Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-12-24
expectations not Reaiized.

We suppose there y not q respectable news
paper in the country, nor single intelligent in
dividua in the loyal States, who will claim that
tie expectations of the country have been realiz
ed by the army directly under the supervision Of
Lieutenant General Grant. since his appointment
TO the position which be now holds Richmond
was his objective point; the capture Of the rebel
capital. IL was confidently predicted and expect
ed would iake place certainly before the early
snews OF winter Indeed. 50 hattering was our
first success in last summers campaign. that the
Lieutenant General telegraphed the war depart
ment. that be should fight il out on this line
il il took I'll summer" leaving, of course. the
inference 70 be drawn that il would not take all
summer and that, with the first frOsts of NOyem
ber be could iriumphantly say, " | have fought
good fight, have finished nv work, the sum
mer is ended. and the rebel capital is captured g"
There have been several battles fought by
General Grant, with considerable sacrifice of hu
man life, covering in the general estimate a loss
on our side of from eighty TO one hundred and
twenty thousand men; but strange as il nav ap
pear, there has never been official and de
tailed report given to the public OF ans OF these
battles Who has read official report OF the
battles and the losses at Rapid Ann, Spottsylva
mia Court House, the Wilderness, Cold Harbor
and the vicinity OF Petersburgg
We have said the expectations of the country
have not been realized in the summer campaign
under the Lieutenant General. Ii Is possible the
country built up hopes too brilliant Tor the con
summation Of any mortal man, short OF NapO
leon the First Bot who has given the colorng
the gauze and the gaudness 20 these expecta
tiOnsI We answer. the administration itself,
chiefly: and the Lieutenant General. careful
cautious, and retcent as he seems TO be by ma
ture, has not been altogether faultless We have
alluded to his first dispatch and the inference
that was universally aud justly drawn from that
memorable dispatch. On the 18th of Nay he
teegraphed. The enemy are obstinate, and
seem to have found the last ditch"
On the 18th, Secretary stanton e'egraPhed General
Grant, and that DRAFT w0nld be ordered 10 take place
lst Of July the Goth. he stated that 'over
twenty-five thousand veteran reinforcement have been
forwarded 10 General Grant On The 22d tho follow
.onicia reports OF this department, show that within
eight days after the great battle Of Spottsylvania Court
House, many thousand veteran troops have been for
warded to General Grant
The whole has been amply supplied with fun ra-
/ tions ard subsistence.
Upwards Of 20 QUO sick and wounded have been
ported from the field Of battle the Washington hos
+ pitals, and placed uuder surgical care
Over 5000 prisoners have been transported from the
field prison depots, aud large amounts OF ARTILLERY
and other implements OF an active campaign brought
i away.
rarded TO the army, anu the grand Army Of the PoO-
mac is fully strong IN numbers and better equip
ped, supplied aud furnished. than when the campaign
several thousand reinforcements have also been for
warded to other armies in the field and ample supplies
I to all.
purng the same time over 900 volunteers for 100
days have been mustered into the service, clothed
armed, equipped. and transported to their respective
con the 24th the Secretary said: Everything look.
exceedingly favorabletous He transmitted on the 3ls
portion of dispatch from Gen Butler, part OF which
follows:
"a woman reports that a meeting was held yesterday,
while she was in Richmond, 10 see whether the city
+ should be snIxndered burnt. The Mayor advocated
surrender anu was put into Castle Thunder
ION the 9Th o. June, the arrival offs 900 reinforce
ments wasN caly reported About this time the base
Of operations had been changed around to the James
/ river and Petersburg made the immediate objective
point direct promising advantage having yet beer
gained the stupendous losses that had
been suffered June 18th, Butler eegraphed an account
Of Gen Smiths first assault upon Petersburg adding
The town they cannet think OF holding for It e- d.
rectly under our guns"
We admire the patience of the people in THEN
dealing with Gen Grant We only regret that
the same fairness, patience aud justice could not
have been exercised toward predecessor in com
mand of the Army of the Potomac But now
that winter is upon US, is it not reasonable TO ASK
for an official aud detailed report Of the operation,
/ OF the lieutenant general, especially of his at
tempts to take the confederate capitalP The
whole history of the campaign should be known
/ that the people may prepare for the next year:
service. We have urged. and shall continue tC
urge, own State to its utmost exerton;
10 be ready for another call OF 500 900 NOR,
men. In the lull OF these winter months it i.
no time 10 settle down into indifference aDC
come ont with the first flowers of spring with
another call for 500 900 more men upon us. anC
the State totally unprepared for it. repor
from the lieutenant general might enlighten u
As TO the wants and requirements necessary tC
capture Richmond and END the rebellion De
troll Free press