Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-01-17


they consi,ier adds % TIER strength at least the
equivalent Of 1000 men each.
MANY Of their recent ievies are raw troops and
not very vel armed. These. hovever, are keIt
within tie Publications. while barge division Of
picked troops has been organized for 0peI atoms
IN the field, and 90 Wevent the Union forces from
interferin z with their communications and cutting
of their supplies The raw troops will be almost
~ efficient behind the entertainments and IN rife
pits as regulars, and with a thoroughly equipped
and disciplined corps for fed operations the en-
tire rebel army will be quite as efficient for all
purposes Of defense a. though all the troops were
regulars. Everything calculated 70 hinder the
advance Of the Union troops has been resorted
TO. Bridges have been burned, tracks torn up,
trees felled across the highways, railroad cross
ties and rails DESTROYED. and all that the ingenu
ity of the devil himself could devise seems To
have been thought OF and acted upon.
The number Of troops aoie under the immedi-
ate command Of Johnston, and concentrated
ia the country Immediately about Bowling Green
j. estimated by our correspondent az 20 600, and
the number is daily Increasing. These are scat
tered among the various Notifications and kept
diligently employed adding TO their strength
The rebels already feel comparatively easy, but
sly. it a few more weeks time is given them,
they can render Bowling Green inyunerabe 10
any assault upon il by all the power of the Gov
eminent Forts DonesoH and McHenry are also
strongly fortified. These constitute the center OF
Gen. Johnstons line. and till lately have been
comparatively weak. These hitherto uuimpOr
tant earthworks and small body OF men at
Hopkinsvile have constituted the centre of an
army whose wings-at COlumbus and Bowling
Green-numbered is tens of thousands The
rebels must have calculated largely on the blind
ness OF the Union Generals to have left so i'm
pOrtant position 50 weak. "A column OF II,
600 or 10000 men were thrown across the cOuI-
try from Smithland few weeks ago, would have
broken up the rebel chain of defenses, and 80
materially interlered with their communication,
as 10 have prevented anything like systematic
Ell and combined defense at all points. Clarks-
vile could have been taken easily, and the gun
boats would have experienced little difficulty in
keeping the Cumberland river open for supplies
But those golden opportunities have been lost
IL will now take ten me 70 accomplish what, -four
weeks ago. could as easily have been done by one
] he rebel Generals have undoubtedly calculated
largely the blindness of our army leaders
and their conclusions have in no instance been
erroneous.
What l. more painful than the slow and hest
tating character OF. our army movements is the
fact that traitors among Us are becoming holder
in their dealings with the rebels, and more out
sUOken IN their efforts to throw obstacles in the
way of the good cause We have il from a
source, and in way that we not doubt the
correctness of the information that right in our
midst citizens who stand high deliberately
plotting against the Union and in behalf of the
rebels. 4 regular chain Of communication
through the gap between Henderson and Smith
land, by, is kept up, that is available and ell
Gent to the rebels though a regular telegraph
line had been constructed. and in full and
perfect operation. This is melancholy; but rs
the Government never Furnishes, it will ever be
betrayed. former citizen of this city has been
to Nashville within the past two weeks, aud is
now back at his post down the river, ready to re-
ceive and forward any communications that may
be sent TO him by the traitors in our midst. Gen.
Buelis attention has been directed this leak in
ms department, rfd he has ''clOsed it, with a
proclamation In order 10 more eifectualy stop
II, he has suspended the publication OF the Lou
sviile papers IN the river towns, apparently be
cause they called his attention TO tins subject.
Rebel emissaries and squads of cavalry are
roaming over fifteen or twenty counties of south
west Kentucky, stealing and buying hogs and
other property, with nORe daring To modest or
make them afraid while we hear of fourteen
regiments of infantry and four or FIVE batteries of
artillery in Ohio and eight or ten in Wisconsin,
anxious for marching orders and something TO do.
We are not talking ut random on this subject.
We know whereof speak"
Where this condition of things will bring the
country, God alone knows To plain, practical
men. who look at the operations of an army and
the crushing of rebellion from common sense
stand point alone, the future is ominousy dark,
ana light can only break in" through some rent
IN the rebel columns, Occasioned by the advance
and triumph of our almost disheartened volunteers.