Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-05-07
Special Correspondence Of the Chicago Times.


WASHINGTON, April 30
There seems to be prevailing impression in
military political aud other circles that the pres
ent spring campaign. now opening 30 Formidable
on the Mississippi. in Tennessee at Charleston.
and on the Rapnahannock is u be the great
turning point of the war. II is easy 90 see what
the efe.t OF a tremendous triumph for either side
would be at this particular crisis Of at ,irs. Ii is
probable that the campaign on the RapDahan
mock in which Gen. hooker's guns are actively
at work today is looked forward to by the au-
thorities with more hone for decided success than
that la any other part OF the country his Is
based mostly on the knowledge OF the immense
facilities placed in the hands OF Gen Hooker and
the general belief that the enemv is in every re
speci his inferior You are better able To Judge
of affairs AZ Nick,burg thpn we of the East. and
a Tor the battle suppo~ed 70 be raging IN trout
20 dav. even the cens0rizei telegraph will give
YOU the very important res 1T ere this letter
reaches YOU.
Onnext Sunday the soiug tides are again igh
over Charleston bar and told here IN Il
the attack of the iron cladS will be made again ON
Sumter ant the ReDel t.Leries \ co-Opert-
ton of the land forces is promised but the
Rebel works are very strong on the naturs de
fences of the creeks, marshes. etc, to the south
of the city little can be expected in the way of
success from them. especially under the COM
mand OF Gen Hunter, who j. vet ~ show the first
claim 10 military tactics If Charleston falls at
all it will be from the iron cladS. and nothing else
and, on this conclusion. opinions are widely Ut
variance among naval men. With the change of
ordnance which has been affected il i not i'm
probable that Sumter may be preached and the
fire OF MOultre silenced. The great impement
is the Instructions in the harOor, which the enemy
has. without doubt made much stronger since
fhp iarp att Ru le est
next week will be looked for almost with as much
anxiety as that from the Rappahannock TO dav
Secretary Seward and few Ministers Of the
smaller European powers are std on their sight
seeing mission down in the army. The Sc retry
OF State, before his departure expressed himself
satisfactorily over the foreign war question,
and looked to so peaceable a solution of IL 70
write 10 Lord Lyons TO 20 with his party in order
that they might congratulate each other that Mr..
Seward had saved England from n L Is of
course very probable that the present quescent
phase of foreign affairs solely the result of
his diplomatic strategy.
The Mexican Minister has Just had an inter
view with the Pre-: dent the war in his com
try, and informed him of his entire belief that the
French will soon be driven out An understand
ing has been had regarding the shipment of the
contraband goods from New York to the French
in Mexico, by permission of Secretary Seward.
some months ago.
Fast day in Washington has been more gen
orally observed than any other similar day i'm the
history of the war. There is an entire saspen
sion OF business in all the Departments and on
the street The churches occupied as hospi
tails have been well attended, and throug hout pri-
vate circles there has been "A very strict obser-
vance OF the OCCASION as one for fasting humilia-
ton and prayer. Perhaps one of the greatest
reasons which has conduced to the sober quiet Of
the dav Is the rigid enforcement of the mihtarT
rule against the sale of liquor within the city
limits, ami the confinement of soldiers to their
proper quarters.
Gov Pierpont anG several members of the
State Government at Wheeling arrived in Wash
ingtOn week or two ago. TO urge the authorities
to send troops To West Virginia to intercept the
Rebel cavalry raid now going there. They
found il quite impossible 20 obtain assistance,
Gen Hllieck saving that he had not man to
spare for any such purpose. at the same time
doubling that the enemy really intended any such
raid. Nov that il has really taken place, troops
have been sent there; in the language of the
homelv adage, The stable door is locked after
the horse is stolen" But the inconvenience and
loss to the Government has been very great. A
little foresight would have prevented all the IN
fortunate consequences This me General Hal
leck. however pooh-poohed at all the reliable
information furnished him of Lees contemplated
invasion OF MARYLAND