Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-11-03
W AsHISGToS, Oct. %.

The impression prevails lere among military
men that the recent demonstrations of the Con
federates near yorktown and Williamsburg in
dictate a purpose on their part of occupying in
force the strategic points the Peninsula
The only cause which would induce them to dc
this would be belief on the part OF the rebels
leaders that Richmond Is going TO be attacked
again from that direction.
The latest reliable intelligence from Rich
moDd is to the effect that are very few
troops there and that no attack on the city is
expected before next spring The deienses oil
Richmond have been greatly strengthened, how
ever, and are said to be quite equal to those OF
this city.
The experience of our two unsuccessful at
tempts to take Richmond has proved that the
route by the way of Culpepper and Gordons-
vile is entirely impractcable and that the only
way TO capture the city will be by IA naval force
(including "A mortsr fleet and "a squadron of iron
clad vesse,s) sailing up the James river TO CO.
operate with powerful land force marching
through the Peninsula, either by the way OF
Yorktown aud Williamsburg, OF landing at White
House, on the Pamunky.
The rebels are by no means slow of compre
heusioB, aud they have no doubt perfect un
Outstanding oi these facts; and their recent move
ments near Williamsburg are probably the first
steps tJwards obtaining again such a foothold on
the lower Peninsula will make it difficult for
US to disiodge them.
Exchanged prisoners and other persons from
Richmond describe the gigantic Preparations
which have been made near that city TO pre-
vent the approach of hostile feet According
TO these statements the whole oil the river be
tween Fort Darling and Richmond is filed with
distractions of various kinds, of which old hulk :
filled with stone, aDe mon piles driven into the
bed OF the stream, form the simplest and the
easiest removed Two other forts, one six and
the other four miles from the city, have also
been erected, which. bein. built on high bluffs
are intended To perform the same service a. Font
Darling
As regards the latter work those who saw il
last Nay or June would scarcely recognize il
now. II The description given OF it are correct 1t
J. said 10 have been increased to double It's
original size. and to Oe SO covered with slant
IN bars OF railroad irOn and to he 30 arrang-
ell with casema ties as 10 be entirely imperviouS
to shot and shell. There Is no reason 10 dis
believe these statements When the Monitor
the'Gaena and the other iron clad vessels sailed
up the James river in June last. il Mas Font
Darling and Fort Darling alone, that saved
Richmond The rebels are not likely to forget
or uudervalue that fact
Ia regard To land operations on the Peninsula
the rebels will find some difficulty in restoring
the SfGfG quo ante beiium, ii that be their object
We hold now. not only Yorktown anu Glou lester
w u
lion of troops in arms. We ought to have enough
troops to garrison these three points etfeciuay
as TO place their capture by the rebels beyond all
possibility. 1t is given out here that We have
such force there. On that point say nothing
except that il will he shameful it il prove that W
have not know that in my letters written last
spring after the rebels had abandoned TO us the
territory through which the Baltimore and Ohio
railroad runs, | urged the Importance of guarding
-. a
tration organs ridiculed the idea, then, of the
rebels ever again coming so far north: and il was
stated and reiterated that the road guarded
by an adequate force. Yet look al the subse
guent history of the road. and look al the road
now l. il not disgraceiul thtt the great W est
ein avei.ue 10 the national capital should he "a
constantly in the hands of the rebels? BIT tc
return TO the Peninsula.
proper number Of Union troops at Yorktown
ana Gloucester Point could successfully de enc
those places, because the works all around them
erected by the rebels still remain and will prob
ably rem&in tor generations. monuments OF Ma
graders engineering skill But the case Is differ
ent al Williamsburg, and it : 10 be regrette,
that 1t Is Williamsburg is quite a. important
strategic point yorktown. perhaps more
so A good map of the Peninsula will show
that Williamsburg Is about in the narrowe>t par
OF the former. The rebel for;s. indeed, on the
5ih of Nav last. as well remember, EXTENDED
entirely from the York To the James river
being thirteen Ia number, and the distance acr0s,
being not quite seven miles. But the trouble is
the forts. like Pillows ditch. all on the wron:
side of the town Ii the COnfederates shoulC
march 70 attack Williamsburg from New Ken
tas il y stated 20 day that they are marchingl
these forts. though all standing vet. will be %
10 use 10 defend the town. because they are al
southeast of il
But if our troops should be obliged to abandon
Williamsburg. and ii that place with it, work,
should tall into the hands of the rebels il woulC
give them the key To the whole Peninsula: and
unless we landed our troops above that point. a
Cumberland or White House wS>hould have u
fight second battle of Williamsburg And IL /
stated that. although tie Pamunkey River tn,
continuation of the York River was unobstruct
ed a lew DAYS ago, IL Is not 50 Ii i sai,
that fort j. being erected Oh the high bluff OF
the right bunk OF the Pamunkey. short distanc,
heloS White House. aud some batteries ueA
Wet Puut II these reports are true. II show
that the ConlelerateS inclined Ia prevent -
from using the Pamuukey aud the upper \ orI
River in transporting our troops. But they vii