Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-03-25
Special correspondence Of the Chicago Times.
From Washington.

From Washington.
The Continued attacks on General McClellan-
Plans of the Confederates for the Spring Cam
paign--No1ements Of the Army of the Kappa
hammock, DC, DC
WASHINGTON, March 30.
In taking the field at the head of his magnif-
cent army. General Mcclellan leaves behind him
here in Washington, a fire in the rear much more
murderous than the cannon balls of the enemy
whom he will meet the Rappahannock. The
warfare waged against him here by the Adolf
tionists, is hercer and more bitter than ever
Maddened at their disappointment in not seeing
rivers of blood flowing at Centerville, these
wretches are wearying the Presidents life out by
their clamors for the removal of the Genera-in-
Chief Thus far the President has stood firm,
and declared that he would not sacrifice the
main prop of his administration in order to graf
ify the enemies Of the latter Ii is the prayer of
every patriot that he may continue thus firm
For every one knows that, if this rebellion is
quelled by General McClellan's plans, it will not
be quelled at all
Tie military authorities are in possession Of
intelligence which, if true (and it is believed to
be true.) goes To show that the Confederates so
far from being disheartened by their late reverses,
are making preparations for most vigorous cam
paign in the spring and summer. They have now
in the field armies amounting to 450 900 men, all
OF whom are enlis ed for the war. In addition 70
these GALL of whom are now comparatively well
trained soldiers, having had from six TO nine
months experience in the feld) the Confederate
authorities now raising and expect to put into
the field between this time and the first of MAY,
25O 900 more. One half of these are already
under arms and drilling in their respective States.
They will thus have force of 700 900 men for
the summer campaign
The effect at the South of the recent Union
victories has been to convince the military au-
thorities there that a complete change in their
policy in the manner of conducting the war is
now necessary if they would not see the South
completely yanqished by the Fourth of July next
Abandoning the border States for the present
then they intend To concentrate their forces for
the defense of the Atlantic and Gulf States They
hope that by making il necessary for the Union
armies to march far South to attack them,
they can the more easily defeat them. But they
do not intend 10 confne their operations to de
tense. 400 900 troops among them one half OF
the new levies, are considered ample for the de
Tense of the States indicated and for the defeat
OF any Union armies that penetrate Those States.
According to their programme for the campaign
the other 800 OOO troops. who are to be the flower
Of the Confederate army are to be led in two
columns To the invasion of some point i'm the
North The eight iron plated steam vessels de
scrbed in my last are to make simultaneous of
tensive movement. but whether against the same
points or against others in order to divert atten
ton from them, OF course can not be ascertained
Every day demonstrates more clearly that the
retreat of the late rebel army OF the Potomac,
and the subsequent disposition of the troops of
that army. WAS guided by IA military mind of no
ordinary capacity. The radicals who have been
howmg and clamoring for battle will he graf
fled. There will be battle, and it will be a
blooder than Bull Rum Big Bethel. and
Balls Bluff combined The COnfederattS have
retreated To the Rappahannock but there they
will stop The army who advances on an enemy
who is retiring, can not choose its own battle
field. IL must fight the enemy wherever it can
find and Overtake him. The battle field, where
ever it Is, must be on ground of the enemy 5
choosing. II the COnfederates had remained at
Manassas, we should have had to attack them in
their strong works at Centerville. They have
now crossed the Rappahannock, and we must
fight them on that line. My former letter de
scribed It's natural advantages as defensive line
and the artificial works erected along its right
bank by the Confederates during the last nine
months. To disodge them from this position
will be an undertaking that will try the mette of
the Union army of the Potomac But our gal
liant soldiers are determined to conquer, and, with
Mcclellan to lead them on. the result can not be
doubted.
No explanation has vet been given of the recent
movements OF the rebel Gen. jackson. He had
10000 troops at and near StraSburg before the
evacuation; $1,000 troops from Manassas were
were sent up to him while that event was in pro
gress. The last detachment burnt and blew up
after them all Tie railroad bridges and culverts on
the Manassas Gap railroad, ana that road by con-
sequence is now utterly useless Gen jackson
l. now moving leisurely upon Harrisonburg and
Stanton With a force of not far from 10000
troops He has left strong rear guard 1T Stras
burg, and the advance pickets of Gen Banks
near Winchester, frequently get a sight at their
outposts. The part assigned to Gen Jackson
undoubtedly Is TO extend the defensive line of the
Rapidan, from the headquarters of that stream in
the Blue Ridge Mountains westward across the
kittanniug and Allegheny Mountains to Lewis
burg. in Greenbriar county. The line of the
great Southern railroad. from Lynchburg 10
Knoxville in Tennessee. /, remarkably projected
by the Cumberland Allegheny and Blue Ridge
Mountains The railroad from the White Sui
phur Springs. in Greenbriar county 10 Staunton,
Charlottesville and GOrdonSville Is in more dan
ger. but 1t too Is defensibe bv means of the hills
and mountains With which the whole face of the
country Is diversified. from Huntersvie in Po-
cahOntaS coui ", 10 Culpepper Court House. Ii
will be here most probably that Gen Jackson
will be posted No army can follow him from
Strasburg 10 Staurton with any hope of success.
unless they are wiling 10 leave baggage trains,
ambulances and incumberances of all kinds be
hind and live like guerrillas The fact is the
second defensive line Of the rebels. from Matthias
Point on the east to the Cumberland Gap on the
west. : as strong and easily defended can
well be conceived
The line i extended through East Tennessee.
by the Cumberland Mountains, and the ranges Of
hills that run parallel with the railroad through
knoxville and Chattanooga Ii remains 10 be
seen whether THE part of the line can be forced.
Certainly not without a battle
All sorts Oh Paragraphs.