Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-11-03
Special Correspondence ofthe Chicago Times.
From Washington.


Movements of Rebel TroODsOn the Peninsula
Probable DESIGN Of the Rebels TO Impede the
March Of Union Troops 10 Richmond by that
Roufe-ImDOrfGnee of Williamsburg to the Re
bells as Strategic POint-NauaL Designs Of the
Rebels
WASHINGTON, Oct. %.
The impression prevails here among military
men that the recent demonstrations of the Con
federates near Yorktown and Williamsburg in
dictate purpose on their part of occupying in
force the strategic points on the Peninsula.
The only cause which would induce them to do
this would be a 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
mond is to the effect that there are very few
troops there and that attack on the city is
expected before next spring The detenses of
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 impracticabe and that the only
way to capture the city will be by naval force
(incudng a mortar feet and squadron of iron
clad vesse,s) sailing up the James river to CO.
operate with powerful land force marching
Yorktown and W amsburg, or landing at White
House, on the Pamunky.
The rebels are by no means slow of compre
hension, and they have no doubt perfect un
Outstanding of these facts: and their recent move
ments near Williamsburg are probably the first
steps towards obtaining again such foothold on
the lower Peninsula as will make it difficult for
US to dislOdge 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 fleet. According
to these statements the whole OF the river be
tween Fort Darling and Richmond is filled with
distractions of various kinds, of which old hulks
filled with stone, ane iron 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. being built on high bluffs,
are intended to perform the same service as Fort
Darling
As regards the latter work, those who saw it
last May or June would scarcely recognize it
now. if the description given OF it correct 1t
is said to have been increased to double its
original size, and to be SO covered with slant
ing bars of railroad iron; and to be so arrang
ell with classmates to be entirely impervious
to shot and she'll There is no reason TO dis
believe these statements When the Monitor,
the Galena and the other iron clad vessels sailed
up the James river in June last. it was Fort
Darling and Fort Darling alone, that saved
Richmond. The rebels are not likely to forget
or TO undervalue that fact.
In regard TO land operations on the Peninsula,
the rebels will find some difficulty in restoring
the StafU quo ante beLlum if that be their object
We hold now, not only Yorktown and Gloucester
Point, but Williamsburg also. With over a mil
hon OF troops in arms, We ought TO have enough
troops to garrison these three points effectualy
to place their capture by the rebels beyond all
possibility IL is given out here that we have
such force there. On that point | say nothing
except that it will be shameful il it prove that we
have not IknOw 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
that road by an adequate force. The admins
tratiOn organs rdculed the idea. then, of the
rebels ever again coming so far north; and il was
stated and reiterated that the road was guarded
by an adequate force. Yet look at the subse-
quent history of the road and look ut the road
now. Is it not disgraceful that the great West
ein avenue to the national capital should be so
constantly in the hands of the rebels? But to
return to the Peninsula.
proper number of Union troops at Yorktown
and Gloucester Point could successfully defend
erected by the rebels, still remain, and will prob
ably remain for generations monuments of Ma
gruder's engineering skill But the case is differ
ent at Williamsburg, and il IS to be regretted
that it is Williamsburg is quite as important
as a strategic point as Yorktown; perhaps more
so. A good map of the Peninsula will show
that Williamsburg is about in the narrowest part
of the former. The rebel forts, indeed on the
9th of May last, as ] well remember, extended
entirely across from the York to the James river.
being thirteen in number, and the distance across
being not quite seven miles. But the trouble is.
the forts. like Pillows ditch, are all on the wrong
side of the town. Ii the Confederates should
march to attack Williamsburg from New Kent
las It Is stated 70 day that they are marchingl
these forts, though all standing vet will be of
no use to defend the town, because they are all
southeast of il.
But if our troops should be obliged to abandon
Williamsburg, and ii that place with its works
should fall into the hands Of the rebels. it would
give them the KEY to the whole Peninsula; and,
unless we landed our troops above that point at
Cumberland or White House, we should have 10
fight second battle of Williamsburg And it is
stated that, although the Pamunkey River (the
continuation of the York River was unobstruct-
ell a few days ago, il is not so now 1t is said
that fort is being erected on the high bluff on
the right bank of the Pamunkey short distance
belOS White House, and some batteries near
West Point II these reports are true, il shows
that the Confederates are inclined TO prevent as
from using the Pamunkey and the upper York
River in transporting our troops. But they will
have TO erect works rivaling Fort Darling, If
they expect TO prevent the passage of iron
clad steamers.
While tire rebels are thus active on the land,
they by no means idle the sea. The ru-
mOrs that they have been building feet of pow
erful iron clad steamers in England turns out to
be fact The destination of this feet has not
yet TRANSFERRED But there are some New York
merchants now here who express fears for the
safety Of the commerce of that city which are by
no means unfonnded. Two vessels arrived IN
New York, one on the 26th and the other on the
9th inst both of which we're loaded with vau-
able cargoes, and both OF which were chased by
the rebel steamer Alabama, and barely escaped
capture. IL is easy to see that this is but the
commencement Of very serious naval troubles.
IL has been abundantly proved that our Navy
Department is utterly poweress to prevent the
constant violation Of the blockade Of the South
ern ports; for il is known to be tact that the
greater part Of the rebel army is being supplied
with winter clothing of foreign manufacture.
And now comes the additional fact that our navy
is powerless TO protect our own commerce from
the depredations of the rebels Truly, this little
affair of putting down the rebellion has assumed
somewhat large proportions.
General order No. Ii3.
STATE OF INDIANA, ADJ'T GES'Ls OFFICER
Id.