The New York herald., 1862-09-14
TIE SITUATION.

AtlE sI4'O A.xloN.
The reports from the war to-day are exciting,
bui ambiguous. Rumors are prevalent that the
rebels have crossed the Potomac, near Martins
burg, under Lee and jackson, while General
i'ongs'reet was intending to cross farther up the
river. The accounts OF their movements, however,
are conflicting and confused. Heavy firing il said
to have been heard at Harper's Ferry
yesterday. indicating a Gght there. Firing was
also heard for four hours in the direction OF Mar.
tinsburg. Va, which is defended by General
White. Nevertheless, the rebel Generals Lee
aud Longstrcet were said to b. still Hagerstown
yesterday. despatch from Harrisburg, dated
yesterday, says that heavy artillery firing was
heard at Groencastle and Chambersburg during
the morning, in the direction Of willismsport. and
tina. our pickets have been driven in to the State
lire.
State troops continue to arrive and leave for
Chambersbnrg AZ fast 40 transportation can be
forwarded.
II must DC said that the retreat of the rebels
across the Potomac is not credited ia Harrisburg,
nor in Philadelphia, as is evident from the fact, as
stated in this city, that the State Treasurer OF
Pennsylvania has arrived here, bringing i'm.
portant archives and much Treasure with him, for
safe keeping and that many Philadelphia capi.
taliss have sent quantities Of specie here also for
the same purpose. The intention Of the rebels in
Maryland and Pennsylvania can as yet form only
amatter Of conjecture.
General Mcclellan entered Frederick, with his
staff. yesterday morning, General Hooker having
taken possession Of it the night previous.
Il is said. that an attack was made by the rebel
General Loring on Harper's Ferry, where General
Dixon Miles was in command, in which the rebels
were repuised with great slaughter. The account
was that Loging had crossed the Potomac at Will
Transport simultaneously with the crossing Of
jackson and Lee at Lcesburg into Maryland. In
stead Of marching towards Hagcrstown, he had
taken the river road by the canal, in the drec.
tinn Of Harper's Ferry. A short distance above
ne attempted to ford the river with a large body
OF cavalry and infantry, and when the river
was covered with troops, General Miles
opened fire upon them with his bat
t.res from Camp Hall, and from the ircsllework
Of the railroad with grape and canister, when the
attempt was abandoned. They had also previously
made an attempt TO storm the batteries on Mary.
land Heights, and were repulsed by masked bate
ries. scattering them and s,rewing the field with
dead.
General Miles, as well as General Julius White,
who is in command at Martinsbnrg, prove them
selves equal to maintain the points committed TO
their charge.
The rebel army in front Of Cincinnati has fallen
back in confusion, az far as Florence, Ky and
the Union reserves, headed by General Wallace
and stan lad returned through the streets OF Gin.
ciunati. with great rejoicing. Their sudden rc.
treat attributed to the fact that General Bragg
instead Of advancing 70 support them, had made a
move on Nashville, while General Buell. was
marching into Kentucky from the same point, TO
take them in the rear.
The particulars Of the late battle at Washington,
North Carolina, with the list of killed and wounded
on our side viii be found in our Newbcrn CORES.
pcndence to-day. The Union troops from North
Carolina behaved with grea, bravery.
We publish to-day the details of the news
brought by The United States steamer Nassschii.
sets, 81 his port, from the biockading squadron
al 81. johns, Fla, St. Simons, Ca, Port Rcysl
and Charleston, S. G. The Massachusetts, had on
board two dcserters from the Tliriy-cighth Georgia
regiment. They had been attached TO Colonel
Lawton's rebel brigade, which was srlendidly
armed and equipped with accoutrcnents and
rifles brought from England in the steamer ringsl.
Tue artillery OF the brigade did not 90 10 Rich
mond previous TO the late battles as they
had more artillery there than was required.
Tue rebel steamer Nashville was loaded with
cotton for Europe, and lay by Genesis Point op
the Ogccchce river, blockadcd. The Fingal is to
be armored with IRON The Savannah river i pro.
tected by batteries at all the commanding posi-.
lions on both sides. The rebels pay grea, atten.
vn 10 the drill Of their artillery. They say that
= have six hundred thousand men under arms
4. Nod condition. General Butler is detested by
v General Mcclellan respected, and General
Sd in fair esteem.