Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1861-07-03

Perhars there is no moccmcnt Of the South.
urn troops, since the colnmenermcnt uf the
present campaign III Virginia. that has ,iiciied
NOR: discussion tlaH the evacuation Of IIar.
pcr's Ferry bv Zen. 'IolinEon.
The following editorial from the Richmond
L.a3nite; Of Monday, evidently written with
kEcwlsdea 1f the facts. frc:n authoritative
sources gives, We think, highly satisfactory
rca, ons for what appeared 10 Ee rcirogrsde
movement un The part oE Dir t"rceS
"Wc are now at liberty, On the best au-
thority, to make public the true mot yes act,;s
ting General johnson in what the Northern
and scue Of In. Southern papers have called
the Evacuation Of Harpcrs Ferry The
general, like other military rien of c.lucation
had long known that sItrrrrs Ferry, ia il.
<elf, is !iaul,l!: and un;eHablc from the facili
ty with whic! it can be turned. 1t lies as it
were in the small end Of funnel; the
broader end Of which could with great ease
be occupied by the enemy. The leads d.
recting the operations Of the Yankee forces
were we'll aware Of this fact. but forgot that
there were fully as astne heads on our silr !.
Tue minute and able Investigations Of Major
Whiting, chief engineer to General Johnson,
had satisfied our leaders Of the iislMcss Of
these views. It was we'll known that Gcner.
/ al Scott's plan was 10 turn Harper's Ferry
by 81 column from Pennsylvania, under Gen.
Patterson, effect Junction near Winchester
or Strashurg with another column of McClel.
lan's srmy passing through Romney, and cut
of Beauregarls and Jphnson's armies from
zach other. This plan was completely foileh,
and The enemy checkniated at !leir OWL game,
as we shall explain.
On or ah"n! Thnrslay, the 10Th inst,
General Johnson, having waited ut iIarpcr's
Ferry long enough to make the enemy believe
that lie intended to contest tEat position to
the last. and learning that they were advar-
cling on Williamsport and Romney: sent a
portion If his force 10 Winchester by rail.
On Friday he continued his movement, sent
back his tent equipage and other heavy bag
gage, his sick, &C., set fire to, and burned the
railroad bridge, and such Of the public build
ines as could be burned without endangering
private property, spiked such Of the heavy
! guns at Harpcr's Ferry as could not be re.
moved, and on Saturday moved, with his
whole army, marching on foot, in the direc-
ton of Winchester, encampng about three
and a quarter miles southwest Of Charles.
town. The enemy, taking this movement,
as it was intended they should take it, as a
retreat, crossed brigade OF their advance
division, commanded by Gen. Cadwallader,
(who joined their forces on Saturday morning. J
which vas moved forwards Martinsburg.
On Sunday morning, however, General
johnson changed his line Of march at right
angles, and moved square toward Martins
burg, encampins at Bunker Hill, on the Win.
chester and Martinsburg turnpike, twelve
miles from Martinsburg, 10 offer battle there,
or advance and attack if necessary. This
movement placed the enemy in "predicn-
ment.n He had not crossed his whole force,
and if the opposing forces had closed he must
have been beaten in detail. Ho therefore
aackroYlsdged lhs corn" turned tail and re.