Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-07-30

VERY little Is said about Vice President Ste
pleas bEt Sc j. df~frustcd becaG-e 81 his having
come into the secession movement a; aiate hogr.
StonewsIl Jackson ! uou the IDOL Of the army
and the PEOPLE Gen. Lee enjoys the confidence
OF the people aud the soldiers IN high degree.
and they rely much on his judgment aud dlsere-
ton. d. gruder Is liked by his own eommand.
who admire his courage and would follow him
anywhere. but the public have little confidence in
him.
Il j. believed that their army would have been
more successful If he had not got drunk during
the last days fight. Gen. Hill Is regarded with
high favor by the citizens. ami Gen. Lonsstreet j.
considered one of their best men. Gen j. ).
Johnston was great favOrite previous To his
being wounded, but since then he was but
little thought Of General Beauregard took no
part in the recent battles He j. disiiked by
Davis and is believed by the citizens 20 have been
shell red
The gentleman knows nothing definitely Of
the number of the rebel army at Richmond when
the stack was made on McCiellan's lines, but Il
was his opinion, formed from conversation with
well informed men. that the force consisted OF
from one hundred and fifty t. two hundred thou
ssnd men He think none of Beturegarls army
from Corinth were there The army had been
increased By conscrDts. and achievements COLI
tinued to come in during the six DAYS that the
contest was going on.
He knew nothing OF the rebel loss in the bat
ties. except that IL was large. At the time OF the
battle of Fair Oaks, their numerous hospitals
were all filed with wounded and many were
taken To private houses The mortality among
the wounded was large. Those who were able
10 he removed were sent TO their homes and many
of the sick were also sent off New hospitals
were provided in anticipation of the late battles,
and all were filled
No Generals of note were killed or wounded.
He heard rebel General say that in Tuesday's
battle there was perfect route of their army,
the cavalry in their retreat riding over the in
fsntry, and killing and woundiag many OF their
own men.
The people of Richmond were quite confi1. 1T
that McClellan'S army could not reach that city.
Early in the spring some OF the weathiest citi-
zens moved their families; but when the Fell
eral army moved toward the city after the batrle
of Williamsburg. no alarm was manifested.
and nobody ran away There are no very ex
tcnsive works near the city. for its defense. On
the side towards Fair Otks there are some bat
ter;es, but the most powerful fortifcations are
at Manchester. on the south side of the river.
commanding the approach to the city from that
d reciion.
Up to the time when the Merrimac de-
stroyed there was no distractions in james river,
mediatelv, Richmond must have fallen III once.
The river is now filled with INSTRUCTIONS for some
distance A large number of vessels, canal boats,
SC, hleI with stone, have been sunk in the
stream. Great quantities of stone have been
thrown overheard and sunk. Since the olpstruc-
tons were placed there. treshet. the highest for
forty years. has WASHED down an immense guam
tity of sand. and the whole mass is soidly
embedded together.
IL will lie great task to clear the channel
and IL would not be surprising il the navigation
of the river should prove To be permanently in
iured Very heavy guns are mounted at Fort
Darling and in other iortiications. and the banks
of the river are lined with rifle pits. The works
ut Drurv Point are understood TO be completed TO
the satisfaction of the authorities and labor upon
them has ceased
He has not seen the new iron clad vessel being
built at Richmond but, judging from the state
ment of those who have worked upon her. the
steamer must be a formidable affair She is a new
vessel, and il was said she would be completed in
a few weeks
He had never heard any talk Of a scarcity of am
munition for the rebel armies. They were con
stanily receiving powder from Europe, and they
had several powder mills in operation.
He knows nothing about the amount of com
misSary stores at Richmond but thinks it is not
large. In the spring considerable qcantities of
pork we're removed to Danvilie, butit WAS brought
back to feed the army. after reniorcements
rived Suppl Is came mostly from the Shenan-
doah valley, by railroad. Formerly, the canal
was used for this purpose. 10 considerable ex-
tent, but break occurred ut the time Of the
great freshet. aud it has been of but very little
since. There are no vessels in James river
above the city
Large quantities of tobacco are stored in the
city. most of last years crop being still on hand
Sometime since experiments were nipple TO ascer-
tain in what way it could he quietest destroyed in
case of successful attack upon the city. Both
burning ard immersion in the water were tried
The first method proved a failure, and the other
promises but little better. IL seems to be the last
resort, however, and slides have been made from
the warehouses to the river. by means OF which
they intend Co dump it into the stream, If neces
sarv, TO save il from seizure
He thinks the South will fight just as long rs
it can keep organized army. but don't believe
they will prolong the contest if at any time their
armies should be captured or dispersed. and moth
ing left tn rely upon but guerrillas. There are
in Richmond many friends of the old Union. but
they keep quiet. aud. If the city should he cap
tured by our forces. they would not express their
sympathies till assured that it would never be re
taken.