Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1861-11-06
Disposition of the Confederate Forces
on the Potomac.

~
An intelligent Washington correspondent of
the Chicago Times, in a letter dated the 29th of
October. thus gives the disposition of the Con-
federare forces on the Potomac and the strategy
of the rebel Generals:
The general disposition of the Confederate ar
my opposite Washington remains about as de-
scribed in my former letter. If Gen. Johnston's
object has been to preserve Virginia from inya
sion at that point, he has certainly been success
full SO far. His army now str stches from Lees
burg on the north to Fredericksburg on the south,
a distance of sixty miles in a straight line. What
part of this line is the weakest will now soon be
ascertained. Commencing at Matthias Point,
twenty FIVE miles east of Fred ericksburg, we find
a series of strong river batteries extending in an
uninterrupted line up the Potomac to the mouth
OF the Occoquan river, Il distance of forty miles.
This gives them the complete command OF the
river for that distance. Their batteries are mount
e with guns ofsuch large calibre that they throw
the heaviest shot and shell, with accuracy, four
miles. Every day shot and shell are now thrown
across to the camps of Sickles's brigade, OH the
Maryland shore. fully FIVE miles distant from the
batteries. On Tuesday last, one of these shells
exploded, killing three men On the spot, wound
ing four others who have since died, and severely
injuring six others. For the support of these
batteries $4,000 troops are encamped immediate
ly back of them. The line of the Occoquan river
and Bull Run is very strongly defended by the
rest of the right wing under Beauregard. whose
headquarters are at Centerville. Johnston's main
body is at Manassas Junction. His left wing,
under Gen Gustavus Smith, holds the line of the
Bull Run mountains and Goose Creek, including
Aide and Leesburg. The whole number Of
troops under Johnston's orders is certainly not
less than l50, 900.
From al. that | can lean Of the movements of
Al a.. 49, Il - 49,
that they desire nothing more than to have Banks
cross at Edwards Ferry with his whole force. The
forts which they are building east of Leesburg.
and the batteries which they are erecting to com
mand the ferry, are only shams aud make believes
like the fort and wooden guns on Munson's Hill,
and like them will be abandoned on the approach
of a force of respectable strength. Leesburg is
a point OF no consequence to General Johnston.
Evacuating that place in earnest, therefore, on
the approach of a strong Union force, Gen. Evans
will retire to the right bank of Goose Creek, where
he will be supported by the whole of Johnston's
left wing. commanded by Gen. Gustavus Smith.
1t is the evident intention of Gen. Johnston 20
give battle to the Union troops at Goose Creek,
or indeed at any point on bis present line of de-
fences described above. 1t may seem that this
line is too extensive TO be defended successfully
by l50. 900 troops, which is probably all that
Johnston has. But it must be remembered that
ifc inChtlS VI touiuIunitdtiou ilOIu pOint ~ pOiut
are perfect; that he has a military telegraph in
operation; that he and all his officers are perfectly
acquainted with the country, and that be is abun.
dainty supplied with artillery. / can see only one
way in which the strong line of Goose Creek can
be forced and the Confederates driven from it.
And that is for Banks to cross at Edwards Ferry,
and for Gen. Mccall, with 25 900 more men, to
advance from Prospect Hill, past Drainesville,
and attack Gen. Smiths rear on the right bank
of Goose Creek. The two attacks of Banks and
Mccall, If male simultaneously and with not
less than 50, 1000 men (for Smith has fully 60 ,000)
may be successful in driving Johnstou's left wing
towards his main body at Ccnterville. But it
may be Johnston design to so protract such a
conflict at Goose Creek as to draw Gen. McClel-
Ian himself there, and then to cut him off from
Washington. One thing is certain: Gen. John
ston's skill in strategy is of the very first order,
and it will require no second-rate ability to cir
cumvent him.
Among the preparations made by the Contede-
rates to defend their batteries on the Potomac
are furnaces for heating hot shot, which have
been erected the past week, and fire ships which
they expect to burn a hostile feet. The lat
ter are merely old vessels. in which are slowed
a quantity of combustible materials. such as cot
ton to be saturated with turpentine, tar, resin DC.
The design is to send them among the Union yes
sells, if the latter ever attack the batteries.