
of the world. $500 -s5rae -
Its deeds ennoble the nation to which il
belongs. Always ready for battle, always
firm. steadfast and trustworthy, / never called
on it in vain, nor will the nation ever have
cause to attribute its want of success, under
myself or other commanders, TO any failure Of
patriotism or bravery in that noble body O.
American soldiers.
NO man can justly charge upon any portion
of that army, from the commanding general tc
the private, any lack of devotion to the serv-
ice of the United States Government and &c
the cause of the Constitution and the Union
They have proved their fcalty, in much sor-
row, suffering, danger, and through the yer,
shadow of death. Their comrades dead on al
the fields where we fought, have scarcely more
claim to the honor of nations reverence
than their survivors TO the justice of nation
gratitude"