Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-11-01
Admiral Porter's Mississippi River
FIotilia and its Objects.

Excepting the unsilenced rebel Notifications
and batteries at Vicksburg. the Mississippi river,
since May last, has been reopened to our com
merce from the mouth or the Ohio to the Gull OF
Mexico. Vcksburg, however. has continued and
remains barrier which only our vessels OF war
have been able TO pass; and the running the
gauntlet of these enflading rebel batteries for
mile two is "a dangerous adye venture, even for
vessel of war unprovided with heavy coat
of iron mail
In addition to these rebel works at Ncks-
burg, the banks of the river, above and below,
are infested with guerrillas, lying in wait for un-
armed commercial steamers The consequences
are that while between Cairo and New Orleans
there is no tade whatever, all the intermediate
communications, from point to point along the
river. seriously interrupted.
General Butler, at New Orleans with a consid-
cradle army and thousands of African contra
bands. and perhaps full one third of the white
population of New Orleans to feed is necessarily
subjected TO many annoying extortions, inconve-
niences and endorsements. He sees, for in.
stance, that while. under a military order,
ne can not reduce the price OF flour in New Or
leans below ten dollars the barrel, it is selling in
St Louis for less than 6ve and. with an unob
structed river, could be delivered 10 him at six
dollars. And with beef, pork and all the
other articles of subsistence. He is paying twice
or thrice the prices ut which he could purchase
them with open river way to Cairo. Nor is
this all. While the rebels blockade the river at
Vicksburg they are enabled at that point TO bring
from Texas large amounts of supplies for the
rebel armies in Mississippi and Alabama
The Government fully apprised of all these
disadvantages TO US and the advantages to the
enemy from this state of things has resolved to
put an end to 1t. Accordingly Admiral David
ID. Porter has been appointed to the supreme
command of our iron-clad gunboats, rams, trans
ports, &c of the Mississippi, and, with hotllla
of some sixty vessels OF all descriptions will soon
move down the river. to clear away all rebel OBJ
structions, including guerrillas, movable batter.
les and the formidable works on the bluffs OF
Vicksburg 1.aose WORKS wilt be the ONLY i'm
pedimCnls sufficient to delay the progress OF more
than one vessel; but they mhy battle the whole
squadron unless supportedby cooperating land
force. Doubtless. however, when the attack is
made Oh Vicksburg, such force will be employ
ed. and probably il will lie drawn from our army
of Corinth the splendid fighting soldiers OF which
seem to be as Indifferent to the hottest fire as
salamanders.
The expedition of Admiral Porter, at all
events, like that of the indomitable Farragut TO
New Orleans, is organized and equipped for sue
cess. Its commander belongs to "A salt water
family whose achievements of distinction extend
through half a century With the arrival OF the
hotilla at New Orleans the river will be com
pletey re0pened to trade; for Admiral Porter
will have gunbOats enough to enable one more
to pass every point along the stream from Vicks
burg To Cairo once or twice day. Thus the
superintendent provisions of the Great West will
lind hungry market at New Orleans for millions
OF supplies, and thus the multtudes of soldiers
sailors. poor white inhabitants and contrabands
dependent upon Gen. Butler will be abundantlv
supplied to the saving Of millions OF dollars 20
the public treasury.
Equally important. in n military view, will be
the complete separation thus effected between
Missouri, Arkansas. Louisiana and Texas on the
west from our rebellious States on the eastern
side OF the Mississippi The former will thus be
cut Off from the chances of being reinforced from
the rebel armies on the eastern side of the river
while the latter will be cut off from their Texas
supplies OF -four corn and cattle
Finally. with this great enterprise Of Admiral
Porter accomplished, our naval forces. from
Washington down to the sea. and thence along
the coast 10 the Baze. and thence up the Missis
sppi and the Ohio To Parkersburg. in Virginia
will almost completely encirce the rebellion
The break in the circle between the Ohio and
the Potomac j. disputed by the great army
of the rebel General Lee We hope. however,
before the expiration of October. 10 be- able 10
report the iorcibe removal OF that army, routed
ard broken, hundred miles or two southwark
hH'N P''"E, 'VV' the speeu! eApuieioh "i lhe re
bells from Kentucky, We expect. with the re
turn of the high waters of winter in our cotton
States. that our light draught gunboats will be
able To shell their into the interior Of every
one of said States, from the Southern seaboard
TO a conjunction with our armies from the
North With the prospects OF this double nva-
sion before them. We adhere 20 the idea that
another Union victory or two in the field. with
the victorious movement OF Admiral Porter's
feet down the Mississippi, will bring our rebel
h0us cotton States TO the saving alternative of
President Lincoln's emancipation proclamation
submission TO the Union ". Y Herald