Indiana State sentinel., 1863-05-18
TELEcRAPHlc.
sunday Night Dispatches.


An Opelcusas letter Of the 5th states that in
formation from Grand Gulf and the gunboat
feet had been received there, with details OF
the capture of Port Gibson by Gen. Osterhaus.
When the latter was nearing Port Gibson he was
met by hundreds of families fleeing from the
interior TO escape the raid of the Illinois cav
airy.
The prevalent opinion among the secession
lists was that Port Gibson was the safest place in
that region.
The damage by the cavalry raid was ire
parable
1t rumored at Opelousas that Port Hudson
was evacuated
John E. Hays and P. q. Tracy, of the Era,
had been expelled from New Orleans for writing
and publishing questionable article.
Quite an excitement occurred on the evening
of the 7th, at the Opera. occasioned Sy the audi
ence demanding the national airs to be PLAYED,
butnothing serious occurred
Gen. Sherman has ordered all places of amuse
ment hereafter to submit their programmes to
the Provost Marshal, prior to their performance,
and suggested that national airs be PLAYED.
The Era of the 18th mentions rumor that
Port Hudson was bombarded by our fleet on the
night of the 9Th and all day on the 9th.
Colonel Grierson had arrived at New Orleans
and has been presented BIZ the Unionists with a
magnificent charger.
the 9th, from Brashear City. The Admiral and
his officers left the flag ship in Red river, and
bring the important intelligence that Alexandria.
La, was captured on the 4th by Admiral Porter
and portion of his own feet.
Prior To the capture of Alexandria Fort de
Russey, on Red river, was demolished after a
fight. and Rebel gunboat also captured.
After the capture of Alexandria, on the morn
ing of the 9th. the advance cavalry of Brigadier
General Dwight dashed into the place, thus form
ing junction of Farragut's and Banks forces.
Opelousas dates of the 9th say:
Our army is again on the march. Gen. Dwight's
brigade is supposed to be in Alexandra and Gems
Emory, WeitzeI and Grover, with their forces
are close behind.
A Baton Rouge letter of the ID saws:
Col Grierson's force, consisting of the 9th anC
7th Illinois cavalry and battery, numbering
some 900 men. followed by large number Of
prisoners. rode into that city on that day. They
left Lagrange. April l6. burnt the Rebel store:
and railroad depot at Okalona, and the depot anC
two heavily laden freight and commssary train.
and an ordinance train Mt Newton on the Charles
ton and Vicksburg railroad.
The ordnance train contained 1900 loadet
shells from the Vicksburg batteries, which ex
ploded terrifcally.
From Newton they followed the railroad tc
Mendina and burned all the bridges; thencs
south on the Mobile and Ohio railroad TO En-
terprise where they destroyed the Rebel ord
nance works; thence back to Newton burning
all the bridges from thence 20 Jackson, in
cluding the great bridge over Pearl river, ant
near Jackson tore up two miles of track; theme,
they followed the Jackson and New Orlean.
railroad south to the Louisiana line.
A Rebel force of 5000 at Clinton was evadeC
by making circuit around them our force de
stroyng their camp equippage and stores, an,
captured three hundred prisoners while crossing
the branch of the Amte river Lieut.. Colone
Blackburn severely wounded and left in tn,
hands of the enemy. Thev crossed the Amt,
river on the morning of the lst. ten miles from
Baton Rouge, and captured n Rebel picket o
one hundred and sixty men and horses burneC
Capt Wetterbee's house. captured his hsrses anC
rode into Baton Rouge looking rough, but il
good condition..
Every railroad in Mississippi has been cut bv
them. They have supplied themselves with fresl
horses on the route, and brought in over 300 con
trabands on horses, nearly all the latter also lead
ing horses.
The Era of the 9th gives particulars of tn,
burning of the ship of war Preble at Pensacola
on the 9th of April. The fire took accidentally
All hands were saved. The vessel, after burning
several hours, blew up.
patch dated Friday evening says:
Stuart, for the present. is in command of Jack
sons corps, which consists of four full divisions
of $4,000 men each.
Rebel deserter states their force prior to th
arrival of Longstreet was 10000. He brough
10000 more.
Rebel officers estimate their loss at 20 900.
From st. Louis.
ST. LOUIS. May l7.-Col. Alexander, Assist
ant Provost Marshal under the Conscrpt Act ha
returned to this city, and will enter upon tn
active duties of his Office to morrow. General
Mcdonald and Cooke returned yesterday. In con
sequence of the removal of troops from kansa
General Blunt has ordered the Sheriffs of tn
border counties of that State to organize militar
companies of citizens to protect themselves from
guerrillas. General Blunt will furnish arms ord
nance and stores to citizens having no privat
arms. Bushwhackers are desolatng the home
of soldiers in the southern part of the State
| Much slarm exists among the citizens generally.
The steamer Taylor arrived here to-day wit
several hundred prisoners captured at Post Git
son. They proceeded Immediately to Alton.
Gen. McDowell's Court of Inquiry resumes il
session here to- morrow.
from Fortress Monroe
FORTRESS MONROE, May 6.-Tbe Rchmon
editorial:
There is evidently to be an active summt
campaign. The plan of the enemy seems to
to keep our attention constantly excited at ever
point at once, so that no part of our whole wild
frontier may be freed from the urgent and immt
date apprehensionof an attack. Then they ca
strike where they think our line is weakest. &
where our defenses are least prepared and if II
pulsed they can retire and direct a blow at som
other quarter.
In the meantime they can bag much and plur
der and cause much sorrow and heart breakin
among our people by expeditions through thinl
peopled regions destitute of troops. They ca
also force more and more of our people with
their lines to take their hated oath of allegianc
for quiet life and to save their property froI
coniscation. Thus they can demoralize and 70
| US within our borders, preparing all tn
while for serious assaults and delivering thel
| just when they are ready and where they choos
1t is hard to say at what point they are mo-
active Just now. If one looks southwest, it woul
seem that the State of Mississippi is the region {
the most extensive operations. Immense armit
are gathering in and around Vicksburg. and Will
preparations are in progress for a new assault 0
that place. the back country is devastated an
the people plundered by cavalry raids; but at tt
very same moment Charleston is kept on the o.
vive by energetic preparations for another attac
| by sea and land or both ut once. The obie,
may be only to prevent General Beauregard fro
sending away any OF the troops which now defer
Charleston.
At the same instant Burnside threatens Ea
Tennessee, and Hooker, largely reinforced,
expected to cross the Rappahannock somewhe
or anywhere, from Culpepper to Port Royal,