Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1863-07-15
MAR Red :
THE REBELLION.
The Rebels Reach the Potomac.
A FIGHT NEAR sHARPsBURG ON FRIDAY
Hagerstown Occupied by Meade.
THE POTOMAC VERY HIGH.

Since our last issue, we have the intelligence
Of Lees retreat to the Potomac. After the
battle on Friday night he commenced ret
| rograde movement, passing South along
the east base o. the South Mountain. tow.
ards Hagerstown and WiIiamsport. Genera
Meade Immediately proceeded TO fall back to.
wards Frederick, and from thence advanced
! towards Hagerstown.
| On the 9th, brisk artillery and cavalry
/ fight took place at the old Autietam battle
gronnd.
A fight commenced near Sharpsburg yester
day (Friday) at day beak, aud continued till 6
/ O'Clock in the evening, when Longstreet's di-
vision was thrown into confusion, and our ar
my drove them back, pursuing them tor sew.
eral miles.
The engagement was brought on by Kfpat-
rick, who, finding the rebels on Thursday too
strong, waited for reinforcements of infantry
The battle was fought by only a portion OF orr
army
The rebels fought steadily ar first but wild
ly at last, as ftheir ammunition had expended
Our cavalry and artillery destroyed the pom
IouH 10 the CONSERVATION OF The rene s..
as they were about crossing.
The rebel soldiers express little hope of
crossing the Potomac, and were anxious about
their supplies, not having seen their train TOR
four or five days. They were much disheart-
ened.
July ll.-Yesterday the army began to take
positions, driving back the enrmy's cavalry
to near Funckstown.
Lee is strongly entrenclIeS, and has strong
natural position.
July l2.-To-day our right wing pressed
forward OH the Boonsboro and Hagerstown
pike, and finally entered and occupied Hagers-
town, which We hold tonight. The enemy's
force, which consisted principally of cavalry
and two regiments of infantry, made no de-
teTmined resistance. The enemy fell back
towards Williamsport, and reconnoissances
report that they are throwing up entrench-
meuts within two miles oi Hagerstown- The
positions they now occupy are said to be of
great strategic strength.
A despatch from Grecncastle states that
the Rebels had afterwards e-occupicd Ha-
gcrstown.
\ negro who came into our lines states that
rebels were building fatboats at Williamsport.
with which they expect to effect crossing.
July ia gentleman who left Waynesbo
TO yesterday at noon, furnishes the following
interesting intelligence.
1t is understood that the rebels, in falling
to the line of Conococheague river from An
tietam, encountered the forces OF Gen. Multi
gan, and after several skirmishes In the vicin-
ity of Clear Spring, retired to the eastward.
This accounts no doubt for the occupation of
Hagerstown by General Ewel.
Hagerstown is now held by our forces.
The position of the rebel army is now redu-
ced to a space of six miles by nine, in which
TO manevre. They have no naturally strong
positions left to them, and i; is believed by
persons in official position that they cannot
possibly escape capture or annihiiation.
The report that large number OF rebels
had crossed the Potomac with wagon train,
is believed TO be entirely false, there is
nothing to cross the river with excepting the
rope ferry
A report is current at Washington that the
rebel Gen. Stuart captured on last Friday
night by our cavalry.
1t is reliably reported from Hagerstown,