Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-06-17
AFFAIRS AT HARPER,s FrRRy

The correspondent Of the Baltimore American
gives the following insteresting particulars Of
affairs at HaTper's Ferry:
The evacuation Of the town was begun late on
"Wednesday night, when two regiments who had
received orders th afternoon to hold themselves
In readiness, took their departure afoot In the
direction Of Charlestown. Early the succeeding
morning general orders were issued for the entire
force TO prepare for an immediate departure, and
the baggage wagons, which to the number of
about $50, had been collected from among the
farmers Of the surrounding country during the
previous fortnight, were heavily ladened with
army stores, camp equipege, &c. and left about
ten O'Clock Thursday motning, escorted by two
regiments Of infantry. One hour later and the
general movement Of troops was commenced; tents
were struck and were placed with all the remain.
Ing stores and ammunition Ia a large number Of
cars, which had been collected for their transpor.
tation, and were thus conveyed TO Charlestown-
The sick to the amount Of about 100. and rspi-
ment Of infantry, also left the town by the Win
chester Railroad, the remainder pursued their
journey afoot One fall regiment OF Virginians,
numbering II IL estimated about 100 men took
The road to Leesburg, which winds around the
mountain, but whether they continued on their
march thither, or took the route to Charlestown
at its intersection with former road could not be
ascertained. By midnight on Thursday the main
body Of the army numbering II Is variously esti-
mated from Ia to IL 900 men, had left Harper,s
Ferry. The rear guard comprising one regiment
OF Mississippians and the Kentucky regiment, to-
gether with detachmenis from several Virginia
regiments remained behind at the encampns mt
on the heights at Bolivar, apparently much for
the purpose OF superintsnd the werk Of destroy.
Ing the Government property, as VI protecting
the rear Of the army. About noon on Saturday
these troops also retired by way of the Winches-
ter road, and HarPer's Ferry was entirely free Of
The troops were said to be well armed, a large
portion OF them with Mississippi and Tennessee
rlhes, both of VIII cb are adapted to the Of tie
Mimic bullet Previous TO leaving on Thursday
night, about one hundred flint lock muskeis be-
longing TO company from Cha rlestown who had
been supplied with MIME mu,kets the day previ-
Gus, were thrown into the Potomac number
| OF them were recovered by citizens on Saturday
Several Of these which saw, and which had
been sold at the liberal rate Of fifty cents each,
were STAMPED" Iiarper's Ferry, 1897 and seemed
to be In excellent order
| The MARYLAND Heights We're abandoned by the
kentucki"ns on "Wednesday forenoon; person
direct from there, says there is not the slightest
evidence Of the mountain ever having been forti-
| fed With cannon The reports of erection OF
formidable entertainments upon those heights
must therefore have been purposely circulated In
order to mslead the General Government az 10
their actual strength
The only one Of the emnences surrounding the
town upon which seemingly nchments had
Deen erected was projecting rock on the Viz
GINA shore. where battery Of six field pieces had
been placed. A log house was also bnilt on the
| same mountain. and beside being loop-boled for
muskefry, was further strengthened by two ligh.
mountain howtzers All OF these cannon have
A
know when or how their removal was commenced
and conducted
The general health of the troops is said to have
| been good with the exception OF the Alabamians
who suffered much from the measles About fifty
were down at one time with it.
A gent eman direct from Charle stown and who
| reached hire few minutes ago. having ridden
the entire distance, reports that the Confederate
| forces are now encamped upon Shirley's Hill, in
the vicinity Of Charlestown, on which lob
Brown was hung. The spot il stated by him to
! be an ADM rable one for an encampment the sur
| rounding country being almost perfectly-level
plain well wooded and waterGd. As a strategetic
position II Is said to be very important being the
point at which the T Dads from Romney, w Inches
| Ter, Martinsburg, Shepherdstown, Rattletown,
&c alllntescct. The troops seemed to be engaged
! In throwing up entertainments In the direction Of
| Romney, and he expresses the opinion that their
Intention Is to hold that point till driven from It,
1 But little injury appears to have been done to
| the canal. The mass Of rocks thrown into il at
Point OF Rocks will doubtless soon be removed
| and the locks at Harper's Ferry which were cut
away on Thursday morning previous to the firms
| OF the bridge can be restored without difficulty
| Some Injury was done the tow path on the Mary.
land SHORE In the vicinity Of Harper's Ferry but
That also can be easily and speedily repaired The
piers OF the bridges. Point of Rocks and at Der.
IN, which were destroyed by the Confederate
State troops on Sunday last, are nninjured a
most fortunate preservation, and one which will
| render their reconstruction Comparatively easy