Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1863-07-22

fch rom Washington, dated on the 10th, says:
tles last accounts from the 'front.' tho two
swsre not oyer ten miles apart Lees army
i psss from HagerstowR to Williamsport and
], eade was moving from Boonsboro on two
i rds Lea Our advance was six miles be-
4 10 ate strongly fortified in and around
Both thu lewer bridges over the !
= -! them, and the fight must soon
A dispatch from Frederick says: =.
Tomorrow, in all probability. will be An event.
ful DAY. Desultory artillery firing and cavalry
reconnossances have continued since last evening
until this afternoon, in order to feel for the posi-
dinghy The fght viii take place. it is believed,
near Fliliamsport l cannot now give the position
Of our forces.
Lee cannot cross the river even if he had the
means and clear way before him he is too hard
pressed BY Meade, and must keep every man on this
side to resist an attack.
A dispatch to the New York Times, says:
The Potomac is yet too high for Lee to attempts
crosfng Of bis infantry. They are trying to shove
apoton Of their force and their wounded across the
Ths rebels have run the greater portion of their
haia into valley near Williamsport, and covered
them by artillery posted on the south side Of the
Potdnac.
Ahspatch to the Ney York Times says:
L4e is massing the remnants of his army on the
old battle field Of Antietam. Prisoners state that
his ammunition is nearly exhausted, and that in
case he is attacked by our forces he will be obliged
70 rely almost exclusively upon the bayonet.
The rebels were drawn up in line Of battle this
morning at q place called Benevold, 81 miles from
Boonsboro', on the road to Hagerstown. From
there they extend towards the Potomac, in the vi
clnity of Bakersville. They are throwing up rife
pits in the vicinity Of Fairplay, and probably will
await our attack. Another desperate battle may
now so disposed that collision may occur almost
aDy hour
The Philadelphia Inquirer, speaking Of the situa-
ton of the two armies, says, edtorially:
We are still assured that another great battle is
Impending. Lee has concentrated his forces about
Hagerstown, thereby commanding the roads which
converge about Williamsport He has . strong
line TO repel an attack, and q convenient one to
cover the transit of his and trains to the south
Side of the river. One of our correspondents says,
however, that Leo is so hard pressed by General
Meade that he cannot cross, even if he had the
means. There is some difference of opinion as to
the locality where the expected collision will Oc-
cur, one Of our correspondents naming Williams
port and ths other suggestins the old ground e q,
Antletam. Some point between the two will
probably be the spot Constant skirmishing is 60
ing on between our cavalry and the troops on Lees
flank.
Where General Meade's army is and what he is
DOING it is not for US to say. They are, however,
at the right place and at just the right work. If
it is found polite to fight another pitched battle,
General Meade will not hesitate to take the risk,
but if he concludes the other hand that it will
be best to cut up Lees army by piece meal he WILL
without doubt take the responsibility of pursuing
that course. In either case heis entitled to and
should receive the popular support
In the meantime the government is supporting
the army of the Potomac in the most prompt and
energetic manner. Every thing in that respect is
moving on just as it should move. The same wise
policy that strengthened General Grant in his great
struggle at Vicksburg, brought to bear in favor of
tho army of the Potomac. Every hour is adding to
the probability THAT Lees lladvised campaign will
terminate in crushing disaster to him, to his army,
and to the rebellion.
Cannonading was heard all along the line during
the day. but no general engagement has taken place.
T. General Lee was at Hagerstown last evening
Generals Early and Ewell were holding the place
with large FORCE and are fortifying the sminences
around the town.
The rebel line extends from a point east of Ha.
gerstown to beyond St. Paul, on. the National
turnpike
The bridges over Antietam creek have all been
destroyed, and the rebels are in position on the
other side, fortifying..
Our cavalry are securing the country and cap
turine rebel wagon trains. Over three hundred
wagons, well loaded, we're captured yesterday by
Captain Boyd. Some have escaped over the Poto
mac, which is still very high.
II is believed that all the bridges over the She
nandoah route to Richmond have been destroyed
by our cavalry forces in Virginia
Nothing is definitely known of the number o.
rebels this side of the Potomac, or Of. the amount
Of ammunition in their possession. But it is gen
orally believed, from the preparations making, thai
they will fight with the utmost desperation before
surrender A general engagement is momentarllJ
expected.
Of course, the Yankee capital held great jubile'
| over the news of the fall of Vicksburg Secretary
Stanton called for "a salute of one hundred guns,
and flags were thrown to the breeze from al th'
government buildings and Offices. At 8 P. NJ .
crowd assembled in front of the National Hotel
and marched up Pennsylvania avenue, headed BY
| the Marine Band, to the Executive Mansion, ant
serensded and enthusiastically cheered the Presi
dent with repeated cheers for Generals Grant
Meade, Resencranz, the armies Of the Union, etc
4 Tie President appeared at the window, amid lou'
cheers, and spoke as follows:
y Fsllep-eitisens-I am very glad indeed to Sc
yda tonight and yet will not say thank you TO
this call, but do most sincerely thank Almght!
God for the occasion on which you have called
ICheerS How long ago Is ltr Elgnty oao year.
since on the Fourth Of July for the first time in tn
history Of the world nation by its representatives
assembled and declared as selfevident truth, tina
! al men are created equal [Oheers] That wa
the birthday of the United States of America Sine
then the Fourth Of July has had several very pecu
liar recognitions The two most distinguished mel
in the framing and support Of the Declaration wer
Thomas Jefferson and John Adams-the one havin
penned it and the other sustained it the most fore
bly, in debate-the only two Of the flfty'five VIII
sustained it being elected President Of the Unite
States Precisely fifty years after they put thei
hands to the paper, it pleased Almighty God to tax
both from this stage Of action. This was indeed
extraoranary and remarkable event in our history
Another President five years after, was called fror
this stage Of existence on the same Gay and mont
Of the year; and now in this last Fourth Of Jul
Just passed, when we have gigantic rebellion I
81 the bottom Of which is an effort to overthrow th
principle thst all men were created equal we hav
the surrender Of the most powerful position an
army on that very day, [cheers. and not only St
but in succession of battles in Pennsylvania mes
hna Through three days, SO rapidly fought th'
they might be- called one grest battle on the Frs
: second and third Of the month Of July and on tt
ourth the coherta Of those who opposed the declar