Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1861-06-05

The New Orleans Delta, of Sunday. gives the
following information in reference TO the Con-
federate forces in Virginia and the occupation of
Alexandria by the Federal army:
At last we have to record what appears to be
the commencemen>a a campaign-a movement
with an object--a direcs palpable, unequiyocal
invasion of the territory of the Confederate
States We endeayored last week to outline the
probable intentions and plan Of operations of the
eremy; basing our surmises on the most trust
worthy sources of information then at our com
mand. Subsequent events have ratified our con-
clusions. We stated that the design of the enemy
was to advance against Richmond by two distinct
lines-one from Washington, on the north, the
other from Fortress Monroe, on the south vest
thus attempting to inclose and subjugate the
~hole of Eastern Virginia. At the same time We
expressed doubt whether these movements
would be made without an attempt to capture the
two posts of Harper's Ferry and Norfolk. We
now have information that the projected advance
| from Washington has been commenced; that on
| Friday night corps of United States troops.
| 5000 strong, crossed the Long Bridge over
the Potomac, and took possession of the ,ity of
| Alexandra. Northern dispatches state that a
simultaneous attack Norfolk and Harper's
Ferry was designed by the Lincoln Govern
ment. Indeed. previous TO this invasive move
ment there had been an attack on the Sewall's
Point battery by some United States vessels, the
assailants being driven off with loss. The object
of the assault was probably simply to ascertain
the position and try the strength of the battery.
General Butler, the hero of Annapolis and the
Relay House, is ordered to Fortress Monroe,
there to form a camp of Is 600 men, preparatory
to the anticipated advance on Richmond from
that direction. We are yet in the dark as to af-
fairs at Harper's Ferry and in its vicinity. We
feel confident that an attack upon that post would
be repelled. Its strength and its stragetical i'm
portance are well known to the enemy; and hence
it is probable that demonstration will be made
in its neighborhood, not with view to actual
capture at the present moment, but TO hold the
forces stationed there in check during the con
templated advance from Alexandria, on the ap-
pearance OF the invading column, and fall back
ten miles to Fairfax Court house. Gen. Bonham
was at Manassas Junction with two regiments of
South Carolina troops, while in his rear at Gull
pepper Courthouse, we're about 2 500 men, who
would no doubt at once advance to his relief.
We hear likewise that an additional regiment
had been dispatched from Richmond to reinforce
him. In the meantime, Federal troops are being
poured over the Long Bridge into Virginia,
amounting, according to the kilograms, to lS,OOU
men. We can not estimate the number of this
one of the enemy's columns of invasion at much
higher figure than 10000, for the simple reason
that not more than that number can be spared fol
the purpose. Even of these it will be necessary &c
1 iedNe portOn IN the rear 10 BufIu aleAdhuf"
and to maintain communications with the mail
body. We may therefore assume that the Lin
colnites can not move forward to attack Gen. Bon
+, ham with more than 1900 men. That officer
we think, will hold his position at Manassas juno
ton. At all events he will not suffer that poir
1 to fall into the power of the enemy without
e struggle. We have no apprehensions that th
q Lincolnites will succeed in effecting permanen
lodgment on Virginia soil. They have opene'
fho h
d its termination in terrible defeat and overwhelm
!, ing disaster. Broken, fl Sins. disheartened, thei
legions will rush back to the capital only to int
themselves pressed close and threatened with an
Inhalation by the triumphant arme, of the Con
e federacy.