Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1861-05-17
1aetAr from Yarper,g Ferry.

,r,,,ssnoudencs of the Alexandria Gazette.
u,RrER's FERRY, May l5.-Yesterday
u,orD;ug is or 20 young ladies reached here
m rbeir way South from Ellicott's Mills
Tbsv had been going to school there and
wore returning home, in the charge OF sever
>, fine looking old gentlemen. A largo crowd
,athered around to feast their eyes upon the
rare banquet of Southern beauty. After gaz-
;nv to their hearts delight, they were regaied
9TH p speech from one of the venerable
n.nas, When he concluded, others spoke.
,n,ono the orators was the youth who had.
= ras said, captured the sword of an otncer
~ q Massachusetts company on the nemoSs-
hIs 18th of April. Such was the morning.
# a day that was not to have so pleasans On
oasniny About O'Clock the drums OF the
;;Yarsnt regiments sounded an alarm. I'm
mpdjatey. iron, every direction were seen SOL
a;srs hnrrying to and fro. In q few minutes
mare the different regiments might be seen
marching in different directions. The news
.ss that tue enemy had beaten the virgin
;aus at Shepherdstown, and were crossing
,he bridge the.e III large Plumbers. 10 that
rnint three regiments were ldereo, the LIST,
ID and 3D. The first regiment under the
..mmand of Col Allan arrived there first,
s.rnmpIshng the distance III miles, in 2
bnnrs and u half. The other regiments
,,o,;,ned here, were ordered to different
,,n;nts in the neishborhoud The battery at
tho hr;dse was manned, and several com
nnnies d Sharpshooters drawn up by it's side
r. assist in IFS defence. In addition to this,
measures were also adopted by means OF
which the bridge was to be blown up, should
the enemy appear IN overwhelming numbers.
Ahout An hour after the sounding of the
alarm. q most terrific hail storm accompa-
MED with thunder and lightning, burst forth
with tremendous fury The stones were as
}srce as bullers and came down IN such num-
hsrS that the troops TN the march were much
bruised and beaten by them. Had al en-
gagemeut been going on near, the NOISE OF
III. muskets and cannon, could scarcely have
been heard, 50 loud and deatening was the
roar Of tha storm The troops never needed
once: but springing through apparent I'M
nsssabs marshes, kept up rapid march IN
defiance Of the elements. that were warning
around them. Upon reaching Shepherds
town it was discovered that no enemy had
bean heard of, and that there was not the
slightest prospect of u fight. After enjoying
the hospitality of the citizens OF Shepherds
town, the first regiment returned on the cars
10 the Ferry.
Reliable information has just been receiv-
ed, that last night 1000 men with 4S hours
provisions and ten cannon had left the Relay
1t twelve o'clnck. for some point III
Virginia. All Geographic communications
eastward Of this place ceased last night
about o'clock.
500 Mississippans reached here last night
500 mure will be here this morning.
They are from all appearances excellent
troops. They are we'll armed and well Of
6cered.
| have Just witnessed the arrival OF some
thirty or forty negroes. They marched IN
single file into the armory and keeping time
to the martial music of one OF the company.
Forty or fifty negroes have just gone
across the Potomac bridge armed with axes
sud picks They marched in single fle,
keepiug time TO an air which one Of the com
panv most eloquently "whiSt!ed." Upon
reaching the Maryland side, their comman-
der gave them some directions which they
were to follow in going up the mountain,
and then he quietly went back across the
bridge. The negroes by no means disturbed
or thrown into confusion by the absence OF
their boss" resumed their march, looking
decidedly the most happy company that
have seen here yet. Yours, &c.