Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-08-21
DETAILS OF THE EVACUATION OF
- HARRlSUN'S LANDING.

DETAILS OF THE EVACUATION or
HAKRlSON'S LANDING.
Abandonment Of Dssslute Plain-Ns Opps.
sitisn frsm the Rebels-our Success Nest
Complete.
HtERIsos's LANDING, Aug. ie.--Harrisen's
Landing 10 evacuated. without q struggle,
without a blow, without even the loss Of a single
man, the immense Army Of the Potomac, ofAcefs
snd Ven, osg and baggage, stores, tent., horses,
from Harrisons Landing, leaving ita deserted
and desolate plain. r-
For several day. this important movement has
been going on. Ten days ago, when on the way
from Fortress Monroe to Harrisoa's Landing, In
the mafi-boat John A. W arner, / was convinced
thst The evacuation had already commenced,
from The fact that steamer after steamer and
vessel after vessel passed u sailing In the drec-
ton of Fortress Monroe, laden heavily with
herses and stores: All agree that tbs whole affair
had been admirably planned and executed For
wonder everybody did not know everything
that vcst take place before an order was given,
and .or a san greater wonder after an order was
given no one knew the results for IL &c rela ed to
tae movement Of brigade or division, m.n and
Cfacers, colonels, and even generals, specnlated
Is TO the meaning Of the move, such as "What
does I meant @ uo,A Where are we going'" "Is
a. this moment your reporter 10 king the two
former questions az Fortress Monroe, without
being abs to obtain more than supposition. for
have said that this movement had been In
contemplation some time, but the frst inttmation
Of Il took place on Monday last, when McCan's
division recetved orders to strike their tents pro.
vide six days rations, and be ready 10 move at
moments notice.
Ats O'Clock at mig the whole division arrived
al the wharf, and embarked quietly on steamers;
lett the landing some time during the night for
Aqua Creek, az was supposed, via Fortress n on.
roe An order was next day Issued that no more
vessels loaded with supplies should proceed fur
tier than Fortress Monroe; and on Wednesday
ten days ratlons were served TO the army which
was required to be In read ness to move a. an
h0ur's notice. AL the knspsacks Of those who
w ordered to march By land were placed on
board barges and schooners, for the humane pur-
= Of relieving the men Of their weigh and In
cCnbTance during the hot and weary march
Ga the same day General Mcclellan and Colonel
IEI1ils lefs Harrison's Landing for tue nearest
Telegraph station, and communicated with the
War DEPARTMENT as to future movements, return.
ing the following day.
On Thursday the army commenced evacuating
N earnest. All the siege guns were removed
from the 'front.' and safely embarked on Thurs
day and yesterday on board barges and &C hooners
POrter's corps led the Of the overland portion
Of the army on Thursday night. On Friday
morning every tent was struck, and Ia en-, for the
frst time, was IL generally known that the rko!s
amy was about evacuating Harrison's Landing
GA Thursday night fifty sail OF vessels left the
Il f-Fent wharves, loaded with stores, and YES
to-day the remainder Of the stores were placed
Doats and steamers by the contrabands All
tic cavalry til rem4ined before the final de-
F.riure Of the land forces acted as pickea, and
p-acei to protect the baggage trains. The sick
ald wounded who remained at the different
hosp tals were placed board the regular steam.
bc-,S 6elgnging to the Sanitary Commission at
toe Long Wharf, and were the frst to move out
iEto tie stream. Contrabands were shipped on
sC21OneTs, barges, and pontoon- boats, and Il was
an tmusing sight to see the long line of boats
with thsir ebon freight pass ths different steam.
ers ard wharveS, TO take their places amsng the
ct-ers anchored In the stream, or hear the q oues-
tons, answers and Jokes which parsed between
Nnn 4 49, - -
white men and the 6 ya ya'sp Of the black
General Mcclellan, and most Of his STAFF, went
oy land, and Yesterday afternoon Colonel ingalls,
tad Captain Rankin started across the PeninsuIa
on horseback. Captain Sawtelle remained to
drect the operations at the Landing, and great
praise 10 due him for his energetic and inde.
taugoole exeruons and excellent Management
throughout. = %
Ali being now safely embarked on board the
different vessels, Colonel Butler, commandant OF
ne depot gu,rd, called In his sentinels who
were On duty at the different wharves, and EN-.
baked his reg IN .nt on board the North America.
liis eStmeR;, the 9th New ork, have perfsrmed
White House and Harrison's Landing with credit
20 themselves and satisfaetion to the whole army.
And now thsy, too, are all embarked, and the last
steamer has steamed to the center Of the stream,
bosom OF the placid James, waiting for the
cnanging Of the tide, which is the signal Of
The Iaststeamer had padded out In The stream. .
This occurred abou. O'Clock. The moon was
about halffu!l, shedding sufcientlig ght to clearly
distinguish surrounding objects. Up and down
the river, al far the eye could reach, the feet
lay quietly at anchor; the many colored signal
Lights, bright and nickering, looked like fairy
s:arso of various hues, flashing along the whole
line light breeze was blowing up the river,
TipPiiRg the water noisetessiy, each ripple NOV
iEg as with hery life, from the reflection Of the
fires on the banks A sound Of many voices
singing hymn, in the direction Of the negro
bSTses, came floating musically over the water
TO the tune Of "We're bound for the happy land
of Canaan" All else was still az death and a
sat upon the deck Of the steamer looking at the
enchanting scene, thought Of " peace and good
will TO men," rather than Of war and war expe-
ditions
We did not leave until near seven O'Clock m .
when all being In readiness at the change OF the
tide the whole feet moved slowly down the
river. Nothing occurred OF any particular conse-
qIence during 'he voyage -TTi6sss. r
correspondent Of the New York Herald saws:
Jse moyemsht has been going on-or at least an
order to this effect was issued more than week
s2O-and IL In known a . certain fact that Major
General Mcclellan has stoutly protested against
Its policy, aud even went 20 FAR as to repair to
Fortress Monroe, from there TO hold telegraphic
communication with the authorities at w ashlng-
ton, and IL possible % induce them TO alter their
plan OF operations General Mcclellan contends
that, inasmuch an Pope has drawn the largest
portion Of TIE Rebel forces to the Shenandoah
valley, our army conld march into Richmond
within twenty-four hours after receiving orders
70 that effect. --- .s.. ~
EFFECTIVE USE or MoRfARs-The NAVY De-