Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-01-20
From the Evansville Journal, 18th.
Ernrn Tn a gnrrfh


We are in receipt of late and reliable intelli-
gence from the South, and it is not of character
calculated to fill the friends of the Union with
bright anticipations. The rebels have profted
largely by the mysterious and unaccountable de-
lay in the advance of our troops, and have con-
centrated men, munitions of war and means of
defense of all kinds at Bowling Green. with an
energy and dispatch that seems almost marvellous.
The gentleman from whom we derived our infor-
nation says he did not conceive il possible that
such material difference in the appearance of a
place could be made as has occurred at Bowling
Green within the last two three weeks. The
rebels, who were in great measure unprepared
for resisting an attack three or four weeks ago.
and were panic stricken at the thought of AN ad-
vance of the Federal troops, now breathe easy.
They have erected seven strong Notifications at
different points in the vicinity of the town which
they consider adds to their strength at least the
equivalent Of 10000 men each. - -. -,
Many of their recent leves are raw troops and
not very well armed. These, however, are kept
within the Notifications, while large division of
picked troops has been organized for operations
in the field, and to prevent the Union forces from
interfering with their communications and cutting
off their supplies. The raw troops viii be almost
as efficient behind the entertainments and in rife
pits as regulars, and with a thoroughly equipped
and disciplined corps for field operations, the en-
purposes of defense as though all the troops were
regulars. Everything calculated to 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 nor under the immedi-
ate command of Johnston, and concentrated
is estimated by correspondent at 40 600, 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
say. if few more weeks time is given them,
they render Bowling Green invulnerable to
any assault upon it by all the power of the Gov
eminent. Forts Donelson and McHenry are also
strongly fortified. These constitute the center of
Gen. Johnston's line, and till lately have been
comparatively weak These hitherto unimpor-
tant earthworks and small body of men at
Hopkinsville, have constituted the centre of an
army whose wings-at Columbus and Bowling
Green-numbered it's 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 so weak A column of H.
900 or Is, 900 men were thrown across the coun-
try from Smithland few weeks ago, would have
materially interfered with their. communication,
as to have prevented anything ike a systematic
i ed 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.
Ii will now take ten me to accomplish what, four
weeks ago, could as easily have been done by one.
The rebel Generals have undoubtedly calculated
largely on the blindness of our army leaders,
and their conclusions have in no instance been
erroneous-
What is 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
SPOKEN in their efforts to throw obstacles IL the
way of the good cause We have it from
source, and in a way that we can 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. a regular chain of communication
through the gap between Henderson and Smith
Land, Ky, is Kept up, that is as available and ef-
cient TO the rebels as though regular telegraph
| line had been constructed, and was In full and
perfect operation. This Is melancholy; but as
the Government never Furnishes, it will ever be
betrayed A former citizen of this city has been
to Nashville within the past two weeks. and 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.
Buell. attention has been directed to this leak in
his department, and he has CLOSED It" with
| proclamation In order TO more effectualy stop
| it, he has suspended the publication OF the Lon
isvle papers in the river towns, apparently be-
cause they called his attention to this 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 nose daring to modest or
make them afraid" while we hear Of fourteen
regiments of infantry and four FIVE batteries of
artillery in Ohio and eight or ten in Wisconsin,
anxious for marching orders and something to do.
We are not talking at random on this subject.
I'VE know whereof we speak. s.s