Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-04-30
views of the RebeIs.
rCorrespOndeDce o. the y. T. world.
WAsHISvToS, April q

rebel plans, amid the confused mass of conflict
ing rumors and uncertain statements waited
northward through the public and private chan
nels Of information always open between Rich
mond and Washington. it IS pretty clear that,
Whatever these plans may be- the rebel armies
are now in such state Of efficiency as not only
TO resist the onward progress OF our numerous
baitallOns but in certain Instances 10 assume the
aggressive aud to make their aggression success
full This j. certainly one of the most serious
features Of the coming campaign Ii ia demon
strAble that the rebels have been a. IL has so
often been asserted by the Republican press,
paralyzed: that they have vet sufficient vgor 10
take the Initiative. to embrace in their operations
a. large held as that We occupy, 10 wage re
lentless the disputed territory without
weakening their center, and to meet in open
fields or behind their walls wherever We please 20
20. Men gifted with common sense would not
hesitate TO looking upon such symptoms indi-
catiye OF great strength aud determination.
But here in " ashington City / meet every day
with people whose whole intellectual faculties
are bent upon running down the resources Of the
South and exaggerating its weakness. With
these men-made no wiser by experience-the
rebels are regularly deficient 10 men. provisions.
ammunition and equipments on the eve of each
battle; but It the fortunes OF the battlefield de-
csred, per chance. in their favor the ragged
shoees., starving and deficient soldiers of the
one are suddenly transformed into immensely
superior forces by the same men who attempted
twenty -four hours previous TO convince YOU of
their utter helplessness and restitution. This
expression Of sentiment. particularly noticeable
among the creatures OF the administration and
the Republican press. has done more to weaken
at home and 20 make US ridiculous abroad
than ten rebel victories IL has caused us to
neglect many efficient measures which ought to
have been adopted long since. and by putting US
into the hope of an easy success, has prevented
the mastering at proper tine. of the forces
which might have taken the rebellion by sur
prise. and crushed il at single blow.
STRENGTH OF THE REBELLION.
The information | receive on that subject is
certainly not of a character to make Va believe
in speedy subjugation of the South. The rebel
armies, | am told by several eye-witnesses. are
numerous, enthusiastic. well fed, well clad, end
we'll equipped. They are confident, not rashly
SO in the first year of the war. but confident as
men who have been tried by the vicissitudes OF
the battlefield. nerved by adversely, and occa-
sionally cOmforted by the memory OF great and
glorious victories, and by the continual recur.
renee of partial successes How long will their
state of moral forttudc last. | am unable to say
This depends verv likely on the results of the
next great battle For the present. however,
they are such | describe them-confdent
hopeful morally AMI physically strong In this
disposition OF mind, there il no wonder it the
rebel armies are inclined TO deeds OF daring
None are more reckless than those who hope
much; and although have no precise infOrma
ton ss regards an invasion of the North by the
rebels it would not be surprising it, in their
present disposition OF mind. they would give the
preference TO such "A policy and thrust their
lesions northward across the Potomac, the Ohio,
and even the Mississippi
ADVOCATES INVASION OF THE NORTH.
AS an evidence Of this. will quote the opin.
ion of few Southern papers which being pretty
far off from the theater of war, do not, per
haps, Judge as well Of the military necessities of
the present campaign a those who are nearer.
allude TO the Savannah Republican and Mont.
gomery Mail both devoted TO the policy of inva.
sion. and supporting it by well defined and intel
ligible arguments. The first believes that i. the
administration increase the Army of Northern
Virginia to two hundred thousand effective men
and push 1t forward into Pennsy lvana aud Mary
land the South will have peace within sixty
days; the second holder still, wishes the same
army to cross the Ohio easily fordable in July.
and Gen. Johhston's forces to go through Ken
lucky and Tennessee into Indiana and Illinois,
as the hest means to avoid the ruin of Southern
agriculture and industry. and to secure, prompt
aud advantageous settlement with the North.
These two organs of Southern public opinion are
not the only ones recommending an invasion of
the North. Others. like the Lynchburg Repub-
lcan. the Selma Mssssippian. the Mobile News.
echo the same sentiment and advocate the same
policy. Their voice has. of course, but little in
fuence upon the decisions OF the government,
which consults its own interests alone without
any regard for the pressure exercised outside of
military circles by journalists little acquainted
with the necessity of the hour.
The language of these papers must not. then,
be looked upon as Indicative of the policy the
Government intends to pursue If it means any
thing, IL means that "A certain class of the South
ern community have such confidence in the
power of the South as TO recommend measures
which a great and strong nation alone can under
take with certain chances OF success That con
hdence is certainly exaggerated Still il is based
profound elements Of hope and faith, il is
cOlored with enthusiastic convictions. il rests
upon many hundred thousand of bayonets that
il would be sheer folly TO take IL as the mere out
pourings Of infatuated blusterers. The South
ha. no doubt the power of attempting day the
invasion of the North without violating any of
the rules OF military art; but whether it can
carry it through successfully is another question
even in the eyes OF the rebels themse YES as II
was expressed not long since by the Charleston
Courier. "A paper which has devoted several arti-
Giles to crticising the invasion policy and which
stands pre-eminent advocate OF de
fensIve warfare
MILITARY MOVEMENTS OF THE REBELS IN VIRGINIA
The most reliable rumor about General Lees
plan is that which. represents him strongly in
trenched on the Rapidan by series of earthworks
extending several miles back of his present posi-
ton, and communicating one with the other by "A
complete system of military roads, all centrating
as far a. Gordonsville. At present his army
numbers - 900 effective men, including General
Early : division, who Is guarding the entrance of
the Shenandoah. which the rebels seem 10 con
slider as the highway to Maryland and Pennsyl-
vania.
ten Longstreet, whose sudden disappearance
from East Tennessee has excited great many
comments. i. | understand. located in the vicn
" OF Lynchburg. and situated as to form the
rear guard OF Gen Lees army in case of retreat.
or the vanguard OF an invasion of the North
through the Shenandoah 10 case of success
Gems. Breckinridge and Buckuer, who were 10
operate in Kentucky, have been suddenly called
10 the defense OF Southern Virginia. which. il is
believed. j. menaced bv expedition from Nor
folk under command of Gen Butler The army
OF North Carolina has been reinforced and will
an important part in the coming contest. IT,
Is believed in Richmond, the Northern armies
contemplate an attack south OF James river and
il an attempt is made 70 storm Fort Darling II
| am TO credit another rumor, Johnstons army
has been depleted. aud two divisions under the
command of Gen Hood have been added n (,en