Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-07-11
@ortester Daily SPY
THE SITUATION IN MARYLAND.
A RAID BY STUART ORIGINATED.

New York, July I0.-A Washington dis
patch to the Tribune says The news from
the upper Potomac is much more cncOur.
aging. 1t is almost certain that Gen. Lee
will be brought to battle on this side of the
river, and under great disadvantage 1t is
ascertained that he has only managed to
cross his wounded and a part of his Penn
sylvania spoils, having, so far as is known,
no bridge, but large number of boats.
Gen. Meade has been too quick for him,
and Lee now has his choice uf fighting with
his whole force or Of losing his artillery and at
least one third Of his army. The two armies
were at last accounts not more than ten miles
apart, Gen. Lees stretching from IIegerStown
to Williamsport, and Gen. Meade's from
BoonsborO upon two roads towards him Our
telegraph is already four miles beyond Boons.
boru, our advance being at that point. Gen
Couch is slo" coming up, but there are other
forces in position enabling them to approach
the flank OF Gen. Lee. Should he manage to
cross the river, as is exceedingly improbable,
it is not to be inferred that lie will escape the
victorious army of the Potomac, which has
ample means Of following him.
special dispatch to the Times, dated
Boonsboro, 9th, says "The rebels were
drawn up in line of battle this morning at A
place called Beneyola, three and Il half miles
from This point, on the road to Hagerstown
From there they extend down toward the Po-
tOnac in the vicinity of Parkersvile From
Il citizen, who was in Williamsport tot ay and
whose statements are trustworthy, [ learn
that the rebels were slowly passing their wag-
ons and wounded over the river They posi-
lively had but two flat boats in use. They are
also bringing well men back, showing their
intention to make further stand, at least I'M
til they can safely cross. They appear to be
in considerable confusion, the men being more
or less insubordnate for lack of something to
eat. They are harrassing the citizens great
ly for provisions, and say they have actually
drawn no ratons for ten days, and have lived
on what they have picked up. They are
throwing up rife pits in the vicinity of Fair
play, and probably will await our attack. If
so another desperate battle may be expected
within two days Our forces are so disposed
now that collision may occur almost any
moment reconnaissance made from this
point to Sharpsburg and the Potomac at
Shepardstown to-day, established the fact that
there Is no enemy in that vicinity, and no
possibility Of the enemy crossing there at any
point below. The river is not tordable, so
the public can rest easy about Maryland
Heights and Harper's Ferry, neither of which
points is worth straw to either torce'
L hV lICI SpCCldl harrisburg ulSDatcl OF
the 9Th states that the present situation of the
contending armies is positively and precisely
as follows: Gen. Lee has the main body OF his
army concentrated at Williamsport, where he
is terrifying Ills position to enable him to resist
an attack from Gen. Meade's army. lie has
toraglng parties thrown out as far as Clear
Spring and Cumberland valley. A descrtcr
came into LoudOn this afternoon and reports
10000 rebels on the south side of the Poto-
mae, under Gen. A. p Hill The report is
not regarded at headquarters. The rebels are
reported short OF forage. Gcn. Meade is
within ten miles OF the rebel army, advancing
leisurely. The final conflict will take place
tomorrow, which will decide the fate vi Lees
army beyond peradventure. 1t may possibly
be delayed to the next day, but cannot be
longer.
An idea may be formed of the severe char
acter of the cavalry engagements from the fact
that since Gen. Fitzpatrick assumed command
Of the division, ten days since, his casualties
have been &c commissioned officers, and 1918
men killed. wounded, and missing.
WASHINGTON, July 9.-FrOm letters recent
~ received here, 1t appears that on Friday
last 1t was ascertaned by General Meade that
Gen. Stuart was preparing to make one OF his
customary raids on our rear, to cut off orr
trains and prevent communication with West
minister, Baltimore, and Washington.
Gen. Gregg, with his cavalry division, was
ordered to advance from our extreme right.
and intercept him. Taking two brigades and
battery, he proceeded to accomplish his
mission, and met Stuart about two miles from
our lines, already on his way to execute his
design Gen. Gregg charged the rebels, and
was at first repulsed. He rallied his men and
charged again, and routed Stuart'S force, who
left their dead and wounded on the field in
their hasty retreat. Among the killed were
two rebel majors. Our loss was from 30 to
40 killed, and ITO wounded. Artillery was
used on both sides.
1t is represented that some Union prisoners
have been placed in charge of Gen. Imboden
and sent up the river to cross, probably ut
Hancock. Early in the morning of the 9th
inst, two gentlemen OF Pleasant Valley, near
Harper's Ferry, arrived at Frederick and re-
ported that the rebels had been busiy en-
gagged in carrying over the river the grain and
other articles left there in the hasty evacua-
ton OF that point a few days ago. The rebels
afterward visited the farm houses in Pleasant
Valley to procure horses and search the
premises of citizens, but on learning that our
troops were approaching, they hastily de-
camped. Two spies have been arrested, but
their execution has been delayed in conse-
quence OF one, negro, having promised to
make important disclosures. Another is now
III one OF our camps, under strict surveillance