Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-10-20
ELECTION RETURNS
From Washington.

Our forces who started from here on a recon
noissance toward Winchester; and whom our dis
patches left quietly encamped At Charestown
returned 10 Bolivar Heights, the object OF the
expedition being fully carried out.
Our special correspondent a, Sharpsburg sends
the following received from the force which cross
ed at Backiords Ford yesterday on recounois-
ssDce:
Small squads of the eremy were encountered
all along the way. but they retreated without
offering any serious opposition.
The principal force which the en- smy opposed
to Us was two regiments of cavalry and two pieces
o artillery
During the advance we had one man killed and
three wounded.
Four dead rebels were discovered on the way
side.
The impression prevails that the rebels have
evacuated Martnsburg and perhaps the entire
section of country in this vicinity
Ii seems clear we have not much To fear from
any force the rebels may have posted near the
opposite bank of the river
The force sent over Blackford's Ford will re
turn to night.
Special TO the Herald saws:
An impression prevails here that there is some
truth in the rumor that while in Maryland the
rebel General Lee forwarded to this Government
overtures of peace which leading Southern men
believed would be accepted.
Ii such proposition made there is
doubt that il has been declined by the Federal
Government
1t is believed at the Navy Department that
several of gunboats in pursuit of the rebel
steamer Alabama, or 29O.
This vessel has never been in American waters
but only in British waters upon the high seas
This fact may Read to reclamation by our Gov
eminent upon that of Great Britain. for the acts
OF a vessel that has Stafnp a pafiona ltv other
than British
We have just received the following dispatch
from one OF the Worlds correspondents at Har-
per's Ferry. dated 5P. NJ
The double reconnaissance made Yesterday and
TO day has been most brilliant and successful in
every respect.
The object was to discover If the enemy were
in force. Both expeditions we're ordered 10 return
at A NJ, and are now coming into camp.
The enemy has been discovered in sorce be.
tween Bunker Hill and berryville, with the right
flank on the Shenandoah, covered by ca valry
The expedition under Gen. Humphreys, from
Gen Porter's corps, which crossed NJ Shepards
town. pushed on twelve miles beyond Leetown.
convergng toward Hancocks column
They met the nemys advance of ole infantry
brigade. nine pieces of artillery, and regi-
ments OF cavalry, beyond kearneyville, when a
spirited skirmsh ensued, the enemy being forced
back
We lost one killed and two wounded The
rebels lost two killed and several wounded, whom
they lett in possession
Our force pushed on until they got 70 Leetown
when they encamped. and were unmolested during
the night.
This morning Gen. Humphrey pushed MS nd
vance beyond Leetown, when he received orders
TO fall back. which has been successfully accom-
.plished
Tho enemy In his front retired nnon their main
body at Bunker Hill
The Illness special says:
The Government is preparing remon STRANGE.
addressed to the rebel military auihoritie' on the
subject of their infamous treatment OF our pris
oners OF war.
Itis said that the speech made here to-light by
General Prentss receives the sanction of the
Government, and is TO some extent an indication
of the views il intends To hold
The Herald's special has the following. dated
Gen SigePs Headquarters, Fairfax Court House,
October IL:
Last evening General Sgel in person. Mt the
head of a reconnotering party consisting of
portion of his body guard, passed 10 some dis
lance beyond Centreville and satisfied himself
from personal observation OF some facts which
may have an important bearing upon future ope
ratiOns.
There have been no serious apprehensions of
an attack from the rebels. of whom there is no
force within 40 miles.
Government trains are now running on the
railroad TO Manassas Junction
Gen Prentiss tonight was compimented with
a serenade. He graphically described the scenes
through which lie and his fellow soldiers, taken
prisoners at Shiloh. passed He said he had be
come used TO harsh language, when speaking of
the demons OF the south. whose conduct towards
our troops was characterized with murder and
barbarity Col. Jordon, Assistant Adjt. General
/ to Beauregard, was the only rebel from whom
they received the least courtesy. So help him
Heaven. those who prosecuted his comrades
should never escape retaliation in full AZ his
hands The negroes are the best Union men in
the south. The returning Shiloh prisoners who
had sufficient clothing to completely cover their
nakeduess do not number fifty. Nothing in the
way OF garments furnished them by the
rebels besides this they were supplied with the
most disgusting food. Aiter fully describing the
unkind and offensive treatment they received. he
inquired OF his MANY listeners what they now
thought of their boosted chiyalry. The people of
the south are determined There is u perfect
reign of terror and every sentiment for peace or
compromise Is instantly stited. he said he found
union men bearing arms against our Government,
but they were compelled TO do 50 at the bidding
OF their masters. The white race to-day in the
South is in a worse condition than were the blacks
before the The rebel government has more
men liz arms than the north think. They fight
well. Their cause i desperate. They do not
ask for transportation and for comfortable sup
plies; they are compelled 70 take the field with or
without food. Ii is time we should go 10 work
without gloves. We punished them worse at An
tietam than many of US supposed. The prisoners
had opportunities of seeing the large number of
wounded who we're carried south on the trains be
sides the stragelers As to the Libby Prison. it
was palace compared to the ones in which they
were confined. Gen. Prentiss hoped there would
be no hating ill We crushed the rebellion. hung
the leaders. and granted amnesty to the deluded
victims. Some one in the crowd nquired-what
do they think of Lincon's Emancipation Procla-
nation! Many OF the officers with whom he
conversed blasphemously condemned il, saving it
was damnable and never could be enforced, but
be Prentiss responded to them-it you say you
never can be conquered, and that you are bound
TO whip US, what harm can the proclamation
work. He would declare every where that the
proclamation would do more to end the rebellion
than all the battles fought. He applauded
throughout his remarks.
Gen. Hancock is now returning from his recon
noisance, having fully accomplished his object.
namely. the capture of 500 bushels of wheat in
the possession of Union men and having ascer.
tanned moresc completely the position of the en-
envy Our pickets pushed out this morning from
CharlestOwn three miles on the Berryvile road.
the enemy's pckets having been driven in in that
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