Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-04-17

Reported Skirmishing at FairfaY
not true.
LITER FROM VTRGE1T.G
JEFF. DAVIS ADDRESS.
THE REBELS DRIVEN FROM THEIR
POSITIONS.

W
steamer Peterhof continues to engage the Ad-
ministration. as well as the Diplomatic circles
here
IL Is understood that Lord LYONS has requested
the British mail found on board 20 be returnrd
to him, unopened. and that the Sate Department
j. ready TO accede tohis wishes Secretary Wells
is of the opinion that whatever abstract right or
wrong. of question. may be in the District Court
which has the case before IL for adjudication, can
alone decide, the statute being pre- emptory that
all papers and writings found on board captured
vessels. shall he transmitted, unopened, to the
Court before which such vessel is proceeded
against
Judge Belts, last week. invited Mr. Archibald
British Consul 10 be present while the mail was
being opened. but he did not appear. The Judge
would then have proceeded to open the mail, as
we are informed
The presence of force of rebels at Rector
town, Middleburg. aud through that region. ia
known here The rumOr started here that there
had been skrmishinG at Fairfax Court House is
not true
INV YoRK. April l6-.Ieff Davis has issued
an address to the people of the Soathern CON-
te1eracy, urging them TO devote their agricultu
raj labor 10 the production of food. He saws
that though the soldiers are on half ratiOns of
meat. there is plenty of it in the Confederacv,
but that difficulty exists in It's transportation,
which i now about to be remeded.
The address contains the following paragraph:
ITO oppose invading forces. composed Of lev
les, which have already exceeded 800 900 men,
we had no resources but the unconquerable valor
of people determined to be free. and we were
so destitute of military supplies that tens of
thousands OF our citizens we're Reluctantly refused
admission into the service from inability to
furnish arms, while for many months a cOntnu-
alton of some of our strongholds owed their
safety n careful concealment of the fact that
we were without supply of powder for our can
non.
Your devotion and patriotism have triumphed
over all these obstacles and called into existence
| munitions of war. clothing and subsistence which
have enabled our soldiers To illustrate their valor
on numerous battle fields, and to infct crushing
defeats on successive armies even which our ar
rogant foe fondlv ina gined to be invncible
The contrast between our past and present
condition is well calculated to inspire full conf
dence in the triumph Of our armies. At no pre-
vous period of have ou. forces been so num-
erous; well arranged and so thoroughly dis
ciplined, armed and equipped as at present
The season Of high water. which our enc
| mics relied to enable their fleets Of gunbOats to
penetrate into our country and devastate our
homes. is fast passing away; yet strongholds
on the Mississippi still bid defiance TO he foe,
and months of costly preparation for their re
duction have been spent in vain
Disaster has been the result Of every effort 10
storm Vicksburg and Port Hudson. well as
! every attack on our batteries on Red River
| Tallahatchie and the other navigable streams
Within the next few weeks, the falling waters
and increasing heats of summer will complete
their discontinue and compel their baffed and
defeated forces 10 an abandonment of the expe-
ditions on which based their chief hope of
success in effecting suhiugation.
We must not forget however that the war is
not vet ended. and that we are still confronted
| bv powerful armies and threatened by numerous
fleets and that the Government that controls
these fleets and armies is driv desperate
efforts TO effect the unholy purpose in which il
has thus far been defeated 1t will use its utmost
energy TO avert this impending doom SO fully
merted by the atrocities it has committed, the
savage barbarities which it has encouraged. and
the GROWING attempt 70 excite a servile popula
ton to massacre our wives daughters anu help
less children. With such contest before MS
there is but one danger which the Government
of Your choice regards with apprehension. and
TO avert this danger it appeals 10 the never fail
ing patriotism which you exhibited since the
beginning OF war.
WAsnrNGroS, April Especial to the Herald
SAYS:
Ii is said that Gov Curtin had been rendered
the mission 10 Spain
Ii is announced on high authority that the en-
rollment and conScription wall be enforced in
May.
Advces received say that the enemy on the
, Rappahannock are being rapidly enforced.
On the morning of the 18th the rebel artillery
opened from the direction of SOMEHOW. Oul
= forts responded and the enemy changed position
: The firing listed All hour when the rebels fe
= back mile, but again advanced and firing OF
o both sides renewed, and lid not cease till II
I o'clock. Noe on our side were killed OIL
d seriously wounded
!. Advices from Suffolk, Va, l4th. state that ou
: pckets were driven in OH the morning of IN,
4 18th Skirmishing ensued in sight OF our breast
r. works The enemy IS erecting Notifications OF
the bank of the Nansemond river--four mile
: from Suffolk Seven Of our gun boats shele,
: the rebels compelling them 20 abandon them
and signal town on the Petersburg railroad -
Another skrinish ensued in the afternoon. W
- drove the enemy TO the woods. All houses af
fnrding positions for the rebel sharp shooter
have been DESTROYED. During the night we erect
ell new Notifications. and on the morning of tn
d l4th the gun boats shelled the woods whereve
e the enemv was likely to be.
: Rebel deserters report the capture of Who'll
m garrison at Washington. n C-numberni
= 1000 The report is disbelieved
At Deserters also report the Rebels to be in iron
:. of Suffolk: that they number $4,000 with 8
/. pieces of artillery.
CINCINNATI, April lo.-lhe steam Prioress
from Madison, destroyed by hre-one mil
below the city, ut O'Clock. this morning.
d The Prioress had heavy load of freight an
T. about one hundred passengers.
g The tire originated in some bales of straw o
= the forecasie. and as discovered sh
was run aground on the Ohio side
The passengers aud crew all escaped, except
ing Mr. Rouse. head cook. who is vet missing
The boat and cargo is a total loss The boa
j. was valued at $50 600. and was owned nv Barke
10 Hart Cook, aud Der commander She was ir
, sured against fire There is very little insuranc
!, on her cargo.