Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1862-09-08

expedition on which they were pe1nS carried OS
their officers.
We learn that intelligence was received yes
teri1av from Harpers Ferry to the effect, that
Colonel Miles had received information that
large Confederate army was moving from " N
chester on to Martins burg, evidently W1th the
intention Of crossing the Potomac at Williams
port, and striking off towards Edagerstown and
thence to Chambersburg. The Confeder ates
IN tho vicinity reDorted that this army was I'M
der the command of General Bragg, who at
last accounts. was in East Tennessee, SAID 60
be on his way to Western Virginia, ana from
thence to Ohio. It is an imposslhllty TOR nm
to have reached the vicinity Of Winchester by
this time, and have no doubt that whatever
MOONS are in that vicinity must be portion OF
the recent army Of Rlchm0nd..
The Federal force at Martinsburg IS under
General White, who recently evacuated VIM
chester, Yesterday his pictets were attacked
bv about four hundred Confederate cavalry,
who were routed with considerable loss. hat
ever Confederate force is approaching IN that
direction, have not yet passed Marbnsburg,
and consequently cannot reach the Potomac at
WilliamsDort before this evening or to-moToW
Should General White be menaced by the mann
BODY he will doubtless fall back either to Har-
Der's Ferry or cross into Maryland at N!ll1ams-
port and dispute the passage OF the river at
that point. =,
There can no longer be any doubt that it IS
Tho nnrDose Of the Confederates to throw their
ontira army across the Potomac, as they have
extended their pickets distance OF twenty
miles on all the roads leading from Frederick
east and west whilst the main column was, at
last accounts moving direct Tor the PennSylYa-
MIA line Pickets are reported on the Natlonal
road within seven miles OF HagerstoWn, a dis
lance of about twenty miles from Fredenck.
There IS every reason to believe that the
main body of the Confederate army will Gross
the Potomac by way Of Martinsburg at VIII
IiamsDort, and that the portion now passing
through Frederick county is merely a lower llne
of Defence From Williamsport their route
will be through HagerstoWn to ChambeTSbur9,
and thence to Harrisburg. Accounts from the
SusQuehanna region represent the greatest eE-
citement to be prevailing along the whole line,
whilst the Unonists at HagerstoWn are fleeing
before the adva cling column, there beng no
1roons IN that vicinity to stay their progress.
r has been intimated that the destination Of
the Confederate army is Harrisburg, though
we do not see how they propose to cross, the
Susoueha,na as few hours work would be
sufficient to destroy the shore spans or al the
hr;dces over the river, where their progress
zyo71Id be impeded. It might, at the present
low stage Of water, be forded at some points by
Infantry but it would be impossible to drag az
tierv over It's rocky bed: and such a force as
will be gathered On the opposite, shore could
make it Almost hazardous undertaking even tor
infantry.
A few days will, however, show something
Of their purpose and destination, and we are
not Without our suspicious that they Will first
destroy or railroads, and then sweep around
Baltimore and Washington depending on their
s1Dcrior fectness to outmarch the Federal ar
nv. which they Will endcavor to lead as far
from Washington as possible in pursuit fthem.
We learn that Bradley johnson IS LETT IN
u command II Frederick as Provost Marstlal.