Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1861-07-03
The Retreat from, and the Re-occupa-
ton Of Harner's Ferry.

We are now at Liberty, on the best author
ltY, to make public the trne matxeS aGtua~~
ting General johnson, in what the Northern,
and some Of the Southern papers have called
the =" Evacuation of Harper's Ferry" The
General, like other military men Of edaca-
tion, had long known that Harper's Ferry,
IN Itself, is faulty and untenable from the
facility with which it can be turned. 1t lies
as it were in the small end of a funnel"
the broader end Of which could. with great
ease, be occupied by the enemy. The heads
directing the operations of the Yankee forces
were well aware of this fact, but foi got that
there were fully as astute heads OH our side.
The minute and able investigations Of Major
Whiting, Chief Engineer to General John
son, has satisfied our leaders of the business
OF these views. 1t was well known that
General SCOTS plan was to turn Harper'S
Ferry by a column from Pennsylvania, under
General Patterson, effect a junction ne ar
Winchester or Strasburg with another col
umn Of McCiel!ands army passing through
Romney, and cut off B~eauregard's and John
sons armies from each other, This pan was
completely foiied, aud the tTeniy c1echma-
ted at their own game, as we shall explain.
On or about Thursday, the 10th ult., Gen.
Johnson having waited at Hasper's Ferry
tOLLS SIOOHd " AldhCG tlC 2 I'm ttISf tildG
re intended to contest that position to the
Last, and learning that they were advancing
on Williamsport and Romney, sent a portion
of his force to Winchester by rail. On Fri
day he continued this movement, sent back
his tent equipage and other heavy baggage,
his SICK, &c, set fire to, and burned the rail
road bridge, and such of the public buildings
as could be burned without endangering pri
vate property, spiked such of the heavy guns
at HarperS Ferry as could not be moved,
and on Saturday moved with his whole army,
marching on foot, in the direction of Win
chester, encamplng about 81 miles South
west OF Charlestown. The enemy. taking
this movement, as it was Intended they
should take 1t, as a retreat, crossed a Brig
ade OF their advance divisions, Commanded
by Gen. Cadwallader, (who Joined their
forces on Saturday or Sunday morning
which was moved forward towards Martins
burg.
On Sunday morning, however, General
johnson changed his line Of march, at right
angles, and moved square towards Martins
burg, encamping at Bunker Hill, on the
Winchester and Martinsbarg turnpike, twelve
miles from Martinsburg, to offer battle there,
or advance and attack If necessary. This
movement placed the enemy in a 'predica-
menf." He had not crossed his whole force.
and if the opposing forces had closed he
must have been beaten in detail. He the e.
= fore acknowledged the corn" turned tail
and retreated, recrossed the river and evacu.
ated the Valley, retiring beyond Hagerstown.
A Lieutenant Colonel and another, ~(nembers
of the 9th Pennsylvania Volunteers were
taken prisoners during this retreat.
E Aday or two after this, Col. Hill, of 10Th
Virginia Regiment, in command of a part OF
the forces vino had ''retreated'' from Har-
per's Ferry, and who had been pushed for
ward towards Rooney, sent forward towards
New Greek, on the P0tamac river, eighteen
miles west of Cumberland, four companies OF
Tennessee and Virginia troops, under Col
Vaughan, of Tennessee, who found the Yam
KEGS posted on the Maryland side of the Pc
tomac.. Our brave fellows, in. the face ofthe
enemy, forded the stream, waist deep, drov,
! them off in the utmost eonfusioa, captured
two pieces Of loaded artillery and a stand {
, %coiors, destroyed the railroad bridge at thal
: point. and returned to Romney, making
J march OF Thirty six miles and gaming a brill
ant victory, within twenty hours.
Oar readers will thus see what Gen. John
sons ~".etreat from Harper's Ferry ha.
done. 1t has thoroughly broken up Gener
: al Scotts paper programme, destroyed hi
whole western. combination, and compelled
him TO remodel his whole plan If our ere
n treats" 90 thus much, we wait with conf
g dence to see what our advances will do. Ii
d the meantime, we beg leave to recall to on
readers recollection the old motto of this ps
per, Nous Verrons.'