Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-01-27

i
/ from the Confederate Government TO their agents
/ in France and England arrived At Havana IN the
steamer Gen. MiramOn. There is no doubt these
facts all laid before the European Govern
ments. and urged as reasons why they would be
justified in raising such an Ineffective blockade.
fardy justice has at last been done 20 Major
Doubleday, one of the heroes of Fort Sumter
After seeing dozens OF civilians appointed over
his head TO high rank in the army, he Is at last
appointed Brigadier General. BE is one of the
best artillery officers in the service.
A few weeks ago, when the small pox began
to become epidemic here, measures were taken
which IL was hoped might check the disease
But, unfortunately, il has steadily increased,
until it now prevails 10 an alarming extent, and
in most violent form. Many fatal cases have
occurred, and the disease is rapidly on tie in
| crease.
WAsHISeToE January 2l
About the end Of September last, the telegraph
carried TO all parts of the country on the same
morning the startling Intelligence that the rebels
| at Manassas, half starved, halfnaked decimated
by sickness and completely demoralzed, had
evacuated that position in disgust and retired
southward. 1t was known that all telegraphic
matter coming from Washington las this did,
must pass under the eve of the Government cen
there, and this fact caused the statement to be
believed. A week afterwards, however, it was
found that there not a word of truth in the
statement About the end of November, again.
the same agercy caused the announcement TO be
made that large part Of the rebel army at Ma
nassas, alarmed at the expeditions that were fit
ting out for unknown points on the Southern
coasts, had abandoned Beauregard and his for
tunes, and had marched to the defense of their
respective States. 1t was two weeks this time
before it became positively known that there was
no more truth in the last than in the first an
81 A.
sas, so far from being reduced IN numbers, had
been actually augmented by $4,000 fresh troops;
and that the people of the Southern coast States
ha raised enough troops at home for their own
defense
Undaunted by these unsuccessful attempts to
deceive the public, the the telegraph at this city
is again employed to send over the whole coun-
| try the statement that the rebels have evacuated
Manassas and have gone souti-this time sure.
This statement is dated yesterday. No inteIli-
gence has been received here direct from Ma
nassas since the 18th inst; but | venture 10 as
sert that the whole statement is entirely destitute
of truth. A statement of the real force and pres
ent condition of the Confederate army on the
1 Potomac cannot be destitute of interest to the
readers of the Times. / obtained the facts on the
10Th, and they represent the state Of affairs as
they existed during the first week Of the present
month. They may be relied a. authentic in
every respect.
7 Before the end of December all the sick and
disabled soldiers were sent down to Richmond, as
their presence was only an incumbrance. The
headquarters of General Beauregard are estab-
lished at Centreville around which the main
body of the army is entrenched. The whole
country between the Potomac and 0ccoquan riv-
ers is extremely billy; and while this renders diff
fcult the operations of large bodies of troops it
renders the country easy Of defense General
Beauregard. being.-a scientific officer. took ad-
vantage of this fact, and employed the months Of
summer and autumn, from August till Novem-
Der, IN erecting around CentreviIe twenty six
forts, which in extent and strength rival those
southwest of this city.
r How could he do this without its being knownG
The answer is contained IN a single word: Nun
soS's HILL. BY throwing forward few regi-
ments, he took possession Of Munson's Hill about
the end of August, which General Mcclellan at
that time was unable 10 hold, he having but just
commenced the task of making soldiers out of
the disorganized fragments of the Bull Run rout
By making show of fortifying that hill, he d.
verted attention from what be was really doing
But .dere was one man in Washington. and prob
ably only one, who penetrated his designs. Gen.
Mcclellan knew that he was fortifying at Center
vile. But to what extent even he was ignorant
until apprised BY deserter long after the evacu-
alton OF Munson's Hill.
Why has Beauregard thus fortified CenteryilleI
: When the Union army of the Potomac moves.
the reason will become manifest Centerville is
the kew of Manassas Junction, and Manassas
Junction is the door to Richmond. and indeed, it
NAV be said, 10 the whole OF Virginia. Examine
a military map of the country, trace the roads,
the streams, the ranges of hills, and il viii be
seen that a Union army entering by any other
door will be sure to be surrounded, cut OF from
; their base of operations and destroyed Ii the
strong lines of Manassas can be forced. and the
communication be kept open with this city, a
Union army can advance southwark conqueriBg
as it advances, and laying the whole country un-
der contribution. Hence the importance of for
tifying Centerville-
These twenty six forts, which are so situated
e as to command every possible approach to Cen
9 treville, from Arcola, on the Gum Spring road.
n on the left, TO the 0ccoquan river. two miles be-
r low Union Mills, on the right. On the morning
i of the battle OF Bull Run the Confederate army
was posted on the right bank of that stream from
e the Stone Bridge to Union Mills. The recon
a nOissances made by Gen. Mcdowell on the day
a previous enabled him 10 cross large portion of
; his force (Gen. Hunters column at Sudleys
5 Ford a mile and quarter above the Stone
e Bridge. This disarranged Beauregard's whole
+ plan of battle, and came near defeating him.
The hardest fighting of the day, and till O'Clock
e i'm the afternoon, took place west of Sudiey's
h Ford, and between il and the Warrenton turn
A pike The two forts, then, between Arc0la and
d from being used by the Union troops. The
$ largest and strongest forts called Fort Beau
d regard, Fort Davis. and Fort Slidell. They all
e command roads that must be taken in order to
n approach Centreville All of the twenty six
5 forts are mounted with suitable artillery. 1t
r to celebrate the completion of these works that
: tn great review OF 10000 Confederate troops
e took place early in December, at which JEFF.
4 Davis was present. and at which the battle
D flags" were presented TO each regiment
h Gen. Beauregard's army has gone into winter
quarters the same way that our army here has.
namely: without being ordered 10 do so, the men
\ have been allowed 70 make themselves comfort
4 able in huts of their own construction General
Bea,iregard's main body fully 60 600 strong, is
/ posted in and around these forts near Ceutervle
Tie right wing, As, 600 strong. Is posted between
A the right bank of the Occoqusn River and Acquia
!, Creek. The left wing is commanded by General
1 | jackson at Martinsburg and General Evans at
Leesburg The latter officer, believe, has since
, been relieved
: TITS said that Leesburg is strongly fortified,
r hut the works. though apparently formidable,
are probably of the Munsons Hill style There
are 10 900 troops there, however, and 1000
more strongly intrenched on the right bank Of
! Goose Creek. Allow me 70 refer to my letter Of
January for an account of what Gen jackson
had done up TO that time. Since that time, be
! has not only remained master OF the situation.
, and of the country between Martinsburg and
/ Hancock. but ne has also advanced 10 Romney.
. driven Gen Lander and the Union troops out OF
that place, and pursued them TO Cumberl and,
and now holds high revel in all the country be
tween Harper's Ferry, Hancock and Romney.
/ Perhar,s If he would 90 to Cumberland, General
| Lander might give him another fitting re
sponsev And what has Gen. Banks been doing
all this timer Really, j am unable TO end out