The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1862-03-07
IEcidrni- Of the Late Advance at uar
pcr's fery.


The pontoou bridge on Wednesday and
Thmadsv, was in continual use, and stool tho
tes' Of tho heaviest butdenP. IL was thrown
actoss tho river about throo hundred wards
above the piers of tho railroid bril, 20 DESTROYED
hy tho robels. Il was about thirty feet In width,
ono-thifd OF a mile In longth, AMI consisted OF
planks placed upon number OF small boats
stationed with thor bows to the current. A
iow temporary disarrangemobts Of the plank.
occurred, but beyond this aud tho drowning of
seve' al horses, the passage ot tho troops was
effected in entire safety. Tho loss N pfopeYty
was confined to the upsetting Of an army wagon
loaded with grain, the occupant makirg his
escape after chilling bath. The bridge was
reached on the Sandy Hook side, by a short ami
steep road, made by digging away n portion Of
the railroad emhiukmcnt. On tha Cnpositt
shoro . sharp accent led 10 the principal street
Vi h. town Of Harpors Ferry. Those % the
int shtants of this place VINO remained (and
~ we're mauy) seemed 10 take but littlo In
.'r's IN the movomeIt, now and then vi lifting
''" liver banks for the qualification Of ordinary
CI in.'ty.
The sc,no a, Sandy IIo k during tho arrival
ct ho iroope, WAS almost i5descrbahla. Tho
{ yight-caIs, for IN those tho soldiers were oblp-
q to travel, were fitted up as welt as circum
: HtCes would permit, win straw and wooden
b ia 3. The Trains followed each other in
q 'itk sutCrA ion, and generally brought com
Iltto regiments, wi h baggage and all the para
phe = ALA. Thee trains oC upied ovety foot Of
the three tracks at the base Of the mountain
opposite llarpor's Ferry extending in leng b
nearly mile toward baltimore.
1ho wind upon Thursday. friday and Satur-
Gay last was exceedingly cold sweeping around
the base of the mountains and down tho valley
Of tho lpper Potomac with great iorco. In the
face oi this, the unloading OF the cars wal con.
Quoted, and the transfer Of heavy hoxes Of cart.
ridges, barrels Oi Hour army stores, otfiCors'
lag. age, and tho countless articles essential for
military use, engaged thousands Of blae.clGt VI
volunteers who had |, und no opportunity for
| repose for twenty four hours and ia many
cases fort eigh. hours. There was not a muf.
mur, however; and tho army wagons, stationed
| A. every nCighbOring spot where mulos could
obtain footing ON the bank above and below
| the railroad track, we're loaded as fast a. pos
| sible, and the dTiyors, with yell aud a crack
| Of the whip, urged the animals down tho steep
roadway which lod 10 the pontoOn bridge.
Crossing thia, they disappeared up the street Of
| the town Of llarper's loffv, now and thon c)m-
! ing into view between the houses, and finally
showing their white tops on a winding road
ascending the mountain beyond the buildings.
At night, hundreds OF fire. burst forth upon
ell sides u the emf 7cnc, at the foo, Of which
Sandy Hook Is situated. They were lighted by
teamsters and voluntoerJ who pNsed and re-
passed before the blaze, ths outlines OF tloir
forms family defined against the dim back
ground II was not remarkably pleasant thus
10 camp without tents, and to doze by the
embers which we're ono moment famed into
life, and the next almost exiting lshed by tho
gusts OF wind.
Roconr distances were made by cavalry com.
paniss, before the infantry reached Charles.
town, but no enemy appeared, and not a shot
was fired. Very few. Of the residents ire
NAMED not more than half dozen malsl be-
ing visible, although women and children
Were more abundant, showing that the enemy
had faith in our willingness 10 protect non
combatants.
Bolivar never was particularly motel for
beauty OF construction o- location. Still lsss
when the inhabitants had left, was Il entitled
70 consideration.
Tho houses were occupied by our sol liers
immet lately u.on their arrival, and alth0u IA
.u mauy cases tie windows AMI doors had bseu
.suOyed, tn Y afforded better protec ION than
o thin canvas teIts. Fires wore kindlsl In
the tireplac's, heaps Of wool gatho cd lrC n
fences and frame structures w3re collected and
In the evening the tl,iOrs wore distri ,utol TO
the mon, who, however tired and hun cry, had
at least roof over their no via and a cheerful
b ple at their feet.
Tho Bal im0ro a Ohio Railroad Company
have now all their foai in uso, eNcop' - miles
between Hancock and Harpors Ferry. Ths
condition Of the road between thote points Is
net known, but it is believed that the rebels
have torn up the cross-tios, a. well as tho iron
rails, and have DESTROYED bridges and aqua.
ducts. The advance Of the right wing OF the
army will once again place the work in the
hands oi its owners.