Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1861-08-21
Prom washinvton.
WASHINGTON, August l6-The HeraId's c,

WASHINGTON, August l6.-The Heralds cor
respondent says
Numberless incidents tend to show the rebels
are on the eve of attacking our lines.
Last night it was discovered the rebel lines had
been advanced in all directions towards the Po-
tomac. Their force at Fairfax Court House has
been largely increased Heavy forces have been
thrown out on all the roads. large body is
proceeding towards the Point of Rocks. Their
scouting parties are in the immediate vicinity of
our lines along the whole extent of the Potomac.
The rebels in Baltimore to-day received intel
ligence that the rebels were then advancing upon
Washington, and the information was published
in an extra. 1t is thought they were only
little premature
Cen Scott does not think the attack will be
made, but Gen. Mcclellan, who was a cass-mate
of Beauregard's and is familiar with his mode of
combination, is well convinced that he will make
an attack upon some point the Potomac.
1t is said the rebels have nearly 100, 900 men
between here and Richmond. They have not
the means to provide for the immense army.
They know that under the management of Gen.
Mcclellan our army is becoming more formula
bic in numbers and discipline, while their forces
are getting more disorganized and demoralized by
delay and the poor prospect of provisions for their
comfort and maintenance during the winter.
They not afford to wait for the result of
General SCOTS plan of starving them out, or
General McCelans programme to have the
army perfectly disciplined and prepared before
he begins to advance. They must either fight
now or see their army melt away from necessity,
without another blow being struck. That an at
tack will be made within very short time is gen.
orally conceded.
One of a regiment of negroes who took part in
the battle of Bulls Run at which time he made
his escape, and has since wandered about until he
got within our lines, asserts that there are in
the rebel army in Virginia two or three thousand
negroes armed with Halls rihes-most of them
are from further South than Virginia. The
negroes from down South he says have been
taught they would be butchered if they fell into
the hands of the Unonists, bUs those picked up in
Virginia have a different idea and would all run
away if they could
The Confederate forces have nearly all fallen
back TO Fairfax Court House, thus widening the
distance separating the hostile forces. The
pickets of both armies, however, occupy nearly
the same advanced positions as heretofore.
A new battery has been erected by the enemy
at point mile or two below Aqua Creek
The rebels yesterday suddenly opened fire on
the steamer Pocahontas but inflicted no damage
] This is the 4th battery which has been erected
at that point. Its situation is very near the shore
of the river.
Officers report that unless the Government
takes immediate action to expel the rebels from
these positions on the banks of the river navga-
ton will be completely closed.
The enemy's batteries already command a large
part of the Potomac
Since our capitalists have taken the new gov
eminent loan so freely the Treasury Department
entertains no doubt that it will lie largely taken
abroad, in spite of the croaking of the news
papers,
Advices which have been received from Ken
lucky, state that the new Union Legislature will
request Breckenridge and Powell to rseign their
seats in the U. S. Senate.
The Union men in Kentucky and Tennessee
say that great Federal victory in Virginia when
the next battle occurs, will extinguish the rebel
| lion in those States.
! The rebels continue their barbarous practice Of
| firing on our pickets. Cases of this kind occur
nearly every night.
Judge Nelson Is in Jail Mt Richmond