Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1861-06-21
The Evacuation OF Harper's Eerry-The
Rebels in Eright-Fedsral Troops
Marching Upon Lassburg

R6DSi5 N a 6r4SnC-EeuSTal troops
Marching Upon Leaaburg.
FREDERICK, Friday June Ii. 1861.-After a
thorough examination into the thousand runors
about Harper7s Ferry. we find that word came
to the rebels yesterday that the United States
troops would be in on them and lombard the
town on Thursday night. Preparations were
immediately made for evacuation. Al the pro-
visions and baggage were taken TO the Man
| chester Railroad. Weird was sent here last
night to the Baltimore delegation of the intend
ed evacuation. There were two thousand troops
| on the Maryland side. They crossed over to
HarPer's Ferry last night six hundred of
them were kentuckians.
There were rumors Of their being disafected
and wishing to join the Federal troops, but
they were overpowered by numbers and COM
PEELED to fall in. All the cars were taken up
with baggage, and no soldiers were allowed to
ride. Three car loads Of cotton were thrown
into the river No provisions were wasted ex-
cept fresh meat The soldiers commenced to
march at daylight. The railroad bridge was
fired at four o'clock P. NJ, and all destroyed
but the span on the Virginia side, which was
saved because It's loss would have DESTROYED
the hotel adjoining it. which belongs to a good
secessionist. The abutments and piers remain
good.
At four o'clock P. n, the government build
ings were still burning, and several houses
| The people are trying to save their houses by
keeping the roofs wet. There were about twelve
thousand rebels there, as near as we can tell
large quantity Of fresh meat was left on
the hill, and the buzZards gathering in flocks
All the Union men, within a circuit of many
miles, were robbed Of their horses, wagons,
cattle and slaves. A perfect fam ne was raging
among the troops expecting every minute to be
overtaken by Lincoln : hordes.
The report of men being hung we cannot
find any confirmation Of, and are assured it is
net correct. The men are all poor, and have
families at Martinsburg. They joined the COM
pany at the time of the John Brown excitement,
and are Union men. The rebels of Leesburg
fired the railroad depot and destroyed a num-
Der Of engines and cars, and fed into Virginia
last night.
AT eleven o'clock a. NJ, when our reporter
left, Col Patterson's Philadelphia Regiment,
and several thousand n, Y. and New Hamp-
shire troops, and Capt. Ovens Cavalry and
! Battery, we're advancing on Leesburg, and will
occupy it, without firing a gun, this evening.
! The Union men here are jubilant and bold Gov.
! Hicks Is here, and the general impression is
| that Gen Scott will catch them before thew
reach Richmond. 1t is reported th..t Beaure-
gard visited the Ferry last Wednesday, and
| told Geu Johnston that it must be evacuated.
or they would all be trapped. and then slellcd
| out
The turnpike bridge ever the Shenandoah
was not Yet fired. The railroad bridge is dam
aged more than was 1T first supposed. Trains
can be run up to it, however and troops will
cross in skiffs tomorrow. The bridge will be
rebuilt again in week, and Gen. McClelland
will be brought through in less than ten days
This was a noble piece of work, it being one
thousand feet long, and was built by Engineer
LatrUbe but ten years since, in the most scien-
| tifc manner. 1t has six spans, and cost con-
siderable. The damage to property is not end
ed here, but the Railroad company and the
| United States have suffered further losses OF
valuable works. The body of the tresseling
on which the road was supported from the bridge
to the end of the Government property, about
a mile in extent, is nearly al destroyed, as
well as the upper bridge of one hundred and
twenty feet in length. over the Government
Canal The telegraph station. buildings, and
the other railroad works are also demolished