Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1865-04-06
rse Capture OF Rsehnssa.

The reports Of the recent fights aroupd Rich
nssd. occupying a period Of Eve days. shOv
most conclusveIy that Gen. Lac left Richmond
not as = MATER Of choice or discre,iou. but from
sheer necessity. He could not have remained
withou, the loss Of his entire army. Richmond
vas fairly Won BY bard fighting. No engage
mens during the var has exhibited more bravely
and more EaIIssny than in this terrible and
singulsrly successful onslaught upon the rebel
stronghold. IL was the opinion Of experienced
military men Who bad examined the fortihca-
tons and defences OF Richmond, that u could
be held BY the troops which sarrisoned il sgsins,
q much stronger force than the army under the
eommsnd OF onAxr. IL must De
Alec. that tho rebels we're under the command Of
their sblcst general-one in whom they had en-
tire confidence. and who thoroughly understood
the ~situation.
These fscts enhance The importance Of the
victory not only. bat attest the genius. skill and
indomitsble bravery which accomplished il And
IA was not done without work. Five days
nghting before the strong works OF Richmond.
which had been in the process OF construction Tor
years under the most skilfeIl engineers-men
who have the reputation of standing foremost in
their profession-and defended by veterans who
Il veil understood ard appreciated heimportance oil
the fearful stIuggle in which they we're engaged
70 their cause, best illustrate the value Of The
victory. Richmond has DO Importance as .
strategic point. II might have been surrendered
49, - - --l.f. -..lo.s a. t,.,r~ a.
their cause. But they made il the center Of
the rebellion, and concentrated for It's defencs
the flower OF the rebel army. And the rebe
leaders had entire confidence that Il would bt
held With the troops under Lxr against q much
superior force than its captors. To nse the ters'
but homcly phrase OF Mr.. LrsooLs. the 'mssh
ing up Of the rebel lines OF defenses, and whaI
they regarded a. almost impregnable fortified
tons. defended by the ables, generals and mos
gallant soldiers In the rebel army. must be re
garded as the masking" up Of the rebel cause
The Richmond Sentinel contained an article IN
4 late number. Just before the fight. and which
vas attributed to JEFF DAVIS himself, which ss
forth in strong terms tho necessity OF holding
Richmond, aud pronounced the then pendiu,
battle a. the turning point of the rebellion l
Richmond could be held. The Sentinel argued
against the assault OF Ga.sr's army tho confedcr
aey would be- safe. aud IL would inspire the hops
and courage necessary To maintain the etruggl'
for Independence. bu, Richmond lost, gloom
Encouragement and despair would settle upoi
the supporters Of the rebel cause The victor,
of GaAsr. viewed Ia the aspect We have onl,
briefly suggested. looms up a. the grand even
of the war and a. We have already remarked. !
vas calamity Won. bv hard Sighting. over a foe
with whom he bad often measured iwords-ioe
men worthy OF bis steel.
The course Of the rebel leaders cannot be an
,~icips,ed, bu, they must know ,ha, The prolonga
ton OF the struggle. under present circumstance
can only add TO the distress which the war ha
already brought upon the people OF tho south
N they now yield 10 the necessities OF their III
u%atlou, and thus atop the further waste OF bloo'
aud treasure. We believe they ear rely, without
guarantees 10 advance. In the masnanlmI,y OF a,
people OF the north for terms OF settlement, an
reconciliation. honorable, just and generous