, 1861-07-02
Rebel Official AccG unit of the EYacua.
t1on Of Harpersg Ferry.

BALTIMORE Wednesday, June ~
TIE injunction Of secrecy being rem owed,
the Richmond Enquirer Of the o4th, gives the
following report Of the evacuation Of Har-
per's Ferry, from which It appears that Gen.
Johnston evacuated the place because it was
untenable, lying, as it we're, In the small end
with great ease be occupied by the enemy.
The Enquirer says:
It was well known that Gen. scott's plan
vas to tutn Harper's Ferry by the column
from Pennsyl lvania under Gen. Patterson, and
burg, with another column Of Gen. McLel.
lan's amy, passing through Romncy, and cut
CT Gen. Beauregard's and Gen. Johuston's 8
armies from each other. This plan WAS com
p1ttely toi1ed. On Thursday, 10th inst, Gen.
Johnston, having waited at Harper's Ferry
be intended to contest that position to the
last, and learning tEat they were advancing
on Williamsport and Romney, sens portion
Of his forces to Winchester By ralL. On
the 18th he continued this movement, sent
back his tent equipage md other heavy bag
gage, his sick, &C, and set fire to and burned
the ra1lIoad bridge, and such public buildings
as could be burned without eadangering pfi-
yate property, spiked such heavy guns At the
Ferry as could not be removed, and, on the
18th, moved, with his whole army marching
on foot, in the direction Of Winchester, en-
camping about three and half miles south
west OF Charlestown. The enemy taking this
movement, as it Was intended they should, as
retreat, crossed brigade Of their sdvance
division, commanded by Gen. Cadwallader,
who Joined their forces on Saturday or sun-
day morning, which was moved forward TO-
wards MartiDshurgh,' on Sunday morning.
On the 18th Gen Johnston changed his line
StF mt rsnf$ vnI
towards MartinsbnTgh, encamping at Bunker
Hill, on the Winchester and Martinsburgh
turnpike, twelve miles from Martinsburgh, to
offer battle there, or to advance or attack, If
necessary. This movement placed the enemy
in predicament. They therefore recroased
beyond HagerstoWn. a lieutenant colonel
and another member Of the Eighth PennsY1-
mia Volunteers, were taken prisoners during
this retreat-BoWmau and Chase. A day or
two after this, Col. Hill, Thirteenth Vir5 5inia
Regiment, In command Of part Of the forces
who had retreated from Harper's Ferry and
who had been pushed forward toward Rom-
ney, sent forward toward New Creek on the
Potomac, eighteen miles west Of cumberland,
four companies Of Tennessee aud Virginia
troops under Col. Vaughan, of Tennessee, who
found the Yankees posted on the MarSl land
side Of the Potomac The Confederates, in
face Of the enemy, forded the stream waist
ucEpt AIufE AAEl4 Ql LII tl1 uAluU1L C0uIu5iDu,
captured two pieces Of loaded artillery and i
stand Of colors, destroyed the railroad bridge
at that place, and returned to Romney, max
irg The march Of thirty-six miles, and gaining
q brilliant victory within twenty hours. About
cne hundred of the Maryland line, two nights
back, made flying visit to the Ferry. Thes
have returned, and report having burned the
rifle works, destroyed Shenandoah Bridge,
tumbled locomotive into the Potomac, and
brought away twenty thousand rifle stocks
and seven Union men as prisoners