Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1863-07-16
TELEGRAPHIC NEWS,
ASSOCIATED PRESS D1sPAroHEs.]
LEES ARMY ACROSS THE POTOMAC.
The Infantry Cross at Falling Waters,
and the Artillery at tWiIliamsport.

The Infantry Cross at Falling Waters,
and the Artillery at tWilliamsport.
The Baltimore American Of last evening, has
the following telegraphic dispatch:
WILLIAMsPoRT, July IA teIegraphed to
You from Boonsboro this Tuesday, morning,
that Lees army was retreating, and would
probably escape across the river.
Our army was under orders to move at day
light this morning. 1t moved only to find no
enemy in front of it. l followed .ne advance
down to this place, and a cleaner clearing out
than the rebels have made could not be ina
gined.
The rebels commenced their retreat yester-
day morning. Their infantry crossed princi-
pally upon a pontoon bridge 1T Falling Waters,
and their wagons and artillery at the ford ut
Williamsport. The river is not SO high as re-
ported
The people OF Williamsport say that the
rebels dreaded an attack yesterday from Gene
raj Meade, as part oftheirf force yesterday was
already across the river.
Their iortfcations In front of w Transport
are mere temporary affairs, and. as their line
was long, they would easily have been carried
by assault by our troops We waited Just one
day too long.
There was some artillery firing at Falling
Waters this afternoon, and it is reported on
very good authority that some 1908 rebels have
been captured Yours, &c, Z. +.
Late from the Army.
we learn fIom gentleman who left the
front iaSL nlSl, that Ger Meade, Immediately
ascertainiLg the escape of Lee, put the
whole army IN motion for a new base of opera
tlons, calculated TO check the rebel retreat on
its way to Richmond.
Having the inner line of movement he will
be able to secure all the mountain passes on
The Virginia side of the Potomac before the
enemy can reash it, His army is in fine condi-
uon ana ready to follow rapidly. PontoCns
were across the river last evening and we
have no doubt that his advance is already on
Virginia soil.
We also learn that the delay in attacking the
wa U tn fha n iffnpa
among the corps commanders, to whose views
General Meade yielded in oppos, ton to his own
judgment, sustained by Generals PIeasanton
and Warren. They were all for an Immediate
attack on coming up, before the enemy had
time to intrench
How Lee was Permitted to Escape.
ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, July H-The first
news OF the retreat of Lee and his army into
Virginia was received at Hagerstown, at four
o'clock this morning, from citizen who lived
within their lines
General Fitzpatrick, commanding a cavalry
division AT that point, soon had his men on the
road, and reached Williamsport at seven
O'Clock, where he found five hundred rebel
soldiers.
The news reached General Meade's head
quarters at five O'Clock, when General Bu-
lords division OF cavalry was ordered to Fall
ing Waters, where they engaged and captured
brigade OF rebels under General PetdgreW,
who was killed.
The position of the rebels was naturally a
strong one, but their works were not of much
account, consisting principally OF hurriedly
constructed rife-pits.
After Lee had retreated across the river it
was ascertained that he commenced to move
his artillery TO the rear as early AS yesterday
morning, which was continued during the
whole day, depending almost wholly upon in
1antry and cavalry TO keep our army in check.
General Meade held q council of war on
Saturday md Sunday ryeninss, consisting of
corps commanders, when the q question of attack
was freely discussed. General Meade was in
bnt
corps commanders were divided, he hesitated
to give the order, and so the rebel army was
permitted to make its escape.
An order was issued Oh Monday evening for
a movement along the whole line at seven
o'cloC this morning.
Yesterday afternoon about two thousand of
the Pennsy lvania militia, which had arrived in
the vicinity OF Hagerstown, were taken to the
front, and put into action. They were imme-
diately ordered TO charge the enemy. which
they promptly did, but not without severe loss
Our Cavalry Overtake the Enemy-One
Hundred of them Captured
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE PoTOMAC.
July l5.-Onr cavalry overlook and engaged
the enelny's rear guard this morning, near
Charlesiown, and captured about a hundred
prisoners.
All is quiet tonight.
Our army changed Its position.
Hundreds OF Lees Mem Drowned-He Goes
Rack with Less than Hall his Invading
Army.
BALTIMORE, :! MY ia gentleman who left
Wllliamsport this morning says that not
yestige OF armed rebels are this side of the
Potomac. Hundreds of them were drowned
whilst attempting to swim the river. As soon
as Lee advance reached the Potomac's banks
large numbers of his soldiers threw away
their arms and tried to cross.
1t is estimated that not over forty thousand
rebels OF the ninety thousand that composed
tie invading army got again into Virginia, and
those We're thoroughly demeralized. 1t is now
plainly visible that Lee never designed fighting
again this side of the Potomac. All he did
were mere teints.
The New York riot and resistance to draft
has not the slightest effect here, and by mutual
consent we are perfectly quiet. The firstintI-
nation OF mob resistance would be met with
annihiation.
No Copperheads are permitted to agitate the
question. They are not allowed to show them
selves except III conformity to law. Hnckster-
ing politicians are dispersed, especially such
as the Woods, Vallandighams, DC.