Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-03-24
Military Items

- COL Smith Gavin, of the 7th Indiana, is at
his home in Greensburg, Decatur county, on a
short furlough. Col. Gavin looks as if patri
otto war for the Constitution and the Union
agreed with him. His numerous friends daily
congratulate him OH his improved appearance.
He is gllant officer and an accomplished gentle
man.
= Capt. John J. Key, of Cannelton, late Com.
mon Pleas Judge of the Perry and Spencer Dis
trict, has received an appointment upon General
Haileck's staff
Tie following appointments in Stewards
cavalry company have been made:
Abraham sharra, Captain. in place of S. S.
Kirtley.
Herman s. Miller, First Lieutenant, in place of
J. W. Smith.
Henry S. Bartholomew, Second Lieutenant, in
place of Abram Sharra
-MoRE MYsrERY-The Boston Commercial
Bulletin learns from an 'eminent naval archi-
tect,p remarkable fact, stated as follows:
He says that many months since, he wrote a
long letter to the Navy Department, containing
plans aud specifications for cutting down and
iron plating several OF our large ships, ald that
by these very specifications the Merrimac bad
been fitted out He saw his very words as we'll
as his drawings in 'Harpey's Weekiy,' which
contained a description of the Merrimac. He is,
therefore, convinced that copy of his letter
must have been purloined from the Department
and furnished the rebels.
How Ben. McCULLoUGH WAS KILLED-A
correspondent of the St. Louis Democrat, in his
account of the Pea Ridge battle SAYS: -
Mccullough was killed in the brush on slight
elevation by Peter Pelican, private in Company
B. 36th Illinois The attack in which the ubiquit-
Gus Ben was taken off was led by Captain Miller.
Mccullough wore dress of black velvet, patent
leather high top boots, and he had on light col
ored broad brimmed Texan hat. He was on
light bay horse. Pelican wentup and took good
watch, now in possession Of Col. Greusel. -
The 18th Indiana, which is attached to
"King's Brigade" has been ordered back TO old
quarters at Fort Craig, neal, Arlington. We have
heard good one of the gallant Colonel of this
regiment One Of his favorite commands, when
putting the regiment through the manual whilst
on dress parade, was: "Charge bayonets, front
rank kneeling." The propriety of the maneuver
being called in question by military men, who
thought it an improper command. the Colonel
discontinued il. But one evening when the regi-
ment was on parade and the Colonel ordered
1
was in the guard house for insubo-dination-the
guard house being within The fortifcations at the
time, and who was lying upon the parapet wit
Messing the show, listlessy kicking up bis heels
called out in his peculiar manner, giving it the
sweet brogue, Front rank kraling." causing q
very general laugh, and supplying the omission
left out by the Colonel. The error of the com
mand had been known to the men long time
and when given had always caused litter.
-IsLASD No. lO.-There seems to have beer
much confusion in the newspaper reports in re
gard TO this Island. These mistakes have re-
suited from calling the forts built just ABOVE the
Island. on the Tennessee shore. the "Forti6ca
tons of Island No TO-"
These forts five in number. and very strong
much stronger, il is said. than the battery
erected on the upper end Of Island No. 10. Th'
land around them. however. is described as yer,
low and marshy, aifording no good camping
ground near by.
The main forces of the enemy were therefore
encamped on Island No. 10. When Gen. Pop'
cut of the retreat Of the hotilla. il was eviden
that their transports must be abandoned or de
stroyed. In that case their troops, If left on th'
Island, could not escape.
They were therefore ferried across by the
transports to the main land. and those not re
quired in the forts were encamped in their rear.
This is what Gen. Pope meant when be tele
raphed that the enemy had evacuated the Island
He did not mean that the Notifications which ha,
been constructed some distance above this ISLAM
for its defense. had been evacuated, nor that hi
troops had occupied that place.
4 He had no means Of crossing the river TO do 50
and Com. Foote was miles above him with tn
enemy 5 strong works between him and the Is
land.-Sf Louis Rep
--Indiana has seventeen batteries Of artillery
Of SIX guns each, in the field. This gives be
a cannonical force Of one hundred and two gun.
and :, $50 men.