New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-06-30
INDICATIONS OF A MARCH AT LAST.
Our Troops About to Cross the Potomac
VIRGINIA HORSES OUT OF FODDER.
General JOhnson'S Position and Force.
MORE REBEL WORK At HARpERs FERRY.
HAeERsrows, Nd, Friday Night,


home this morning.
Major Doubleday saw party Of rebel troops cluster
ing around Cage Woods upon high hill opposite
Williamsport, and threw a twentyfouipound shot at
them this afternoon, when they scampered over the
crest at more than double quick" movement.
Orders for the march of the guard consisting
of the Ist Wisconsin 4th Connecticut, aud llth Penn
sylvania Regiments, were issued this afternoon. Nc
Mullins Independent Rangers were also ordered TO
march, From the fact that this corps is the special
body guard of Gen. Patterson is presumed that 10,
too, moves his headquarters souihward.
Lieut. Elder, of Major Doubleday command, leaned
from the party who brought in the nsg Of truce yester-
day. that the vrgnians are forced feed their horses
exclusively upon corn. They have no old hay, and
acknowledged that not only hay but provisions Of all
kinds, were very scarce. They said that everything
in the Valley of Virginia was literally exhausted.
II s believed that our troops will cross the Potomac
partly at Williamsport and partly at sheppards ford
nine miles below. Both are excellent fords II they
cross at the latter point and push rapidly forward they
might succeed in capturing troop of 300 Secession
cavalry. All are nsp,rted at the idea of forward
movement. Their enthusiasm, however, is somewhat
chilled by the fear that they NIGH be marched back
ward ten or fifteen miles, aud obliged to hsls again for
weeks.
Intelligence from Stevenson's Station, where Gen.
JohnsOns headquarters now are, states that the ioree
encamped Immediately about him, at the fullest, 10
5000. He has sixteen pieces OF artillery; OF heee, ax
are rifed twelve-pounders, two y-iourPounden
Of the old kind, two twelsepound howitzers Oh the
old kind, and six twelye-pound bowitzers; Of these
last none are rihed. The troops well drilled, but
not 90 well equipped as ours. They are under very
strict discipline, but dscontented, and are dov'
enly in their habits.
Two regiments, one of Alabamans and the other Of
Mssissippans, reached Harpers Ferry this morning,
aud destroyed the balance Of the tresls work OF he
railroad bridge. They then came over 10 the Maryland
shore sezing all the boats they could lay their hands
on either breaking them up or taking them over tho
river. All the Union men Of Harpers Ferry were
again driven out by them
Alvey the Secession leader arrested here few days
ago. leaves tomorrow for Fort McHsniy via Cham
bersburp His trunk is already packed. He is under
a guard of the McMullin Rangers. Any attempt at
rescue would prove hazardous in the extreme.
Il u inst learned that McMulin's Rangers encamp
tomorrow night at ShepardsowD and that some rser
nents will be thrown forward with them
The Headquarters of Gen. Patterson viii be ad'
vsnced further southwark within day OF tao.
Capt. Newton, of the Engineers, has visited tbe
MARYLAND Nights for the purpose Of selecting the
noipt mon which TO erect battery TO command har'
per's Ferry
WILLIANspoRT, Thursday, June y,
via BALTIMORE, Saturday, June %, 1851.
All is quiet here to-day. Seven regiments have LEFT
this place, and now in camp few miles below, on
the river This morning flag of truce came from the
Confederates toward the river Lent Elder OF Major
Donbledays command, crossed the river to meet the
bearers OF the aae who had come with letter to the
Colonel of the Eighth Pennsylvania Regiment. IL is
understood the letter is from Leut-Col. Bowman Of
said regiment, who was taken prisoner some days
since. The purport of the letter is not known
Col. Lamon is making good progress in raising his
regiment of Virginia volunteers. lie has been much
retarded in his movements, however, by the with.
drawal of the Federal forces from the Virginia side.
From Our Special Correspondent
HAeERsrows, Nd, June 26, 1861.
There are some symptoms of a fight or fOot-race.
The thunder mutere in the distance the cloud il not
seen but the shower approaches just when and where
il will break we know not, ard we are looking Out
with anxious expectation, :.
Our troops are in motion, by REGIMENTS and brgades,
tending in one direction. Last e;gh, Gen. Wynkoops
brigade moved from FGDssiown toward Harper's
Ferry or Shepardssown, just as tue event may decide,
by the way of Sharp-burg, near which village it en-
camped. Several regiments were placed II The same
negbborhood some days ago, after the return oi the
rebels to Harpers Ferry and the destruction Of the
Rifle Works and the Shenandoah Bridge.
What excites surprise however, is the movement OF
the troops from Wilamspor this morning, not across,
but down the Potomac on this side, by eross-road
leading 10 the same point. They haltedat Downsve,
small place nearly midway between WiIliansport
and Sharp's Bend. Except the Philadelphia City
Troop and Capt. Doubledays Battalion Of Artillery
and Infantry forming part Of the let Brigade, Col.
Geo. H. Thomas, I'd U. s. Cavalry, commanding, all
the troops which were at Williamsport marched this
morning. The battery of heavy ordnance mounted
there with 90 much labor large force having been
employed necessarily for several days in preparing the
ground by digging out the side of state hill W form
breastwork and platform, seems TO have
no duty now to perform. 1t protects Willamsport
certainly We supposed it was intended to cover the
troops in crossing the river at this point second me
This object may still be in view, for is not ont Of
striking distance from any position yet taken by our
troops, and little maneuvering to deceive the enemy,
said to be posted in considerable force, at Failing
Waters, only Elk miles of and Martinsburg, twelve
miles from Wismsport, may be the design of the
present disposition Of our troops.
At Shepardstown IL good shallow ford, from
which road leads to Marnsborg, and IL the inten-
ton of the present movement il to enter Virginia and
give battle to the rebels or drive them from their
threatening attitude in Berkeley and Jefferson Coun-
ties, il cn be directed upon them effectively at the
sane time by that route and BY the road from VIII