Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-04-25


ward Atlanta, must cross both of these streams
at some point If Mine Run. an insignificant
branch OF the Rapdan, proved an insurmOuDts-
BILE barrier TO the advance of Meade's whole
army ia December last what obstacles will two
such streams of these prove TO bet If Sec
ond attempt TO carry che strong position at Dali
ton should prove successful. then comes the
Coost river. And the work7 the Coosa
carried and that stream passed, then comes the
still more formidable Etowah, with its high
aud wooded banks.
NECESSITY or THE ATTACK ON DALTON.
The practcability of turning both of these
streams has, OF course, been considered both by
Gen. Grant aud Gen. Sherman. But to turn
them would require long aud circuitous march
through the untrcdden defiles and across the
trackless mountains of Northern Georgian
operation quite rs hazardous 20 an army
attempt to cross two rivers in the direct line Of
its march, Doubtless il the conviction Of
the impracticability of turning these two rivers
that led to the recent attack on Dalton, which
was. beyond all doubt, the FIRST step of an army
toward Atlanta. .ss.-s m r $3.50. raT
PROJECTED MARCH OF GEN. JOHNSTON INTO TENSEs-
SEE AND KENTUCKY.
II is the intention of the rebel leaders, there
fore, to leave the defensive line cove ring Atlanta
to be held by a comparatively small body of
troops, while, with the main body OF the Confed-
crate army in the West, Gen. Johnston viii
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, or to
retire behind the Coosa river, circumstances
may render most advisable With the remain
der Of his army, Gen. Johnston will march north
ward
LoYGsTREEr 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 mobiIized for that purpose. IL
is arranged that the whole force under General
Johnston's orders will then amount TO 60 900 in
fantry 5000 cavalry. and about 200 pieces of
artillery. The infantry to be in light ,rch.
ing order, and the column is to be encountered
by baggage trains. Indeed the only wagons used
will be 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. 1t is not intended
to attack either Louisville or Cincinnati at first,
but to strike at once for the interior OF Ohio or
Indiana.
sHERMAN's ARMY EXPECTED TO FOLLOW,
The rebel leaders do not expect to do all this
own way. They do not count on meeting any
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 rbandon It's contemplated move on
Atlanta, face about. and pursue Gen. Johnston.
or endeavor to flank him and prevent him from
crossing the Ohio river. But Gen. Johnston
counts on getting such a good start. and on
i III tbafh a xvflI h.vo af
fected junction with Longstreet before the
Union army can begin to move from Chattanoo.
ga northward. And il is the boast Of the officers
| in Gen Johnston's arm, that when once they are
joined 10y Lonestreet they DO not care how soon.
or what field. they meet the Union army.
| Gen Johnston himself however, will strain every
nerve to get his whole army across the Ohio riv-
er and to 6nd and fortify some good position
there before General Shermans army comes up
to him.
/ HARDEE's CORPS TO DELAY sHERMANs PURSUIT.
| He depends somewhat, also, on the action Of
the 40 900 rebel troops that to be left Dali
/ ton, TO rctard the progress of the Union army
northward. The part assigned to those troops is
to watch closely the movements of the Union ar
my, to follow them when and wherever they
move; to hang on their rear. to annoy their tanks
and by every possible method to retard the pro-
gress of their march
| THE STAT OF WAR IN THE WEST TO BE TRANSFERRED
FROM GEORGIA TO OHIO.
! In this way Gen. Johnston expects to be able
to transfer the seat of from Georgia to the
north side of the Ohio river, and to keep it there
during the whole summer and fall, thus reliev-
| ing the South of the burden of supporting two
vast hostile armies and throwing that burden on
the north, and acting in this respect on the same
principles and carrying out the SINE plan that
Gen. Lee will pursue in the East. Ii is expected
10y the rebel leaders that two decisive battles
will be fought on northern soil this summer, and
they depend on Gen. Johnston to fight the one at
the West. In order that he may be victorious in
this conflict they will endeavor 70 make the mum
Der of his troops reach 100 600 men; and il will
not be safe for US to count on his having less
than that. after those that he leaves originally at
Dalton shall have joined him
THE WEALTH OF THE NORTH TO BE LAID UNDER
CONTRIBUTION.
The vast political and strategic advantages
which the COnfederaies expect to gain from
campaign carried 30 northern soil must not
keep out OF sight the economic advantages which
they have in view, and which with them will be
the first consideration in point of time. The
i large army with which General Johnston moves
viii be subsisied entirely on the country through
which il passes after once Tennes see is leit be-
hind. The vast agricultural and meat-producing
4
untouched IL will be the first object of General
Johnston TO gather up much OF the grain.
-four, and provisions. in that State. as possible,
and to send il, under strong escort, back into
Georgia. accompanied by all the horses, cattle.
and hogs that can be made available in this way.
IL cannot be doubted that in this manner vast
amount of the agricultural productions, and
| large number of the animals seized in Kentucky,
will find their way into Georgia. The sa me
course will be pursued in Ono and Indiana; al
though the bulk OF what is biained in this man
ner in these two States will probably be retained
until the rebel army marches back to Georgia.
THE coNFEDERArEs EXPECT A PENINSULA CAMPAIGN
\ AGAINST RICHMOND.
In regard to operations in the East, the Con
federate military leaders are convinced that Gen
Grant has no intention of making a campaign
against Richmond overland. and that he will not
do so in any event The more apparent prepara-
tons that made for an Overland campaign-
the more we fortify Culpepper and repair the
railroads between that point and " ashington.
the more satisfied will the rebel leaders be that
it is all done to blind them to our real Intentions
| What they expect and look for from Cen Grant
is, the adoption of General McClellan's plans,
and a Peninsula campaign against Richmond
commenced Just where Mcclellan left off, name.
/ iy. Harrison's Lsnding. with the James river as
n base. OF the prepT:tious which they have
made to defend Richmond against another PENN
sula campaign, i must defer speaking at present
4 IL is enough now To say that they consider them
ample To secure the safety of their capital If,
against his better Judgment. Gen. Grant should
he compelled to make overland campaign
against Richmond. they would only laugh ut
what they would consider his stupidity. and
would depend. Tor the defeat of his army, upon
/ a -