Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1861-07-03
Rebel Official Account of the Evacua.
lion of Harper,s Ferry.


The injunction of secresy being removed. the
Richmond Enquirer of the oath gives the follow
ing report of the evacuation of Harper's Ferry.
from which it appears that General Johnston
evacuated the place because It was untenable
lying, It were, in the small end of funnel the
broader end of which could with great ease be oc-
cupied by the enemy. The Enquirer saws it was
well known that Gen. SCOTS plan was to turn
Harpers Ferry by the column from PENNSYLVANIA.
under Gen. Patterson, and effect junction, near
Winchester or Strasburg, with another column of
Gen. McClelans army, passing through Rom
ney, and cut off Gen. Beauregard's and Gen
JOhnsOns armies from each other This plan
was completely foiled On Thursday, 10th inst,
Gen. Johnston, having waited at Harpers Ferry
long enough to make tine enemy believe that he
intended to contest that position TO the last, and
learning that they were advancing on Williamsport
and Romney sent portion of his force to Winches-
ter by rail. On the l7th he continued this move
ment, sent back his tent equipage and other heavy
baggage, his sick, &c, and set fire to and burnt the
railroad bridge, and such public buildings as could
be burned without endangering private property,
spiked such heavy guns at the Ferry as could not
be removed, and, on the 18TH moved with bis
hole army, marching on foot in the direction of
Winchester, encamping about three and half
miles southwest of Charlestown. The enemy
taking this movement, as it was intended they
should take as a retreat, crossed brigade of
their advance division, commanded by General
Cadwallader, who joined their forces on Saturday
or Sunday morning, which was moved forward
towards Martinsburg on Sunday morning. On
the 18th, General Johnston changed his line of
march at right angles, and moved square towards
Martinsburg, encampng at Bunker Hill, on the
Winchester and Martinsburg turnpike, twelve
miles from Martinsburg, to offer battle there, or
advance or attack, if necessary. This move
ment placed the enemy in predcament; he,
therefore, recrossed the river and evacuated the
valley, retiring beyond Hagerstown. A Lieu
tenant Colonel and another member of the Eighth
Pennsylvania volunteers were taken prisoners du
ring this retreat-Bowman and Chase. A day or
two after this, Col. Hill, Thirteenth Virginia
Regiment, in command of part of the forces who
had retreated from Harper's Ferry and who had
been pushed forward toward Romney, sent for
ward toward New Creek on the Potomac eigh-
teen miles west of Cumberland, four companies of
Tennessee and Virginia troops under Colonel
Vaughan, of Tennessee who found the Yankees
posted on the Maryland side of the Potomac
The Confederates, in face of the enemy, forded
the stream waist deep, drove them off in the ut
most confusion, captured two pieces of loaded
artillery and stand of colors, destroys the rail
road bridge at that place, and returned to Rom
ney, making the march of thirty six miles and
gaining brilliant victory within twenty hours
About three hundred of the Maryland line, two
nights back, made flying visit to the Ferry
They have returned, and report having burned
the rifle works, destroyed Shenandoah bridge
tumbled a locomotive into the Potomac and
brought away twenty thousand rife stocks and
seven Union men as prisoners