, 1861-06-28

Evacuation Of Harp<r's Fs7y-Reaaons There
Jor-Burning Of The Bridge-DeRruction Of
A1morv Buildings, dc.


=
On Thursday Nhe 18th inst) Just as the
troops were in q fair way for the eDjoymen. Of
the Eolday from military duty, consequent
upon the fast day, an order WAS circulated
among the different regiments for Immediate
preparations for march. This Was the first
intlmation we hsd Of Gen. Johnson's purpose
to eracuatc Harper'a Ferry: Instantly the
whole place was In stir. Hundreds Of bag
gage.wagors were laden, burly, big beilied
b1oad.treads were stuffed with provisions and
stores, ammunition Was carefully Deposited In
safe trims. and from every aide there arose the
Swelling strains Of music as the troops took
up the line Of marsh-
The necessity of this step WIS rendered tha
more apparent BY the fact that intelligence
had been received Of the rapid approach Of
Gen. McClellan's division Of the Federal army
toward Winchester. Thus We were to be In.
tercep.ed, and our small force completely
hemmed in By the constantly augmenting
pieces or compelled to surrender, 0ur com.
mander very prudcntly chose to take neither
horn OF the dilemma, but resolved to desert
Ha1per'e Ferry and boldly strike into the val
ley Of Virginia where he could attack the enc.
my. We afe thus to be made the Offensive par
proper report Of our interview with he bus
teriog Hooaiers and Buckeyes.
The Companies Of Captains Desha and
Pope were quickly under arms, and moved
to the armoIy yard, Whero having stacked
tuckiane, under Col Duncan, reported them.
selves at the tamo place, and were subse.
quently removed to Camp Hill, overlook
ing the Ferry. 4 large number Of men
left By railway for Winchester, und otheya,
for lack Of transportation. marched afnt.
During the day there was an indescribable
ecene Of excitement Broadway, In Its palm
lest day, never Witnessed such q 7n a. this
little town. The business houses were closed
| families were attempting to move their ef-
| feCte, and every street and aTsnue wn6 crowd
cd with loaded wagons. Officers were dAshfng
hither and thither, aud soldiers were on the
that It WIS found impossible to transport,
were dumped into The dver. There was a
| general rosh By the boys for sugar and bread.
It w1e, indeed, In more sense than one, . fast
Day: In tho first plnce, We had no regular
meal, deyery increment was msde 1t the
most accelerated rate Of speed.
During the afternoon, the pickets OF the
enemy Werc distinctly observable on the Mary.
| land. Heights, and Capt Desha and Lieut.,
Rogers took crack st them with their rifle
which caused the tories to disappear rather
suddenly.
Juet after dark, Capt Desha's company VIA
ordered to accompany Msj. Whiting. the Chiel
| Engineer, 1cru8s the Potomac, and rnske pro
psIation for blowing up the bridge. This Waa
IN undertaking Of no inconsiderab1e hazard.
l. The enemy W33 K00Wn 10 Do In Tue immeU1 ate
yic;Lity, and 1t wss thought not unlikely tha.
they might attempt to force apassage Of the
bridge. I hare slept In many plsces, and uu,
der many disadvantages, 6ut never before
above foanIng, turbulent river, and tuss
above terrible mine that IN an Instant could
flash the structure into amytiad Of fragmsnts.
The night, however, passed quietly, and u
The early gray OF the morning we were visited
By Major Whiting. Theimmense bridge, over
thrce quarters Of . mile In length, WAS thor
oughly saturated, the torch III, and Just as We
structure VIA hurled into mid air, falling =
ehspeless mass Of ruins into the rapid stream:
The burning debris, With tho clouds Of lnztd
fame, presented picture worthy ~ artists
study. in an hour Of two the rnasetvo aud e1
tensive almoH buildings ware fgntted. AND tas
terrific and impressive character. In ordsr to