Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-11-10
Correspondence Of the y. Y. News.l

AsHINGroS, November D.
The military atmosphere is full of gloom. All
the brilliant movements designed to sweep the
country with enthusiasm for the Administration
have come 10 grief. Grant moved a week too
soon. Had he waited until this time the tele-
graph could be used to keep up the deception of
a complete success" until after election day
The great mistake of the new managers was in
permitting Gen. Grant to commence his move
ment ten dave ago. for they should have know
that despite all their efforts 10 suppress truth, il
would come TO light before the sih inst. Had the
"plan" been postponed until Thursday last, or
yesterday, or to-day the result could be given TO
the public on Monday morning in all the colour
de rose OF official bulletins Unfortunately fog
the political prospects of the President. suffi-
cient time has elapsed since the movement wa.
made 10 enable the people To ascertain the truth
about it, and that truth will fall with crushing
weight at the ballot box. On the 9th ult the
giant raised bis to strike the blow that was
TO end the campaign and clutch the capital of the
Coniederacy, but the arm wss palsied. and has
fallen powerless by his side. Had the eoup been
deferred until November ), 1864. its failure
could be kept concealed until the Och. and '.Sec-
retarg stanton 10 Gen Dix" could have spread
the JOYOUS news that the Confeieracy was com
pletely demolished, annihilated, pulverized and
scattered to the winds. By such intelligence as
this the Wild excitement of April, 1861, might
have been rescusitated dragged from the grave
in which it has been buried 5y three years OF
laundering barbarism and failure and once more
infused into the veins OF the disciples of loyalty
But, like the birth OF Richard Ill. the govern
ment was premature. aud the result heralded 90
the ''breathing world before its time" Oh.
Abraham well may on say With Burns:
''The best laid schemes
u mice and men
Gang aft aglee."
Grants army is back ia its old camp, and the
troops are building winter quarters After los-
ing five thousan men IN a vain attempt to out
general the greatest general of the age. he re-
tires 10 bis breastworks and prepares 20 pass the
winter in inactivity. The grand campaign that
was to eliminate in the overthrow al the Con
ioderacy has ended in the discontinue Of our
army. and to-day we nearer the suppress
sion OF the rebellion than We were one year ago.
How msny men have been killed or crippled
since the opening of the year? Grant has lost
one hundred and twenty thousand, Sherman
forty thousand Siegel, Hunter and Sheridan
thirty thousand, Banks, Rosecrans. Curtis and
Blunt forty thousand, several other commanders
at least twenty thousand, in all about two hun
dred and fifty thousand in ten months and the
rebellion that was 10 have been crushed in
ninety days Is still rampant and defiant
Sheridan's army is still on the banks of Cedar
Creek. The magnificent victory, which he did
not follow up. cost him between i've and six
thousand men, and Early is stlll before him in
the VALLEY. Suppose that Mcclellan had lag
ged behind, Sheridan has done, after utterly
routing and breaking up the Confederate army
what a howl of loyal Indignation would have
overwhelmed him. But Mcclellan did not muir
der aod pilage aud burn. Sheridan has done
all these things, and therefore he Is entitled Il
all the gratitude, not the criticisms of loyalty
How easy il is to win our worship Paw the
savage and he will fall down before YOU
Shdriean remains on the banks of Cedar
Creek, and Early stands tauntingly before him
The Confederate army, that has been again and
again sent bowling aud whrling up the Valley
picks up the little pieces into which it wa:
smashed, cements them together, and invite:
Sheridan To walk up and send them "whirlng'
again. Sheridan does not accept the invitation
for be begins 10 find oct that that operation Of
smashing" is Verg like experimenting with
hammer on 4 percussion she'll The fragment,
are very likely To hurt somebody, and they have
already burt him very severely
The real truth quot the official truth regard
ing the situation in the valley is this Sheridan
army Is no stronger than il was on the Doth ult
/ the day after the great victory" over Early
/ All the reniorcements that could be collected
were sent To Grant To enable him TO strike tn,
great political blow at Richmond. Sheridan i
not strong enough to advance and force anofhe
battle with Early, who is believed TO have receiy
ed 5000 men from Richmond since his misror
tune at Cedar Creek.
The design of capturing Lyuchburg has beer
abandoned. That part OF the plan has been toe
expensive. and will not be tried again. TIL,
Army OF the Shenandoah is now on the defens
! i've, and will probably remain so during the win
] A Cap kpap fha la.ia NJ.
ryland. nothing more will be expected from il
Sheridan finds sufficient employment tor a larg,
part OF his force in protecting the woods betwe eel
Martinsburg and his front All his trains hav,
been sent back from Winchester 10 Martiusburg
because they were not considered safe at tn
former place Imboden. Gilmore and Moseb,
are constantly lowering about the roads. read
10 'gobble' up everything tina, il not strongl,
guarded. Their daring sufficiently evince'
in the capture of General Duilie. who was car
RED of in the very teeth of strong infantr
force
sheridan Is said to be extending tile railroa,
from Harper's Ferry 10 Winchester This
probably true. as know thata number OF meI
employed on the military railroad went to Har
per's Ferry. When the road j. finished, Sheri
dan will have 10 detach few thousand men {,
guard IL He will then, probably. fall back e
| Winchester and remain there. ready 10 NOV,
wherever-the offensive movements of the Con
federate army may lead him. He is not maste
OF the situation, nor will he be while the Conied
crates have an army in the valley
Early, on the other hand, will remain wher
he can cover stanton and Gordonsville II
may send part Of his command into West Vir
ginia to cooperate with Breckenridge, who il
now collecting force for offensive operations
Should he do this of course Sheridan would b
compelled 10 follow suit and send reinforcement
10 General Kelly. The Coniederates will neve
consent TO the disruption of their chief State.
Governor Boreman and his Legislature may fin
Il eIpedient to migrate While tie armies a
the other points are quiet. there will be activit
IA West Virginia. A column OF five or te
thousand men unier Breckinrdge, moving b.
way of Beverly al. Grafton could menace Pitts
burg. and compel Sheridan to eyacuate the val
ley IL il not generally believed that this pla
will be adopted. but il i practicable Betwee
Early and Breckenridge, Sheridan will hav
plenty of work his hands. The kanawh
Valley offers facilities that may be availed of Z
compel the abandonment of the Shenandoah.
the hands OF sskllful commander it can be nee
advantsgeously. Breckenridge moy be the mar
/ SEYMOUR.