Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-04-20
fcorrespoudenes Of he New York World
BsIrfuoRF. April IL

BALTIMORE. Apul IL
WHAT REBLEs EXPECT.
am able At length 10 present 20 you the full
development Of the rebel plans for the spring and
summer campaign, both la the East aud IL the
West which plans will be executed simultaue-
DUSTY and IN conrert, II possible
No one Il Richmond processes 20 have OWNED
what the plans Of General Grant are tor the
spring and summer campaigns. The fact that
he lies It'll aud makes no sign causes them
considerable annoyance. They are consoled
however. BY the conviction that, whatever may
be his plans they will be rendered abortive by
the interference of the President. On two points.
however thew are toleraoly clear. They feel
certain that Gen. Grant will concentrate all the
force in his power on two objects First, the
CAPTURE of Richmond, and second, a movement
on Atlanta They think il may be possible that
General Meade's army NAV be augmented 20 one
hundred and fifty thousand met. and that ~enty
FIVE thousand troops IN General Buffers depart
meut. but not under General Butler. will CO.
operate in the movement Richmond. as that
CITY may be threatened with fully one hun
drei and seventy-hye thousand troops. Thew
think also that General Sherman's forces at
Chattanooga may possibly be raised to one
hundred and fifty thousand troops by the add-
ton Of the Union troops in East Tennessee. But
thev do not intend To wait TO be attacked either
in Virginia or in the West by armies Of that
magnitude.
PLAN FOR THE CONFEDERATE OPERATIONS IN THE
WEST.
The manner in which our army was defeated NJ
Dalton in its recent attempt to drive the rebels
from that point proves the ease with which
comparatively small body Of troops can hold the
line defending Atlanta against large hostile
force When our army advanced against ID ,lton
it was confidently expected that the place would
be carried, and the rebels driven from il. But
the very reverse took place: aud the attack, vel!
planned and brilliantly executed as il was only
revealed the great strength OF the enemy's po-
sition Ii was then ouly that it was called
reconnaissance. ms all OF our defeats have been
called. from Biz Bethel, Bull Run and Belmont,
down to Mine Run
DESCRIPTION or THE DEFENSIVE Inns COVERING
ATLANTA.
But the strong position at Dalton, and the reb
ell Notifications there, are among the smallest
obstacles that will he encountered by our army
in its advance toward Atlanta. The examine
ton of good map OF the country will show
the existence of two rivers of considerable size
between Chattanooga and Atlanta The first
is the North branch of the Coosa river which
extends from Rome Elijah. distance of
sixty miles The second j. the Etowah river,
which extends from Rome to DIhonega. a
distance of seventy miles. Both OF these rivers
cover Atlanta. and both form admirable deen
sive lines against an army advancing from Chat
tanooga. Both. too. have been fortified 70 some
extent bv Gen Johnston during the last win
ter, and it il quite evident that that able
strategist Intends 10 make use of the advanta-
ges which they afford him. 10 the utmost The
Union army, advancing from Chattanooga to
ward Atlanta must cross both Of these streams
at some point II Nine Run. an insignificant
branch OF the Rapidan. proved an insurmounta
bic barrier To the advance OF Meades whole
army in December last, what obstacles will two
such streams of these prove TO be? II a Sec
ond attempt to carry tie strong position at Dali
ton should prove successful. then comes the
Coosa river. And the work. on the Coosa
carried, and that stream passed, then comes the
still more formidable Etowah, with its high
and wooded banks.
NECESSITY OF THE ATTACK on DALTON.
The practicability of turning both of these
streams has OF course. been considered both by
Gen Grant and Gen. Sherman But 10 turn
them would require a long and crcuitous march
through tine uptrodden defiles and across the
trackless mountains of Northern Georgia-an
operation quite AS hazardous To an army As an
attempt to cross two rivers in the direct line OF
its march Doubtless it was the conviction of
the impracticability o. turning these two rivers
was. beyond all doubt. the first step of an army
toward Atlanta.
PROJECTED MARCH OF GEN JOHNSTON INTO rENSEs-
SEE AND KENTUCKY.
1t il the intention of the rebel leaders, there
fore To leave the defensive line covering Atlanta
To be held by n comparatively small body ct
troops while. with the main body OF the Conied
crate army in the West. Gen. Johnston will
strike at once for Tennessee. and move rapidly
into the heart of Kentucky. Forty thousand
troops will be left AT Dalton. probably under
Lieut.. Gen Hardee, To hold that point. TO
retire behind the CoOsa river, circumstances
may render most advisable With the remain
der of his army, Gen. Johnston will march north
ward.
LoNGsrREEr TO JOIN JOHNSTON. AND INDIANA AND
OHIO TO BE INVADED.
If the plans OF the rebel leaders are carried
out he will be Joined AT some point in Kentucky
by the whole force under Gen. Longstreet. which
has recently been modified for that purpose. II
j. arranged that the whole force under General
JohnSion'> orders will then amount To on. 900 in
fantry. 5.0u0 cavalry. and about 2Dh pieces OF
artillery The infantry TO be in light m rch
ing order. and the column i 10 be cucumber ell
by baggage trains Indeed the only wagons used
will he those for the CONVEYANCE OF ammunition.
The junction with Longstreet having been effect
ed the whole army will move rapidly forward.
and cross the OHIO river either above Cincinnati.
or below Louisville The invasion of the North
will then have commenced Ii is not intended
To attack either Louisville or Cincinnati first.
but to strike at once for the interior OF Ohio or
Indiana
sHERMNSs ARMY EXPECTED TO FOLLOW.
The rebel leaders do not expect to DO all this
without opposition. or TO have things all their
own way They do not count on meeting anv
armed resistance either in Tennessee, Kentucky.
Indiana or OHIO But they expect that when
their intention of invading the North has become
plainly developed the Union army at Chatta.
nooga will sbandon its contemplated move on
Atlanta lace about. and pursue Gen Johnston.
endeavor to fink him and prevent him from
crossing the ONO river. But Gen. Johnston
counts getting such good start and on
moving with such rapdty. that he will have eff
fected junction with L0ugsjreet before the
Union army begin To move from Chattanoo-
"a northward And il i the boast Of the officers
ia Gen Johnston's arm. that when oece they are
joined BY Lonestreet they 90 not care how soon.
or on what field, they meet the Union army
Gen Johnston himself. however. will strain every
nerve 10 get his whole army across the Ohio riv
er and 10 find AMI fortiiy some good position
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