Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-04-08

WASHINGTON, April THE mails for Califor-
MIA, Oregon and Washington Territory are now
transported overland from st. Joseph, Mo-, to
this place.
A dispatch was received in this city yesterday
announcing that Gen. Mitchell with the forces
under his command had reached Shebyvie.
Tennessee. and had been received with great en-
thusiasm by the inhabitants.
The following in regard to the Merrimac has
been received at the Navy Department.:
When she tor Norfolk on Sunday, the 9th
of March, in the evening, she had nine feet of
water in her hold. One shot from the Cumber-
land riddled and one from the Monitor put a ball
through the boiler of the Patrick Henry and
killed two men and scaded Others
The steamer Freedom has arrived up from
Liverpool Point, bringing some additional par
ticuars of the skirmish at Stafford Court House
Gen. Sickles troops captured some forty horses
belonging to the eDemy's cavalry, and a number
of small arms. and the mails in the Stafford post
office, in which are many letters, some of which
will probably be of Importance to the govern
ment.
Six prisoners were also taken, who were
brought up on the Freedom, and sent up to the
old Capitol prison.
As the crew of the Freedom were getting off
the horses and other property captured, the rebels
opened heavy fire upon them from picket.
but the Freedom returning the compliment with
scrapnel, the enemy hastily disappeared.
A special dispatch to the Philadelphia Inquirer.
dated Thorafare Gap, Virginia, April 2 says:
A rebel force of seven regiments of infantry. two
regiments of cavalry and three batteries, were
thrown across the Rappahannock to cut off Col.
Geary's command at White Plains BY forced
march they reached Salem, within five miles of
the Union band last evening, with the intention
of attacking Col. Geary in two columns, cutting
off his retreat and then Selling this formidable
Gap to intercept the progress of reconstructing
the Manassas Gap Railroad
The attack was TO be made at davbreak this
morning. Their movements were made secretly,
with the intention OF making dash and cutting
the Union command TO pieces.
Col. Gcary became aware Of their designs and
occupied this Gap, where he prepared for a reso-
lutte stand in the mountain defiles.
The movementw WAS most important, frustrating
design to accomplish victory by the destruc-
ton of much dreaded command and revive the
dropping feelings of the rebels in Virginia.
The calls were beaten in the evening and the
camp fires left burning usual After the
command marched all through in such superior
force the rebels had the temeritv TO follow and
attempt an entrance into the ragged defes here
Ii Is supposed they returned at once TO their
original position south of the Rappahannock.
One OF the Union scouts was killed and three
of the rebels were taken prisoners.
Thorofare Gap is a station on the Manassas
Gap Railroad. fourteen miles west of Manassas.
1t is gap i'm the Bull Run Mountain.
Com. Rowan has forwarded to the Navy De
partment communication from Lieutenant Com
manding Murray, dated on u ;. steamer Louis
lana. at Washington. North Carolina, March 20,
saying
In obedience to orders he had proceeded 10 this
place meeting with no distractions until FIVE
miles below The expedition consisted of three
vessels and a transport having on board eight
companies Of the Massachusetts, oath, who on re-
connoissance found the batteries abandoned and
the armament removed. By blasting they forced
channel through the piles which were driven in
a triple row.
On arriving at Washington they were met BY
the authorities and many citizens to whom the
object OF the visit briefly explained.
After the military had landed they proceeded
to the Court house and there hoisted the Amer
can flag. The troops then returned aboard the
! vessels.
The authorities expressed deep affection for
F the old Union and luminosity TO its enemies es-
/ pecsally towards troops brought there from dis
! tant States This feeling had caused the aban-
Comment Of the defenses of the place followed BY
I destruction OF the Confederate property by the
/ people
The woods and swamps in the neighborhood
are represented full Of refugees from DRAFT and
+ many of them have already come is. They are
deep aud bitter in their denunciaton OF secession.
and promise a regiment il called 20 aid In iss rss-
toration of the flag.