Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-04-29
Special Correspondence of the Chicago Times.
.u.oraN Anril 81

Special Correspondence of the Chicago Times.
WAsHISGToS, April 81.
1t is probable that the publicity which has been
given by some of the newspapers here and in
New York TO the movements OF ho0kers army.
will hive the effect of defeating whatever object
that officer had in view. even if the enemy had
not penetrated his designs before. As early as
last Saturday, the newspapers alluded 10 con-
tanned tue statement that Rockers army was on
the road to Richmond, by way of Culpepper. and
that they had got as far AS GOrdonsville, OF which
place they had taken possession. Now, so far
rs referred to Gordonsville, there was not one
word of truth in the statement. As everything
that is teegraphed from here to New I ork, how
ever, is known to have passed under the super
vision of the Secretary of War, aud to be ap-
proved and authorized by him, the statement,
when it appeared in the New York paper, was re-
garded by many persons as authentic. The de-
ception was Immediately exposed, but the mis-
chief was done. The information was speedily
carried by the underground mail to the enemy's
lines, and they were thus semi officially informed
of what they had already conjectured, namely:
that Hooker's army was marching on Richmond
by the route immOrtalized by the shameful cam
paign of Pope. The heavy rain of Sunday night
and Monday followed; the roads which before the
18th inst. had been comparatively good, have now
been changed into impossible boys, and Hooker
lnuS US NUoic army 0DuDueTl1H vi QudBuiTeS
and stuck ia the mud. with the pleasant reflection
that the secret of the whole campaign has been
divulged 20 his alert and v%igilant foe, who will
not fail to take advantage of the fact. As, owing
to this lameutable indiscretiOn of Rockers
friends, further concealment is useless, as Hooker
already finds himself confronted with a force of
30 900 of the enemy, ] may state at once that the
Army of the Potomac, or rather the shattered
and depleted remains of that army, deprived of
80 49, ~ ~-.kl e. -.a- H. - u.tl
new regiments, is still on the safe side of the
Rappahannock. but nearly as far up that stream
as Warrenton. Az the whole campaign has been
unmasked by the special organs of the Admins
tration, as the enemy has been tOrewarned by
them that it is Rockers purpose to march on
Gordonsville-I will state that the enemy has
been making such demonstrations on the west
bank Of the river that Hooker has not deemed it
prudent to cross. and has not crossed. The dis
lance between his army and GordonsvilIe, at the
present time, is fully forty miles; and not the
Rappahannock, but the Rapidan river also. lies
between him and that place.
In the meantime. all the movements of the
enemy on the Rappahannock. are purely strate-
gle All the accounts you see OF flights at kel-
Tvs Ford" Fights at the United States Ford"
attempts of the Rebels to cross the Rappahan-
mock" are only feints on the part of Gen. Lee to
anus Hooker and distract his attention, while
Lee is carrying out some design of his own.
The COnfederates have no intention of crossing
the RappahannOck now, or there. When they
cross, it will he when Hooker's army is farther
away from Washington than it is now, and at
tords that are not guarded. of which they will find
plenty when the time comes, as they did last
August when Pope was telegraphing to Stanton
that "he was holding the fords."
The COnfederates still have a stray force be
tween Hooker's army and the capital. A strong
detachment of General Stuart's cavalry are now
at GAINESVILLE, only twenty miles west of this
city-indeed, has been there for some days past.
The official organ of the Administration saws, "it
is belived by the Government that our cavalry
will succeed in capturing them" That is food
for gudgeOns. In the same way, and by the
same organ. we were informed. cit is believed by
the Government that Gen. Banks will capture
Port Hudson" at is believed bv the Govern
ment that Charleston will be captured" &C., ad
R0useam. Yet Port Hudson, Vicksburg and
Charleston yet remain undisturbed; and SO does
the Rebel cavalry near Washington.
Perhaps it will not surprise you to learn that
there are persons now here who are making great
efforts to have Admiral Dupont removed from
his command, and even dismissed in disgrace
from the navy. They are the same kind Of men
who bounded Gen. Mcclellan, Gen. Porter, Gen.
Franklin, and Gen. Buel. They boast that they
have already obtained the Presidents promise
that Admiral Dupont shall be removed at least,
as soon as he can find a successor. Thus all
good men in the army and navy are stricken
down. There is uO better or ADLER officer in the
navy than Admiral Dupont. But the attack on
Charleston has demonstrated that that city is i'm
pregnable to any naval force, however large.
There is one way, and only one. in which Charles
ton can be taken. 1t can be taken by a land
force of 300 900 well disciplined troops. well sup
piled with mortars and siege guns. The reason
why all our military operations between Charles
ton and Savannah, during more than twelve
months, have amounted to nothing, is. that no
army can operate south of the railroad between
those two cities. The railroad itself is built on a
trestlework for more than half its length, and all
the land between it and the sea is swampy and
DOGGY. The army that takes Charleston must
land at Bulls Bay, twenty miles to the eastward,
and must march around the city on the arc Of a
circle till a point is reached on the Savannah
railroad, twelve miles west of Charleston. This
done. and this line held by 100 900 troops.
Charleston is cut off at once from Richmond and
from the West. Let the troops then be drawn
in. and a second liue of investment be formed,
eight miles from Charleston. The place must
then be reduced by regular siege approaches.
Charleston is defended on the land side bv forts:
but they are no stronger than the works at York
town. The siege might require a month per.
haps more. But, attacked in this way, parallel
after parallel dug, till our mortars and siege guns
were ready TO open, Charleston would eventually
fall. The city once in our possession. Fort
Sumpter and the other forts in the harboI would
soon be starved into surrender. In this way. and
in this way alone, can Charleston ever be taken.
Y