Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1861-06-26

The reader can, by a correct knowledge OF the
localities and their resources, better understand
the actual powers and numbers Of the rebels.
Manassas Junction" is formed by the junction
of the Orange and Alexandra and the Manassas
Gap Railroads, on a barren plain twenty seven
miles west by south from the city Of Alexandria.
From this point due west extends the Manassas
Gap Railroad to Strasburg. on the Shenandoah
Valley and River, 80 miles. The entire distance
from Alexandra to Strasburg is so miles, and
the only places in all that distance, where one
hundred people other than the permanent resi-
dents can be fed, are the towns of Front Royal
and Strasburg. There is not place where 500
men other than the permanent inhabitants, can
subsist for as hours, from the local resources in
the entire distance. Front Royal has q popula-
ton Of 200, and Strasburg Of 600-total for
both places, 1000 people-and these are the only
villages worthy of a name. The inhabitants
from Alexandria to Strasburg raise barely enough
for their own consumption, and a sudden Influx
of 500 men would cause a famine. From the
Junction. the Orange and Alexandria Railroad
runs south by west 50 miles TO Gordonsville, and
there meets the Virginia Central Railroad. The
distance from Alexandra to Gordonsyille is
so miles. Gordonsville has about four hundred
inhabitants. and is the most populous town be
tween Alexandra and Richmond, distance Of
one hundred and fifty miles, on the line of the
r. R., in the entire line there is not place where
500 men can subsist two days, without provisions
being supplied to them from great distance and
at large cost, and we know that last years
crops in the State of Virginia were short-not a
pound of surplus was grown. Neither had they
any surplus from the previous years crop. Con-
sequently to sustain large influx Of strangers
into the State, provisions would have TO be i'm
ported Harper's Ferry is point Of land formed
by the junction Of the Potomac and Shenandoah
rivers on the east, and by range Of 500 feet
high on the south and west. There may be
about Is acres of tillable ground, on which about
three hundred inhabitants are living in wretched
manner The entire space is covered BY their
dwellings and the United States armories. Two
thousand men can not be quartercd there. The
place in hot weather is very unhealthy. The
Winchester and Potomac Railroad connects with
the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad at Harper's
Ferry. The distance between Winchester and
Harper's Ferry is 80 miles. Between them and
3 500 inhabitants. Winchester has 900. The
Shenandoah valley begins in Charlestown. dis
tant about ten miles from Harper's Ferry.
Through its entire length flows the Shenandoah
river, which is not navigable for anything but
RATS, and not even for them but nj short dis
tances. The length of the valley is 40 miles;
its width varies from 10 To 30 miles and is very
lertlle IN WHEAT ana corn. Dub Ullt Ndtel -
subject to drouth, and for three years il has not
produced any surplus grain.
From Winchester TO Strasburg the distance IL
le miles. The road is splendid, and there is only
one stream OF consequence to cross, called Pad
DIV Creek" The stream is fordsble. and is cross
ed three miles from Strasburg by turnpike
bridge. Between Winchester and Strasburg are
several villages of from 50 10 300 inhabitants.
Six miles out of Winchester toward Strasburg, a
marked difference prevails in the population All
the people work Including men, women and chill
dren) on their farms. Very few blacks are seen
on the farms, and these they work side by side
with the whites. The white women work in the
fields. The people are all thrifty and laborious.
and live very frugally. They not warlike at
all in their dispositions. From Strasburg % Front
ROYAL the distance is IL miles by the Manassas
Gap Railroad. In that interval the Shenandoah
is crossed twice over substantial bridges. The
river az this season is fordable at various conven-
lent points, two of them being near the bridges.
In the space embraced from Alexandria in q
straight line north west to Harper's Ferry, and
from Harper's Ferry south 10 Strasburg, thence
east to Manassas Junction, thence south 20 Rich
mond-more particularly east Of the Blue
Rdge''-the land does not yield enough for the
people to live on in ordinary seasons. The large
armies of rebels must therefore be men in buck
ram about here.