Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-09-22

The War News.
The official dispatches of MCCLELLAN claim a
complete victory over the rebel forces. Theme
my were driven over the Potomac, and. to use
the language of MCCLELLAN, :" Maryland and
Pennsylvania are now safe" There is no con
irmation of the capture of HOWELL COBB and
MS division, of the wounding and capture of
LoNesTREET, of the killing of HILL, of
the re capture of Harper's Ferry, or
of the large numbers of prisoners re-
ported to have been taken. The latest ac-
counts estimate our losses at ten thousand and
that of the rebels about the same. We shall
have to wait for official reports to be advised of
the results that have been accomplished in the
recent engagements. This much, however, we
know, a complete victory has been achieved in
forcing the enemy to retreat from Mary
land into Virginia, and instead of being ag-
gressors, threatening Northern invasion. to
act upon the defensive. The dispatches from
General MCCLELLAN, dated yesterday. are modest
and We have no doubt all can be conceded to him
that he claims While the rebel army has not
been annhilated or demoralized, as has been an
nounced, vet it has met with a reverse which will
doubtless compel it to change its reported plan of
operations Instead of an aggressiveit will prob
ably again become a defensive army. In
a few days the smoke which has hidden the
contending armies will vanish and we shall be
able to form some opinion as to future operations.
The news from Kentucky throws some doubt
upon the reported capituation of our forces at
Munfordve This is almost too good news to
believe. but if it should prove to be so, the gall
lantry OF the troops defending MunfordvilIe will
not be equaled by any which has occurred during
the war. The doubt of the equalization will
cite intense interest in the public mind until the
facts are known.
A correspondent writing from Corinth, Miss,
under date of 18th inst, says:
| About twelve or fourteen regiments, number
| ing in the aggregate about 5000 men, left here
! last week for Louisville and Cincinnati, it being
deemed proper to have nucleus of veterans,
around which to rally the host of raw recruits
now Fastening to Kentucky. This movement
from Grants army has ceased, and no more will
go.
Our forces have been Withdrawn from Decatur,
/ fuscumbia, and Iuka. and the rebels have entire
! possession of the Memphis and Charleston road
east of huntsville. fifteen miles from here.
Yesterday morning small skirmish occurred
ut Iuka, in which lost two killed, seven
wounded and twenty five taken prisoners. The
/ loss of the rebels if any, we have no means of
/ knowing. Our forces at Iuka consisted of six
companies OF the 7th Illinois, LIST Minnesota in
fantry, 9Th Wisconsin infantry, and a section of
battery consisting of two l2-pound hOwitzers-
| the whole under command of Col Murphy, of
1 the 9th Wisconsin This morning whole
force evacuated at daylight, and fell back to this
place, making forced march of twenty eight
| rules.
About quarter of a million Of dollars of gov
eminent property was left to fall into the hands
Of the rebels, among which were million and
half of rations; sixteen wagons loaded with other
wagons in pieces, Ia bales of cotton; 600 bar
rels of salt, AMI any quantity OF hospital and
miscellaneous stores About 1000 cOntrabands
also followed the retreating force. and their fright
was great that at one time they threw their
clothing and babies in the brush. and left them to
the tender merceS OF the rebels. Col. Murphy
is loudly and bitterly denounced by his men, and
the unanimous testimony of soldiers and citizens
is. that there was no occasion for evacuating the
place. Up TO nine O'Clock this morning, at which
time straggler left there, enemy had made
their appearance either in or about the town. Our
stores and cotton might have been burned, but the
Colonel commanding forbade it, on the ground
that it would be signal to the enemy.
Reinforcements were ordered from Jacinto to
luka last night, but they will reach there only to
find the place in the hands of the rebels, if indeed
there are any rebels there.
Another correspondent writing three days later,
the 18th inst, says:
Rumor says that Price is advancing slowly to-
ward Corinlh, and Is within twelve miles of that
place with $4,000 troops. The probability is that
he has more than that
1t is said that the IL 600 prisoners recently ex
changed at Vicksburg have mostly been sent to
his command, and have been all well armed. If
so, his force is by means small in numbers,
and not to be despised foes. Gen. Grant has
the advantage OF the Notifications at Corinth,
and line OF communication that send him
reinforcements RAPIDLY, and in sufficient numbers
to maintain his position.
The latest intelligence from 1uka to day is,
that Price is near there with 40 900 men. f. deral
troops have been started toward that point from
COrnth, and battle there within a few days is
expected.