The New York herald., 1863-06-27

inc same distance from frtueTick
All the apparent movements OF the rebels IN the
direction Harrisburg and Ptt,burg ients executed
by guerilas
Mr. r. G. Chapman's Letters.
MARYLAND HEGHTs, Nd June 10, 1858.
The Battle OF Martins5urg Vd.-Shelling of he yGdge-
SAFE Wttadya0alo of our Forces from. IartinSttrg ana
North Nou tan-AA Stores and Supplies Removed OF
Destroyed, de-
With the promised return of the rebels to the Shenan
doah valley and the line of the Upper Potomac all outy
ing forces were ordered to concentrate upon certain
points, with view TO making final s,aad Il hard press
ed the fortified position of Maryland Heights opposite
Harpers Ferry, Va. How this accomplished by
troops side of the valley the retreat OF
General Mlroy's forces Winchester VIII exp ain.
Upon the western side the forces gathered al Maftins
burg On the afternoon OF saturday, the 18th tho
One Hundred and sixth New York Voun teers rolOlel
Edward q. James commanding. broke up tder camp at
North Mountain, niue nile west Of Mar insDuTg AID
fell back to the latter place having shipped all govern
ment at North Moanthil safely Harper Ferry.
Colonel F. Smith, OF the One Hundred and Twenty sixth
Ohio Volunteers, commasded the post OF Martinb0rg
On Sunday morning the two regiments already mention
ed with the Sixth virguia battery Captain Maulsby,
and two companies of cavalry, comprised the eutIre
force.
PIcKErs
About half.past ten In the morning pickets The
Winchester road sharply upon by rebel cavalry
but held their posts w,hou. loss. The forces were
Immediately drawn up in position on the farm
Of Hon. C. J. Faulkner, between the Charlestown and
Winchester pixies The enemy pressed our line Of skir-
nshers vigorously, and sharp fire kept up until
our artillery opened whom they fell back and ceased TO
re In this attack rebel cavalry captain captured
and few OF his men shot
DEMAND SURRENDER
Matters now remained quiet until about three p.
Mean nWhile our forces we'd to position the
high hill the side OF the town. and overo king
its approaches From this point the enemy could be
n considerable force moving tho fields be-
tween the Winchester and Charestown pike distance
Of some two miles, About this time flag Of truce
rived from Brisader General jenkins commanding the
rebel forces, demanding the surrender OF the town
within an hour threatening 10 shell the the place n case
his demand refused and requesting that the inhabt
ants might be notified The summons to surrender was
respectfully declined and tho inhabitants notified
the threat Of the rebel eommander Ihey at once com
meDced grand heaira over the neids towards Mary
land We still waited for he cyps. ted bombsrdment,
occasionally seng the enemy NJ long range wherever
Meanwhile orders received b. al hack mediate
ly upon Harpcrs Ferry ntormng OF the delelt OF
General Mroy and OF the overwhelming numbers OF the
enemy. Arrangements were at made to accomplish
this dangerous movement successfully. The colunn OF
retreat was arranged Offices seat draw in the pickes.
and what still remained OF the government storos
fred.
FIRING HEARD.
Tho had just set the pickets were com ng n and
the head VI tho column OF retreat c,mposca T tho one
Hundred and Twenty sixth OHIO -nen, motioa
when sharp, rafting re on the Winchester road arrest
ed attention The rebel cavalry came down the road
full charge, yelling like Wide ts Oar retiring pickes
were driven before them but they gasntv 3y
cavalry, suA the aid II few well directed
shells repulsed With considerable loss. This m,
ment the enemy commenced the b0mbardpent Three
batteries opened 1t once from different ostions shower
ing upon our troops grape, canister shells and railroad
iron With fearful rapidly The air bowling with the
sound Of flying shot and the cxplosoa OF shells Captain
Mausby replied most galnnty, but unable TO silence
% heavy fire. while the ho attached the guns be.
came unmanageab'e, greatly impeding his movements.
ready In motion before the fire opened had left the ed
and the Shepherdstown road. Tie Gao Hun
dred and sixth New YoIk was Immediately drawn up,
and marched steadily down tho hill out Of range with
colors flying and every In his place. Although the
shot Jew every direction above beside and around
them not Injured who stood IN the ranks Ono
had his koapsack Knocked from his hack and many met
with hairbreadth escapes. The auarernastcrs horse
was shot from under him. This is the nrst lime this regi
mout has been under ira
GESEaAL TYIER
BY direction Of Brgader General Tyler who had been
One Hundred and Sixth New York moved on the
Shepherdstown road after the preceding regiment The
right section OF the battery brought of with the
regiment with the loss OF one gun only without Timber
or casson, which overturned in coming down the steep
hill. Unfortunately the remainder OF the battery,
through mistake, to the Wuliamsport road, and,
although brought safely from Martnsburg reported to
have been overtakon and captured near wDliamsport
aud its captain wounded. The cavalry became divided,
tho larger portion going towards Wiiiamsport
The troops were put ra idly motion for Harpers Fer
ry by way Shepherdstown They reached the
midn ng, ording tho river at Shepherdstown, waist
deep. Thence they pushed down the towpnh OF the
canal, rcachlng Harpers Ferry early in the mo ming
Strange TO say no pursuit made, the enemy uushn
the Willamspoft road entirely Their mistake may
be due to our previously announced Intention OF going
upon that road
is said by strasglers who remained near the scene
that shortly after left the rebels charged
position with their usual amount OF yelling but. much to
their chagrin found that the birds had flown. With he
exception OF the battery they got nothing at Martins
burg which Gan prove OF value TO them. Had not re
treat been previously ordered II IL probable that
longer resistance could have been made but with 30
few resist many the result could hardly have been
else than disastrous As ,w we have reason to con.
gratdate ourselves upon an escape which now seems
miracle.
HEADQUARTERS, MARYLAND HKours
OPPOSITE HARPERs FHRRy, June 20, 1883
AnArs In this vicinity have been remarkably quiet for
few days past except that army has been chang
ing base for the better.
TYLER COMMAND
When General Tyler into command, after the
battle of Winchester and Mrtnsburg uncovered to
tho advancing enemy. became apparent that Harper
Ferry would be the place attacked, and Gas well
known that here would be entirely small
divide up defend tho place all points successfully
go making tho best of the necessity and knowing that the
natural dcepces Of the heights would bo equal to at least
twenty Thousand men, General Tyler concluded
Our transit made on Tuesday and wednes day last
Thero Is absolutely nothing that can write you Of
our movements which would not be con,raband,'
out we have nght here I shall have " lots" which
now has to stay unused and unread 10 my note book.
would like tell you II the changes Of division and
brigade offers; but cannot do without exposing
our numerical strength in measure, how
we arc fixed TO receive the compliments
OF JET. Davis friends, and how our boys feel; but
cannot
Last nir hit we were visited by such storm as only
in while the storm king youchsates TO us Ram
hail wind, thunder and lightning came down az though
the clerk OF the weather thought bs would have
another chance getting NJ first class tornado. i
rained from SIX O'Clock Ia the evening until daylight ~
n ali tho vals " heaven opened aud the cork
thrown away. Many Of troops being without tent
or blankets had to make the OF and console them
selves by cursng these who compelled them 10 abandon
those comforts when they skedadded from Winchester
TIg rRAiSs.