Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-03-19

M TO the Orange and Alexandra Railroad. was
left entirely undefeBded.
|. The result OF the battle Of Manassas, the sub
sequent advance of the COnsederates On Nun
sons Hill, and their undisturbed possession OF
that eminence. in plain sight OF the capitol. led
them 10 believe that a second defensive line
would not be necessary. When the Burnside ex.
petition vas first set on foot, however. il was
thought AT the South that its destination was up
the Rappahannock or York rivers in order TO at
tack Richmond directly from the east. At that
time. accordingly. more attention paid %
the immediate defenses of Richmond. and for
this purpose the batteries on the Lower Kappa
hammock were mounted with heavy ornaments.
and artlerists were trained for the guns. IL IS
said in Baltimore by persons who have derived
their information from ladies who have come up
from Richmond during the last twenty days. that
at the time Gen Beauregard passed through that
city on his way to the West, he foreshadOwed the
abandonment of the line of the Potomac as a
military necessity. in case Gen. Mcclellan was
allowed TO mature and execute his plans; and
urged at that time upon the Confederate auihori-
ties the necessity of terrifying the Upper Kappa
hammock
IL is believed. therefore. that this has been
done: that the whole right bank Of that stream.
and of its principal tributary, the Rapdan river.
from the head waters of the latter near Barbours-
vile to the mouth of the Rappahannock, has
been fortified and defended that is to say of
course, at all points where a hostile army could
cross; and that the late rebel army of the Poto-
mac has become the army of the Rappahannock,
and is encamped along the RICH. bank of that
stream.
The retreat Of the rebel army from the line of
the Potomac was executed in perfect order and
without haste precipitation. They have taken
all their guns and ammunition and all their bag
gape and conn enuina0e They have takan m
and carried away a considerable quantity of iron
rails from the railroad near Manassas Junction,
and blown Up and destroyed number of culverts
and small bridges They have also destroyed the
large railroad bridge over the north branch of the
2appahannock river, twelve miles south of War
rentOn.
Several skirmishes have taken place between
their rear guard and the advance guards of the
Union army, resulting in losses on both sides.
The cry of "0n to Richmond" is now raised
again. 1t Is expected by the of wide
Jared and long haired philosophers, who econ
duct the war. that Gen Mcclellan has nothing
to do but to make a triumphant march to Rich
mond. without meeting any opposition. But it
must be remembered that his infantry must march
the whole distance foot, and that the army
must be attended by trains of baggage wagons of
endless length. carrying the means OF subsistence
for the army. and that these trains move very
slowly The whole country between Washing
ton and the Rappahannock is a desert, to which
condition it has been reduced by the presence for
nine months of Beauregards army of 1000
Whatever army consumes, therefore, must
be taken with them. And at the Rappahannock
they will encounter the rebel army, and will have
to fight ground of the enemy's choosing.
There will be fighting yet before Richmond is
taken. That it will be taken is, of course, "A fore
gone conclusion.