Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-05-02
More of II


a month of warning and opportunity for prepare
ton, fell utterly unprepared. Now Plymouth,
after abundant notice that fierce il not over
whelming attack was intended has fallen with
only the defense that could be made by the troops
already there No help was sent; none may have
been possible. Twenty-Five hundred men and
twenty or thirty guns are taken, and post deem.
ed important enough to hold with such force
has fallen. Ii won't take many more instances
of such cruel imbecility TO make future calls for
troops idle as Glendowers calls for "spirits
from the vastly deep" Gold goes up, not be-
cause a few men are captured, a place of i'm
porlance lost, but because such continued disas
ters indicate the want of brains, energy and
honesty somewhere. lf Plymouth could not be
reinforced, why it not abandonedf Ii it
could be. why wasn't it2 We believe Gen But
Ter has this great crime to answer for, and IL be
has. he should be made to answer it bitterly
Indianapolis Journal
If the Sentinel had uttered the foregoing CEN
sure, severe but just, upon the management of
our public affairs, il would have been pronounced
by the Journal 'disloyal'-an exhibition of op-
position, or enmity, to the Government. But the
central organ of the Republican party ofIndiana
only gives expression to the feelings and opinion
of every sensible man. no matter what may be
disasters but the administration of the Govern
ment in every department indicate the want of
brains. energy and honesty somewhere" and we
may add that everywhere would have been
better expression
We do not believe 1t fair to saddle the disaster
at Plymouth upon the shoulders of Gen. BUTLER.
He is only subordinate, carrying out the plans
of his superior officers. The President. the
Secretary of War, Gen. HALLEcK aud Lieut..
Gen GRANT, were fully advised that Ply
mouth would be attacked by an overwhelming
force, and 1.-The only defence that could be made
by the troops already there unless REIN
forced, as was Gen. BUTLER Why, then, is he
made the scape goat of this disaster while others
equally. if not more responsible. 60 free? This
is view of the question which the people should
carefully consider. Mr. LINCOLN undertook the
management of the war in the East from the be
ginning The report OF Gen. McCLELLAN's con-
nection with the Army OF the Potomac shows the
evil influences aud results of the Presidents IN
termedding in that military department. If
that army had been sustained and reinforced af-
ter the seven days battles before Richmond,
there can be no doubt but the rebel capital
would have fallen.
1t is charged by Republican papers that it has
never been the purpose OF this Administration to
close the war by vigorous and successful fight
ing especially in advance of the pending Presi
dental election. The history of the war in Vir-
gna confirms this suspicion. and be it remem-
a. - Al. t. koo
controlled and directed by the authorities in
Washington.
Taking the Journals comments upon the de-
feats or reverses at Fort Pillow and Plymouth
for a text, we ask the considerate people of the
country to consider whittier we are drifting We
are now in the fourth year of the war and the
rebel government exhibits as much vigor, energy,
determination and power as it has during any Pc
riod of the contest We noticed in some Repub-
lican paper the other day the declaration that the
rebels were terribly in earnest, and unless diff
ferent policy was adopted by the Administration
we might look for defeat in every
quarter If such be the case can the
be prosecuted much longer as
it has been without resulting in utter ruin to the
country2 To use the language of the Journal.
can the Government be much longer maintained
without "brains. energy and honfs sty" on the part
of those who administer itI
There is moral in the Journals comments
which the country should consider. The present
Administration has been in power three years
Its history is briefly written: "Disaster follows
disaster. and no success has yet come gid the
gloom" Do the people want "more of it"I
Yet this disastrous Administration asks for a
continuance of power From the beginning it
has exhibited want of brains. energy and
honesty" and if the people continue such party
in power, they may charge upon their Own folly
the disasters which have occurred and the evils
which may follow. There is no hope in the fu-
ture unless the administration of the Govern
ment is confided to men of brains, honesty and
energy.