Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-08-06
. AsHINGTON, July 81.

force-GeneraI Pope should reinforce McC2ei-
Ian
WASHINGTON, July 81.
You will see in few days, in the papers, state
ments To the effect that the rebels have in con
temptation an attack on Washington, with view
To capture and hold that city, and take captive
Mr. Lincoln. Mr.. Seward, and Mr.. Stanton; and
that in order to accomplish this design, they are
now making, and will continue to make IA
great many demonstrations on other and far
distant points, with the intent 10 distract the at
tention of the Government, to scatter and dissi-
pate its energies and to make it necessary for
the United States to keep large forces of troops
at points distant from the capital in order that
the latter may tall easy prey to them
These stories have originated with secessiOniSts
They are being circulated here. and will of course
in time find their way Into print. l need not say
there is no truth in them. Ii the rebels could
by any possibility, get possession of the city, they
could and would hold it. But they know, as well
as our own commanders, that for them TO get
possession of Washington city is ply steal i'm
possibility. The distance they would have to
march. would be the first and of itself, an in
superable obstacle. Before they could march
half the distance, they would be attacked in front
and on both tanks 10y Union armies in over
whelming force. and utterly cut to pieces Even
if they could succeed in bringing an army before
Washington, they could never take the CITY Its
defenses are perfect. Literally, ''Our castles
strength would laugh a siege to scorn" The
thrty-two forts around the city are in perfect or
der their ornaments in full strength, and the
gunners well trained. The exact condition of
the delenses of the city are perfectly well known
at Richmond Diagrams of all the forts. and OF
all the roads and approaches around Washington
are in the possession of the rebel War Office Ii
Is the knowledge thus obtained, of the enormous
strength of the deenses Of the city that will deter
thr rebels from attacking it,
| am convinced, from a careful observation for
many weeks thas the rebels design, first of all TO
attack and annihilate McClellan's army, then to
attack and retake Norfolk; and AZ the 81 me time
to regain possession OF tennessee and Kentucky
The events which now taking place in these
two States only the precursors of what may
be expected month hence. rebel attack on
Cincinnati and St. Louis. and even on New Or
leans is much more probable than an attack on
this city Gen. Holmes has been sent to com
mand the military department west of the Mis-
sisSippi Unless there i large force Of United
States troops at St. Louis, he will probably or
canize an expedition having in view the cap
ture of that CITY, Those of your readers who
have examined that city with a military eve will
remember that il is place easily defended by
proper force. Ii there i such force there no W.
OF course TIE Itbtt> VIII not Q1fc att3Ck III
there is not, and the rebels take it, they will
be sure to place such force there. Then there
is Norfolk. It's deienses are not what they ought
to be Whatever they are, they are fully known
10 the rebels One letter carrier from Norfolk to
Richmond was arrested last week. But a dozen
Others had preceded him. and got safe with their
letters to Richmond Therefore, say. if we
want to retain Norfolk, more troops ought to be
sent there.
NcClelans army is really in great peril, and
the Administration is cul pabe in concealing the
fact from the people. II is humliating fact.
but il is fact that he Is dependent upon the
presence of the gunboats alone tor his safety from
,ay TO day The bulk OF the rebel army at Rich
mond is still near that city, including $1,000
troops on the right bank of the james river. be
low Manchester and far down Fort Oar
ling But 50, 900 of them are between McClel-
Ian, the White Oak Swamp and the ChickAhom-
my 900 of them at City Point. and 90
OOo at Dancing Point, the mouth of the ChIcka-
hominy. When they are ready when the three
iron mailed vessels which they are building at
Richmond are completed. and they are very near
done now ) what is there To prevent the rebel 10
lila from engaging our feet. while their land