Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1861-07-17
Southern war News.


We copy from the Louisville Courier a lette
from its army correspondent, which gives tn,
movements and feelings of the Confederate forces
in Virginia, under command of Gen. JOHNSTON:
Standing Guard = Missisrppions = Skirnish-
A Great Battle Wanfed-Haruesf Times-Fin
Crops.
CAnP MAR WINCHESTER, Friday, June 70.
seize few moments afforded by the period
cal relief from guard duty, to send you scrawl
though there is such an absolute poverty in the
matter of interesting news that it is difficult nov
to write eurrente ealGmo. Last evening it wa,
the pleasant fortune of your correspondent to b'
detailed as guard and our post chanced to be or
the line of sentinels stationed about the wagons o.
the Commissary. In drenching rain, with ne
company save the chattering negro teamsters who
were huddled about their camp fires, and the
restless horses that neighed, and snorted. anC
snored, the long night passed, its gloom relieved
only by the flashes of slow heat lightning anC
the coruscstions of the fire flies.
But this is only chance stave in the poetry o
war-a tune in the music of all campaigns thai
we must needs play. One soon gets accustomed
to sleeping upon the ground. treading lone sentry
lines, and feeding upon what we used to consider
prison fare. In fact, it induration to the
tolls and fatigues and privations of soldier life
that we most required, and that hardihood we
have been rapidly acquiring since leaving Har
per's Ferry.
Last night, Colonel Faulkner's Mississippi
Regiment returned from its jaunt towards the
Potomac. They went in pursuit of the enemy
but the Yankees we're again too adroit. They
mizzled before gun could be fired, and secreted
among the hills of Maryland. Was ever foe
SO braggart, and yet so dastsrdlyS They will not
afford us a fair field fight, and then when we do
overtake and chastise their accommodating parties
they bloviate through the Abolition papers OF
their wonderful prowess.
The little skirmsh at Spring Point, on the Bal
timore and Ohio Railroad, few days since, re
suited more successfully to our arms than first
reported. A squad OF fourteen of our cavalry
were hemmed in by over sixty Northerners. Our
commander, Capt. Ashby, gallant and accom-
pished dragoon officer, led bis brave men through
their enemies Unfortunately Captain A. was
almost overpowered, his horse being shot from
under him, and he received FIVE severe wounds
He did not leave the field, however, before kill
ing six of the Hessians, which was glory and sat
isfaction sufficient His men were equally sue
cessful in performing acts of heroism.
But we are tiring of these small actions, al
though Indicative in the highest degree of the
daring and efficiency of our brave soldiers. Vic
tory 1t is true, crowns the efforts of the right In
every encounter but why not have a grand bat
cded7 We well know upon whose side the for.
tunes of war will shine, and we long for the day
when the Vandals of Lincoln will be so signally
discounted that there can be no longer any
doubt to who in this contest possess both the
might and the right God speed the coming day
and then and there send US good deiverance.
We are now in the midst of high harvest in thi.
beautiful and fertile valley of Virginia. From
all sides hear the voices of the reapers they
whet their sythes and all the air is laden with tn,
delicious odors of the new mown hay. There ha.
been an unusually large area of wheat sown, anC
the crop has never been known to be so abun
dant. 1t is no longer promise, but reality
And yet the rascals at the North talk of starving
us, who are the great producers Of the continent
Gen. johnson and staff remain here, with tn,
larger portion of the army of the Shenandoah
1t may be that we will move soon, and of cours
suddenly and that we will take possession of tn
capital in time to enjoy Independence Day.
Sr DE- KAY.