The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-07-12

on the Ohio river. BY the way, Mr.. Secretary
said he, turning quickly to Mr. Cameron, have
you ordered for me that naval constructor
asked you for to go under my orders to the
Westp
mo, General, not vet" said Mr. Cameron;
but General, can furnish you with as many
steamboats, as you want on the Ohio river with
in seven days by contract"
General Scott said, little impatiently, Mr..
Secretary, l do not want there even one old rot
ten contract steamboat | want gunb oats,
| built to draw just as many feet Of water as
| say to carry just as many guns as say, and of
| just such caliber as say. Sir, there is plenty
| of material for such gunboats on those Western
waters there is plenty of mechanical skill
there, and, sir, there is plenty of time!h
| Mr.. Cameron fastened to say to the chief:
! General, you shall have everything you wantw
General Seott-Thanks, Mr.. Secretary.
| Everything | want is all / want Thanks!
| Well, then, | want the best naval constructor
| IN the United States sent Immediately to
1 Louisville, Kentucky, to design and see con-
| structed gunboats. These boats can easily be
| finished before the first frost. Our Southern
friends, seeing the government apparently con-
| tent with guarding the frontier, may not believe
/ they are to be attacked and may relax in their
| preparations. In any case. our preparations be-
| ing made on sound principles, would have, by
| the first day of October next, assembled at the
junction of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers
| army of $50, 900 meni not 900 armed men!
| and would have here another army of 80, 900
men. would send that Western army, accom-
| panied by the gunboats, down to the Gulf of
! Mexico! At the same time | would send this
| army of loo, 600 men hence to Richmond by the
! right road.
| If you act thus, if you allow the soldiers; to
| do what they know they ought to do, | will
answer for it that the government of the United
States shall have its flag and its authority rec
| ognized throughout the land, over every inch of
its territory by the 4th day of March, or at
the latest by the 4th day of July following.
| If you do not thus act, if you make the soldiers
do what they know they ought not to do; if you
push these three months men into battle just as
they are all thinking of going home; if you
push the two and three-years men into
battle just before they shall be organ
lied, you will be beaten in the first general ac-
| ton of the war You will consolidate what is
now an insurrection, and make it rebellious
| government-which rebellious government you
may be able to put down in two or three years;
but doubt It'll"
Such were the words of Americas greatest
soldier in May. 1861 We all know the result.
For the moment he succeeded in delaying rash
movement but later on the aged cheftain worn
out by the pressure brought to bear upon
him, yielded to those in authority and those
who assumed to direct the authorities and he in
an evil hour consented to see sound military
sumption. The three-months men were pushed
into battle ''just as they were thinking of going
| home;n the two and three-years men were push
ed into battle; some of them before they were
fairly organized. We were beaten in the first
! general action of the war. The insurrection did
| become strongly organized rebellious move
ment, which the government of the United
States did not succeed in putting down in two or
three years.