Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1861-07-04
From the richmond fva.) Dispatch.
Exaeuation OF HaI per's Ferry.

Evacuation
We stated at the time of the reported evacuation oil
Harpers Ferry that there were undoubtedly military
reasons for it, which, if made public, would be entirely
satisfactory The following from the Richmond En-
uuirer of yesterday which have reason to know is
entirely accurate, fully sustains that OPINION
"THE RETREAT FROM, AND THE RE-OCCUPATIoN OF
n ARPERs FERRY-We are now at liberty, on the btst
authority to make public the true motives actuatng
Gen johnson in what the Northern and some OF the
Southern papers have called the Evacuation OF Har
per's Ferry" The General like other military men o.
education had long known that Harper's Ferry an At
self is faulty and untenable from the facility with which
it can be turned 1t lies, it were, the small end
a funnel the broader end of which could with great
ease be occupied by the enemy The heads directing
the operations of the Yankee forces were well aware
this fact but forgot that there were fully as astue heads
on our side The minute and able Investigations o
Major Whiting, Chief Engineer to Gen. johnson, hac
satisfied our leaders of the business Of these views
was well known that Gen. SCOTS plan was to turf
Harper's Ferry by column from PENNSYLVANIA, under
Gen. Patterson, effect junction near Winchester OF
Strasburg with another column of McClellan's army
passing through Romney, and cut off Beauregards ano
Jobnsons armies from each other. This plan was com
petely foed and the enemy checkmated at their owl
game, as we shall explain.
On or about Thursday the 10th inst, Gen. j Ohm
son having waited at Harper's Ferry long enough tC
make the enemy believe that he intended to contest that
position to the last and learning that they were advanc
ing on Wamsport and Romney sent portion OF his
force to Winchester by rail. On Friday he continued
this movement, sent back his tent equpage and Other
heavy baggage his sick, &c. &C., set fire to and burn
ed the railroad bridge and such of the public buildings
as could be burned without endangerng private prop
ery spiked such Of the heavy guns at Hapers Ferry
as could not be removed, and Saturday moved witt
his whole army, marching on foot, in the direction
Winchester, encamping 3 p miles Southwest OF Charles
town. The enemy, taking this movement, as it was
intended they should take it, retreat, crossed bri
gaIe of their advance division, commanded by Gen
Cadwaader, (who Joined their forces Saturday, o.
Sunday mornng,) which moved forward towards
Martinsburg.
"On Sunday morning, however, General Johnston
changed his line of march, at right angles and moveC
square towards Martnsburg, encampng at Bunker Hill
on the Winchester and harrisburg Turnpike, twelve
miles from Martnsburg to offer battle there advance
attack if necessary. This movement placed the enc
my in predicament. He had not crossed his whole
force and if the opposing forces had closed he must have
been beaten in detail. He therefore acknowledged the
CORR turned tail and retreaod recossed the river
evacuated the Valley retiring beyond Hagerstown. A
Lieut.. Colonel and another (member OF the 9Th Penn
syVana Vo!unteers were taken prisoners during this
retreat.
"a day or two after this, Col Hil 18th Virginia
Regiment, in command of part of the forces who h2C
retreated from Harper's Ferry, and who had beer
pushed forward towards R0mney, readers have
learned from Saturdays edition, sent forward to
wards New Creek on the Potomac river eighteen miles
west of Cumberland four companies of Tennessee anC
Virginia troops under Gel Vaughan, of Tennessee
who found the Y ankees posted the Maryland side Of
the Potomac. Our brave fellows, in the face Of the
enemy, forded the stream waist deep drove them eff in
the utmost confusion captured two pieces of !oaded ar
tlery and a stand of coors destroyed the railroad
bridge at that point and returned to RomDey, max
ing the march OF thirtysiX miles aud gaining brilliant
victory within twenty hours.
"Our readers will thus what Gen. Johnson's re
treat from Harper's Ferry has done It has thorough
y broken up General SCOTS paper programme destroy
ed his Whole western combination and compelled him
to remodel his whole plan. If retreats do thus
much wait with confidence to what our advances
will do In the meantime, we beg leave to recall to our
readers recollection the old motto Of this paper, Nous
PeTrOnS. '"