Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-05-19
Special Correspondence Of the Chicago Times.
From the south.

Arrival of Refugee from Richmond at the fleet
of Fort PillOso-Ths Effect Of Reuerses on the
Southern LeGders-Union Manifestations in
Memphis.
FoRT PILLow May ii, via CARo, May 12
] have had n conversation with a gentleman
direct from Richmond via Mobile. He is an in
telhgent man, and heretofore Prominent South
ernor, enjoying the confidence of the rebel Gov
ernment When he left Richmond the evacua-
ton of Yorktown had been determined upon,
and the news of the surrender of New Orleans
had been received. The President and his Cabi
net officers were utterly disprited, though they
attempted to put good face upon their reverses,
and 0bstinately refused to openly admit de-
feat. With the evacuation oil Yorktown, they
fully calculated upon the surrender of all of Vir
ginia.
The rebel capital is in process of removal to
Montgomery, Alabama, the place of its nativity.
This is being effected in the most quiet manner
possible, to avoid creating any increased public
alarm. The Government officials would not
take their departure from Richmond until the
last moment. hoping by their proximity to en-
courage the army opposed to Mcclellan, not to
victory, which was conceded TO be impossible, but
to obstinate resistance; entailing the greatest
possible loss of life upon the victorious invaders.
Indeed, this was marked out as the policy in all
Southeastern Virginia. No point is to be evacu
ated without a struggle, and the Federal army
must be decimated, e possible, as the price of
every victory they gain.
The fall of New Orleans was an unlocked for
and disheartening event. Davis has not exple
tves sufficiently severe with which to denounce
his officers engaged in that affair. Poltroons,
towards, traitors, knaves abolition tools, &c. are
mild terms for him to apply to them. The loss
of New Orleans closes the door of communiea-
ton between the rebels and the outside world
1t also shuts up their most profitable field of sup
ply, and in fact the only field they had really cal
culated on. Texas, the grain and cattle growing
State whence the commIssary department of the
South has hitherto been largely supplied, is now
cut out from rebedom, and starvation, the terri
BILE alternative to submission, is now offered to
the rebel army This is the great trouble now
bearing upon the pretended government. They
can still make show without Virginia, but it is
impossible to keep army in tire field with moth
ing for them to eat Very nice plans had been
laid for the distant future. The cotton fields of
South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama and Mississip-
pi were to be planted with corn, by which means,
after another harvest, they would in this respect,
be independent Of the rest of the world, but un
fortunately the rest of the world is cut off from
them before the harvest is ripe, and they left
in sad dilemma. Counting on successful re-
sistance at Cornith, they still have some hope of
having the superabundant crops of the North
brought to them. by barges and floats on the ex-
treme Upper Tennessee river, from Eastern Ken
lucky and Southwestern Virginia: but, if Beau
regard is compelled to retreat from his present
position, this whole channel is cut off. Their
next reliance is to their produce across the
Mississippi by stealth from Texas via Louisiana
and Arkansas. They argue that it is impossible
for the Federals to guard seven hundred miles of
river closely as to prevent the transit of consd-
erable quantities of supplies.
In this stretch of the Mississippi there are in
Vulnerable streams running into it from far up
in the interior of the western country. Boats can
be loaded at the headwaters of these streams and
when the proper time arrives, foated down and
run into some convenient bayou or creek on the
eastern shore and unloaded. Such are the des-
perate expedients resolved upon to exc out liv-
ing until another harvest.
Should Beauregard be defeated at Corinth, a
new line of defence has already been determined
upon, extending from Charleston, South Carroll
ma, along the line of the Georgia railroad in di
rect westerly course through Atlanta, Georgia,
Jacksonville, Alabama, ana Columbus, Missis-
sippi. An attempt will also be made TO hold the
line Of the Mississippi Central railroad, or por
tion of it, in order to prevent its by the
Union forces. Failing in this, theywill fall back
upon the Mobile and Ohio road. Such are some
of the nice laid schemes for the promulgation of
the rebellion.
My authority is indisputable, but cannot with
propriety be given IN this connection. When
the gentleman left Richmond nothing was known
of Beauregards intention to evacuate Corinth.
On the contrary, the confidence was sought to be
inspired that he could hold the place; but at Mo-
bile it was generally believed that he evacu-
ating, and at Memphis the report had it that the
place was already occupied by the Federals, and
that Beauregard, after making feint of falling
back on Grand Junction, had executed a flank
movement, and taken position on the line of
the Mobile and Ohio railroad, south of CorIth.
At Memphis there was much boldness mani
tested in the expression Of Union sentiment, in
view of the probable occupancy of the town by
Northern forces.