Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-07-20
BrAuroRr. N. O., June 30, 1863.


A refugee from the South arrived here last
night from Newbern. He is a German by birth.
claims to be citizen of Maryland, and says he is
and has ever been Union man. He appears
quite intelligent, and much confidence is placed
in his statements.
The following is his account of himself:
When the rebellion broke out he was at work
at his trade. marble working. at Mobile. Early
in May, 1861. he left there, travelling northward
till he reached Richmond At Richmond, for
some reason unknown to himself, he was refused
permission to cross the Rebel lines. Ia June,
1861, he left Richmond and went to Wilmington,
where he has remained most of the time until the
2lst inst. when he left for the Union lines He
has been conscripted three times; but by claiming
to be a foreigner he got off the first and second
time: but at the last conscription. which took
place on the Goth inst, though ne had bought a
sick Germans certificate of foreign citizenship,
whose name he had assumed, it would not an
swer-he had to go into the army or to jail.
On the 2lst, getting three hours liberty from
his guards. who were taking him To the jail. he
took advantage of it to get, through friend, a
pass, under a new name. to go to Weldon.
Secreting himself on board of the cars so as not
10 be -een by those who would recognize him in
Wilmington. he came to Weldon. and then on
foot. through woods and swamps, he found his
way to Newbern. Making himself known to the
military authorities there and protesting to have
knowledge of how the Anglo Rebel steamers
run the blockade into Wilmington. he was sent
down here. aud is now on board of the United
States steamer State of Georsia-which vessel is
here from New Inlet coaling ship-and will 60
down to- the blockade on her.
When we left Wilmington there we're seven
teen steamers-blOckade runners-lying at
the wharves there, FIVE of which are owned by
the Rebel Government. All of the steamers had
brought in valuable cargoes One brought in
one hundred pieces of brass field artillery. which
he counted on the wharf himself, together with
the field carriages. caisons harness, &c; another
came in loaded entirely with powder; another
brought, with other merchandise, three hundred
cases of Enneld rifles. Several brought cargoes
of bacon. which had its wav there from Cincn-
matt via New York. Liverpool Nassau and Ber
muda. He was told few days before he left
that there was bacon enough ii Wilmington to
last army of one hundred thousand men wear.
The wharves and warehouses were full of shot,
shell, provisions and clothing, all of English man
utacture and produce. or purchased by them for
the ReLels.
The male population there is mostly foreign
All the natives fit tor military duty had volunta
rily gone or had been cOnscripted into the Rebel
armies, except those who buy and sell TO the
Rebel Government
or the gunboass there he has seen but two, one
of which was ready for sea and the other was
nearly ready He had heard of two Others some
where on the river but had no other knowledge
of them The one that was aioat mounted FIVE
guns, but was pierced for seven: bu: as she was
low in the water they did not think it safe to
mount but five. He had measured the length Of
this craft when building, and said il was one hun
dred and sixty seventy five feet i'm length She
is fiat bottom craft with sides incl ming out at
thirty or forty degrees to three feet above the
lead line, and nclining inboard the same to the
top Her sides are of three feet solid oak, plated
with two inch iron plates fore and aft, and then
outside OF that two inch plates up and down.
making four inches armor. This armor extends
three feet below the water line. Her ports are
not over three feet above water. She was all
reacy for sea except coal and one of the Govern
ernment steamers-the Cornubia-was to leave
Wilmington on the 22d inst for Bermuda for a
cargo for the gunhOat She was said to draw
twelve feet water with coal aud stores on board; ;
but he doubted If she drew ten
The railroads in that vicinity we're worn out
One train per day IN and out. and !, speed of ten
miles per hour. was all that could be run on them
Three weeks since. fifteen miles out of Whining
ton. tre>tle work over ravine gave way.
train of car, filled with soldiers was precipitated
into the ravine, and four hundred men were killed
outright and many wounded
The Cape Fear river is lined with batteries.
and they have four schnoners loaded with stone
to sink in the channel if the iron cads-of which
they have great fear-attempt to 20 up; and at
narrow place in the river they have a heavy ca
BILE all ready. with huOys attached. which they
can stretch across the river in am hour. Abreast
of it, on each bank. are heavy batteries The
only defenses of the town are on the river. There
are but few troops in the vicinity. The river
batteries and cable he has himself seen, also
the schooners