The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1861-06-21
FROM THE SEAT OF WAR.
Made up in part from the condensed state
ment of tho Salem Gazette.

Made up In part from the condensed state
ment Of the Salem Gazette.
The ABANDONMENT or HARrTR's FERRY.
Friday. says the New York Commercial
Advertiser. has once moro indicated itselfas
the lucky day Of our government. Early ON
that morning the rebels entrcnched on tho
Potomac, ret fire to the bridge crossing that
river ut Shepherdstown, six miles above Har-
per's Ferry. Towards daylight, having To
moved all their forces and stores from tho
Maryland side. they also fred the magnif-
cent railroad bridge which spans the river
at the Ferry; also fully half mile OF trcssel
work on tho Virginia side. the remaining
government buildings. and, II is said, num-
Der Of private houses. They then took up
their limo OF retreat in the direction, II was
supposed, Of Winchester. Such provisions,
&C., as could not be conveyed along werc
destroyed; and, it is reported that nocks Of
buzEirds--the ,ulturcs Of our Southern for
csts-werc lowering over the lately occupied
Notifications.
There is no reason TO doubt the fact, and
its Importance can hardly DO oycrated. IL
is stunning blow TO rebellion, from whosc
effects 1t can only recover by negligence or
rccklessnes on our parts. ltputsa hnal eI-
tinguishcr on the hopes Of secession In Mary
land and Western Virginia. II removes all
danger Of the invasion OF Pennsylvania. IL
separates the insurgcnt armies on this side
Of the Mississippi into two divisions, which
cannot possibly cooperate with each other:
Il gives us position Of remarkable natural
strength though not imprgnabIe.
All speculatioDs rs to the future are neccs-
sarily little more than conjccturcs. IL is
said that Beauregari is to advance towards
Alexandria, and offer hattie to the United
States troops ON Arlington heights-that no
will await an attack Mt Manassas Junction
that he will retreat to Richmond, and from
that point oyerpowcr tho invaders in detail.
before they shall have timo Ia concentrate
their forces, At best We can only exercise
the common privilege Of guessing.
The amount Of property, private and pub
lie, destroyed by the rebels at Harper's Fer
nv, is said to have cost u million OF dollars.
The rebels abandoned Leesburg on Satur-
day. lIarper's Ferry was found 90 he less
strongly fortified than had been reported.-
IUc rCUFlb WIN tU'fV "N"h
Charleston, but their destination is evidently
Manassas Junction. The Union men who
remained at the Ferry expressed their Joy at
its occupation by the Federal troops, in their
own way. Travel over the burned bridge
can be resumed in three OF four days
All the inhabitants at IIarper's Ferry, ex-
ccpt about twenty, had abandoned the town,
expecting there would be great battle
Those that remained were intense Union men,
and declared that having been compelled to
suppress their sentiments 30 long II was
positive relief to curse the rebels, and such
cursing was never heard before.
Different opinions are entertained as To tho
cause Of this sudden evacuation. IL Is raid
that Gen. Bcsurgard pronounced the place
indeiensiblc and liable to be cut OF, and tho
troops starved.