Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-04-13
WHOLE NO. l,240.


event in this department, and the Rebels are evi-
IDENTIFY about TO strike blow The odds win be
divided about equally. The Rebels viii prob
ably have the advantage OF superior numbers
but the Federal troops hold position rendered
almost impregnable by. the exercise OF she most
c0nsummate engineering skill. The 70 tfhcatons
cover n vast area on both banks OF the river. and
if there IL other alternative. the troops fall
back behind the brcastworks and paraPets. and
there defy the enemy.
REBEL PROGRAMME
Whatever NAV have been the errors Of the
Southern military leaders in their previous con
duct OF the war. no sensible person can dispute
that the approaching spring and summer cam
paign will be characterized by Extraordinary
strategic shrewdness The Southern Coniedera-
cy has reached that period in the rebellion when
its military operations must be on the offensive
Delay at this crisis cannot occur without rrepara-
bic and fatal damage to the Rebel cause Uni
versal destitution is prevalent all through the
cotton States and the Richmond papers, in sick
ly tones, are compelled to admit the alarming
scarcity Of the necessaries Of life. The reality
of their situation stubbotnly confronts them in
every direction Their Capital is no longer men
aced. but Vicksburg. Port Hudson. Charleston
and Savannah are in danger. while they behold
with horror the preparations that going on
in this department. Charleston they deem i'm
pregnable but they know well enough the ulh-
mnte fate Of .Nicksburg. The South Is prepared
for the fall of that favorite stronghold. and the
most rational Of their leaders no longer calculate
upon possessing the Mississippi river. Thus,
while the military cause of the Rebels in
auspicuous elsewhere, they derive the most in
tense satisfaction from the situation in Tennes
and Kentucky. Here all their hopes of sue
cess are centered. and here they are bound to
stake the fate of their cause This must be the
inevitable conclusion TO any person who has stu
ord n in ne
ern States during the last three months. And il
is evident beyond doubt that the Rebel pro-
gramme looks 10 a concentration Of all the
Southern military strength and energy for the re
possession of Kentucky and Tennessee To ac-
complish this, the plan of the operation embraces
the following:
l. The invasion of Kentucky Twenty thou
sand troops (the most of them from the Rich.
mond army OF defeEse) are already making their
wav thither. The apaRf c0uTrierS CT the inva-
ders have been devastating Eastern Kentucky
for the last ten days, penetrating as far as Dan
vile, and driving our forces before them. One
third of the State Sas fallen into the possession
of the Rebels. who have but just made their ap-
pearance. The remainder of the invading force
at Knoxville, about ten days ago, and
then about to start TO Cumberland Gap, under the
command of Gen. Longstreet of Virginia fame.
These assumptions are indisputably correct. The
Richmond Enquirer, several weeks ago, publish
ed the statement tnat LODEStfeet anu tue troops
of his command were then passing through the
Capital "in a direction which it would not be
proper to announce at present" Another para
graph, however, predicted that "they were going
where they would soon be heard FROM" Shortly
after this item made its appearance in the Rich
mond journal, | conversed with a very intelligent
Southern gentleman, just arrived inside our lines.
who informed me that when he came through
Knoxville, large bodies of troops were gathering
there, and that Longstreet was momentarily ex-
pected to reach there and assume command. As
another confirmation of the supposition that
Longstreet had been assigned to the Kentucky
Department. the Atlanta lntelligencer of the 10Th
inst. had the following special dispatch frvm
Chattanooga:
"Rumor saws that Rosecrans has sent large
force to prevent Longstreet's advance through
Kentucky
Hence there is nothing wanting to establish
tho truth as to what General and what forces are
pouring into Kentucky.
g An attack upon Rosecrans Simultaneous
with the arrival of Longstreet in Central Ken
tucky. The Rebels expect, naturally enough,
mat a part of the army here will be sent to the
defence of Kentucky, as soon as the invaders
make their appearance. Gen. Johnston is then
10 make an attack at Murfreesboro, anticipating.
of course. that the Federal army here will be ma
terially weakened on account of the absence Of
reinforcements sent noFthward.
g. In the event of victory at Murfreesboro,
which johnson will be ordered 20 gain at all haz
ards, an advance upon Nashville.
4. The possession of forts Donelson and
Henry.
5. In the event of the forced evacuation Of
Vicksburg, the troops now there TO be massed
with Johnston's army, which will swell its NUM-
bers to a sufficient strength to enable him to
force Rosecrans to fall back TO the Ohio river.
6. IL the above plans should be successful.
-
in Kentucky. and, with the aid Of renforcements
from the South, will march upon Louisville and
Cincinnati, BY vhich time, il is hoped, the inde-
pendence of Dixie will be fully and completely
established
The above summary, it is evident, comprises
in brief the intentions of the Rebel military lead
ers. The transfer of the 10 Tennessee and
Kentucky, and the ultimate reposson Of those
two States. will be their grand leading purpose.
for the effectng of which all their other military
operations will be subordinate.
BURSsIDE's SEw COMMAND.
On the other hand il Is cheering to know that
the sleepy authorities at Washington have AZ
length awakened to the exigencies of the times
IL is now no secret of th- censorship that Gen.
Burnside has been sent 10 Kentucky with the
whole of his corps d This force. 1t is
probable, is strong enough to repel any concen
trated attack BY Longsireet's troops, and. With
the aid of other troops under command OF Gen.
Gilmore, will eventually succeed in driving thsm
from the State altogether After that, il is TO
be presumed, Burnside will advance by way Of
Cumberland Gap through East Tennessee, and
IN that way CO operate with Gen. Rosecrans for
the reduction of Chattanooga. Or. il may be
intended that the former shall rapidly organize
his command for the invasion of East Tennessee
and movement upon Chattanooga, while Rose
Grams merely keeps Johnstons army in check
And. il that be the intention, Gen. Rosecrans
will have considerable checking, for no one i'm
AGNES that Joe Johnston is person who will
lie idle three months without accomplishing any-
thing. or at least endeavoring to accomplish