Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-07-25


There Is some news in town to day. which, If
confirmed. will put very different complexion
on the aspect Of affairs near Atlanta IL is said
that the troops which are known to have left
Gen. Lees army al Petersburg. were not sent to
the North. but to the West. that their destination
i not W ashington. but Atlanta; that they are
gone to reinforce Gen. Johnston; and that the
idea Is to give battle TO Sherman on the east
aide of the ChatiahOochee river, and between
tba. stream and Atlanta TO defeat him by the
presence of greatly superior numbers; TO cut OFT
aud cut to pieces his army, aud then to bring 81.
OF Johnston troops to Richmond, and with their
aid to defeat Grants army.
WHAT THE REBELS THINK ABOUr GRANTS ARMY
There il nothing improbable in the supposition
that such is really the plan that the rebel leaders
now have in view. IL must he remembered that,
whether true or false, the rebel leaders believe
that Grants army before Petersburg has been
greatly depleted, not only BY actual losses IN
battle and severe wounds. but also by the excess
sive beat, and the consequent sickness among
the men that has prevailed Besides, they be-
heve that the effect of their recent demonstration
toward Washington. and of the actual fact that
they held the national capital closely invested
for two whole days cut of from all communi-
cation with the North-they believe that the
effect Of that will be, that Mr.. Lincoln will feel
the necessity Of keeping at Washington. to pre-
the recurrence of such event in future,
quite large number, say thirty thousand OF the
veteran troops heretofore destined for Grants
army. and thus that Gen. Grant will be weakened
in addition TO that extent also.
The fact that General Grant has felt il
necessary to contract his lines before Petersburg
10 Withdraw his left wing from IL position on the
w eldon railroad to where his center posted
two weeks ago, and TO abandon TO them the i'm
portant line of the Weldon railroad-that fact
confirms them in the belief that Grant is greatly
weakened. Among all their faults, that of I'M
derating the strength Of their opponents has new
er been one land vet what they say of Grant is as
follows That he lost eighty thousand men in
his overland ca mpaign; but that he had received
reinforcements of eighty thousand new recruits
between the L., and the 18th of June that he
had at the latter date one hundred and thirty
thousand troops; that he has lost twenty thousand
in battle and by sickness between the 18th oil
June and the 18th of July; and that be sent
twenty thousand TO Washington, not counting
the nineteenth corps, who will remain there
They estimate his present strength, therefore, al
ninety thousand men, of whom they believe
forty thousand TO be new recruits. Ii this letter
falls under the notice of the government, they
can tell how much truth and how much error
there is in this rebel calculation.
THE CAMPAIGN AGAINST
RICHMOND A FAILURE.
The rebel leaders are impressed with the belle
that Grants campaign against Richmond is
failure; that his tenacity oil purpose is such that
having ninety thousand troops, he will not aban-
don his enterprise yet But they are satisfied
that he will hot attempt anything further sgains
Petersburg, although he may remain where h
is. The troops under General Beauregard, fttl
thousand strong will be retained at Petersburg
therefore. TO hold General Grant i'm chect; while
if what is stated above IS corFeck, the whole o
General Lees army proper is moving rapidly Il
Atlanta.
Co-oRERATIvE PLANs or JOHNSTON AND LEE.
The railroad communication between Rich
mond and Atlanta is perfect. and the means o
transportation ample. If such has reall'
been the intention of the rebel leaders it has
doubt been after consultation with General John
ston. and in pursuance of full snderstandin.
with him
On any other hypothesis. Johnston's recen
movements are inexplcable. and entirely at va
rance with his military character. He has re-
treated from one strong position to another. Civ
/ ing battle occasionally, and undoubtedly infct
/ ing considerable loss Sherman's army; bu
still his retreat will be disheartenng in the las
degree to the Southern people. unless it shall
prove To be, in the end. mastery stroke OF STRAIT
egy. On the above hypothesis it will be so
Johnston has under his command 5000 troops
the troops under A p Hill and Longstreet, i
they have gone to him, will give him 40 900 o
10000 more, making his whole number 49, Ot
or l25, 800 strong. Sherman is supposed to hav,
/ 80 900 electives and 10 900 more on his lines o
communication.
The statement that Atlanta is not fortified is
great mistake Ii is very strongly fortified
Even il not reinforced ut all, Johnston could holt
it against Shermans present force But if thu
above information il correct, it is very eviden
that the object of Johnston in making his sue
cessive retreats has been to draw Sherman TO
point far south that defeat would be fatal t.
him, and where the residue of his forces, ate
such defeat, could be taken prisoners, or il
some way put hors du combat, while the rebe
troops could be rapidly transported TO the east.
I DIFFICULTIES or THE CAMPAIGN AG tINsT RICHMOND
/ Ii the reader will now take a map with tn
railroads correctly marked and will observe tn
relative positions of Atlanta. Richmond. ant
/ Washington, he will be able TO estimate the rel
/ condolences OF the rebel plans above indicated
/ General Lee army propeT-that is the corps o
+ A. L. Hill LongStreet, and Ewell-are no
needed at Petersburg at all Beauregard alon
/ is more than enough TO hold Petersburg.
/ General Lees army is being moved to Atlanta
supposed, and succeeds there in defeatin.
Z
/ from returning TO Virginia, and then making
/ second demonstration against Washington.
THE WAR NOT MAR OVER YET.
Such some of the dreams which the rebe
/ leaders at Richmond are indulging in. while Mr.
Lincoln Is indulging his dreams OF reelection
| They may be nothing more than dreams. Blu
whether dreams or realities tins much AT least i
certain. Richmond will not Toe taken this sum
mer nor by Gen Grants army Ii Atlanta
falls or If the above plan is not carried out SOM
+ other more feasible one will be devised Thu
war Is not yet near its end. Full employment
will be found for the five hundred thousand mel
just called out, and for FIVE hundred thousan,
more after them; for the military power of th
South is as strong and defiant ever before
DRUID
WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENCE.
LATE NEWS FROM GRANTS ARNr-wHERE Arr