Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-07-21
How Lee RecrOssed the Potomac.
The following details Of the rebel escape
are from the correspondence of the New
York Times;


are from the correspondence of the New
York Times;
ARprY OF THE PoroMAc, Tuesday, July II.
At an early hour this morning it was as
certained beyond doubt that the rebel army
had succeeded in making their escape to
the Virginia side Of the Potomac. It can
not be said that the event was wholly un-
anticipated by our military officers, for it
had been so often reported that Lee was
recrossing, it seemed to be almost fixed
fact that he would do so in spite Of all op-
position. For the past three days citizens
residing within the enemy's lines have
come into our own limits and stated that
the rebels were busily engaged construct
ing bridges at Williamsport, and were
even getting over their artillery and sup
ply train. Yet no immediate action was
taken to prevent their movements. The
fact that the rebels evacuated Hagerstown
on Saturday was sufficient to show that
they intended a retreat, and although they
subsequently sent back small force OF
cavalry to occupy the place, it was anoth-
er evidence that they were preparing to.
cross, but were not quite ready at the time
of the evacuation.
It is now ascertained that all day Sun.
day the rebels we're at work getting over
portions of their artillery. They crossed
at two points-Williamspor and Falling
Waters. At the latter place they had a
pontoon bridge, built partly from two OF.
three old pontoons, which they hauled from
Winchester, and partly from lumber OBJ
tained at Williamsport, and floated down
the stream. The bridge at Falling Waters
was used mostly for crossing the infantry.
Monday was evidently a busy day with
the rebels. From morning till night they
were Juggling at their trains, and when at
lest night came Cd, they slyly slipped over
the river themselves. In order to conceal
their movements they sent ont on Monday
heavy force Of skirmishers to our right,
Just back Of Hagerstown. General Kilpa-
trick, who had command of the cavalry
force on our right, met the rebels with a
sufficient number of men to keep them at
bay, and during the afternoon pushed for
ward, in company with regiment of vet
eran cavalry, two regiments Of militia,
who made two excellent charges upon the
| enemy, causing him to fall back half mile.
| It is mentioned in this affair Of the militia
that the difficulty was not so much how to
get them into fight as how to get them
out. With the exception ofthe skirmish-
ing on the right, no other fighting occurred
along the line on Monday. 1t was noticed
that the rebels had strengthened all their
picket stations, and in every respect were
unusually vigilant.
The first direct information we had OF
the enemy's withdrawal was furnished by
a scout, before day-break. On the pre-
vious night General Meade issued orders TO
his Corps Commanders to advance on the
enemy's works at seven o'clock in the
morning. General Sedgwick, who held
the center was the first to advance, and
found that the rebel intrenohments in his
front we're abandoned. Shortly after the
center and left advanced, and discovered
that the enemy had also left their front
General Fitzpatrick was then ordered Il
forward, and infiict what damage he could
upon the enemy's rear. His column ad-
vaneed three miles, and returned will
some 200 stragglers and deserters, who had
concealed themselves in the woods during
the night Other deserters were picked
up by other commands, making total o
about 500. General Buford, at the head o.
his division of cavalry, passed around t
the left of our line going up the Sharps
burgh pike. He also succeeded in captur
ing a number Of prisoners.
It is stated by deserters and by peopl
living at Williamsport that the enemy hat
very few guns on this side yesterday.
is understood that General Meade intend
ed to make the attack on that day, bu
finally concluded to call his Corps Com
manders together and get their counsel
, 1t appears that two of the Commander
were in favor of commencing the sttael
on Monday, while five we're opposed to il
f Consequently the attack was postponed
and The enemy allowed to escape. Il i
q true, the enemy had formidable position
5 but when we consider that we had nearl
. two men to his one, even supposing he ha
l ready for action his usual amount Of al
5 tillery, no one can doubt that the resul
f would have been in our favor. Why an
l one General should have consented to pos
e pone the attack for single hour an
8 recommend the digging of trenches, unde
t the circumstances, seems strange.
Possibly an order may have emanate
1 from Washington delaying the moVemei
i until reinforcements should have arrived
d 1t has been stated in official circles th'
{, such was the case. To-day the road fro
Z Frederick was covered with troops gOiI
u to the front, but if Meade had waited f
T all of them to reach the line, the attaC
d would not have been made for three da.
e at least. =. -4-s'i. .'-',rrsi-