New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-08-18

!
son-Immcn.e Destruction Of Bridges,
| Track. and TeIegrnph-Vigoro"s Rc-
construction by the Compnny's Road
Force-Thc Military Guard under Gen.
KclIcy--Importnnce Of the Rond to tho
| Governmcni-It- Grcnt Losses md its
Great Energy.
| Correspondence Of The n Y. Tribune.
| HAEPER's FERRY, Aug. l2, 1863
"The bridges, track, water-statons, &C.,
between Cumberland and Harpcr's Ferry being again
rebuilt the road will be in working order by Monday
next the 10th inst On that day the freight accu
INFLATED at either end the Interruption viii be worked
forward by special arrangement"
! Such is the modest paragraph with which, in con
else and practical General Circular emanang from
the Master of Tansportations office, and addressed to
all agents. conductors cnginemon. road supervisors
and others whom IL may concern famous victory j.
announced, such as might well have been the theme OF
as much Qualification as ever illuminated d" General
order No One,yon 1 propose TO furnish You
with an independent report 81 the campaign-of the
Robe, raids and the Railroad stratogy-the fury Of
the former. and the cool impcrnrbahy of the latter
About the middle Of June last the Rebel chief I'm
bodn Jones aud Jenkins joined forces for vigorous
offensive operations along the line Of the Baltimore and
hAln lAll4tlu, rom 'uUfIltib 10 lid4 i'ii >.
Jones and jenkins were known to be connected with
EEells force. but Imboden. il supposed held an
independent command principally composed Of West
cn Yireinians among whom be was TO tie manor
born and especially popular as the comradc and devoted
adherent II Aslby when Martinsburg was taken
from Gen Tyler by Jenkins. acting for Ewel Imboden
went west fret Of all entering Cumberland and
it was on his return from Cumberland TO the East
,t. l.. 81. irilfr,s aud
screwed and battered down the iron HI pro.
erammc ar vas originally laid down. promised that
the work q destruction should begin in Cumberland
itself where the company boasts imposing archiiec
trra improvement in 'hc shape Of stately yiaduct Of
stone and brick worthy 10 be compared with the aque
ducts Of old Rome and whore also It's extensive sta
iion buildings is engine houses. sc.
All these. during his halfdays stay. Inboden pros.
pecied in due form. with all the skill Of miner, all
the ardor Of guerrilla and shall say all the gen.
crosy Of soldier. for when be that none Of
the railroad buildings could be destroyed vithou, immi
nenily ends gerng private property he dcssted and
retired not ono dollars worth Injured removed.
But le demolished important bridges IN Maryland
the hFs serious assault up that time any of the
Companys property 10 that State except Lees desiruc
tion Of tie Monocacy bridge IN the Antram campaign.
The two bridges thus demolished by lmbodcn were
those which span Eycis Greek and the north branch
II the Potomac In aadton.to these the Patiersons
Greek South Branch Little Cacapon Great Cacapon.
Sleepy Cfccl Back Crccs Pillar and Opequan bridge
we're al most cfrcinay laid low and all incuded
within railroad sirpof ro miles from Cumberland on
the wet 20 the OpcIunn two miles east u Martins
burg hoy Wcr. al 81 superior magnitude and con.
stFuciior thor span ranging from -o 20 Ia feet their
material stone iron and wood. and their aggregate
length sufficiently formidable 81 appl any courage and
rc.olrccs hut those q Baltimore and Ohio road.
master tour'cncd by repeated rHds and inspired by
Government emergencies.
Ills completed the sum Of tie ruin until after the
haie Of Gettysburg and indeed until after Lee had re-
entered Virginia. But on the Monday following that
event Gen johnson Of Georgia with division 81 in
fntry. tore up and burned miles Of rails and
cross ties ffom tie OpeIuan bridge two miles east 10
Wclown. five miles wet of Martinsburg and near
North Mountain II is said this done with the OBJ
feet Of rendering impossible mr Meade TO use tie
road for the occupation If that part Of the country in
the new campaign then about TO be inauguratod. it
was naturally supposed that Martiusburg would be his
base Of operations in relation any movements having
in view the pursuit Of Lee down the valley.
Gen. johnson shipped south thirty miles Of telegraph
wire the property Of the Railroad Company and cut
petey rebuilt for eight miles but he got
gncs. the master Of machinery and supervisors of
trains with their accustomed foresight sharpened by
much sudden experience having in good time run oil all
their rolling stock to safe points east and west II is
noticeable In this connection that since the original
JacLson.Ashby raid of which you published full ac
count soon utter occurrence the Company have lost
no eaupmcut with the exception of the train Point
Of Rocks ON the 10th Of June ast which was running
under strictly military orders. OF that event likewise
the only circumstantal account appeared in Tim
TRIBUNE.
Tie road has been restored again by the Company
own men, under the command of Mr.. John l.. Wilson
their invaluable Muster Of Road supported by his able
and energetic aids Mr. Wm. T.. Porter the west and
Mr. W {. Quincy the east end with their humorous
forcmen bridge builders track layers. and army of
skilled hborers These are the men who after the great
Jackson Ashby raid to which have just referred laid
day tr,e and hl miies n roaabettcr time than
the Rebels made IN destroying it-bcttcr time than was
ever made IN such an enterprise In this or any other
country.
But hs time their forces had been seriously weak.
cncd by the continued Imprisonment at Richmond Of
several superior forcmen and thirty bridge builders al
of whom were captured by Jones and jenkins at Bridge
port on the Clnrksburg branch In May where they
had undertaken the bridges before the enemy
out Of the country. They sti in prison Yet
nll the work that lmbodcn. jenkins and johnson had
cut out for them, the yiyor skill and patience OF VIII
son. Porter and Quincy, finished IN ""'eeT day' ana
nights with no help but moonlight and Sundays
The following from a Baltimore paper presents
clear resume Of the destruction and reparhtlohi
The Rebel. burned blow up twelve large bridges "ir
dow n or burnt t hrst class water stations Ah' u,"s' w
Il If fisir
They stor over 80 miles of the best telegraph "ie ana c
down OO supporting poles They tore up nom Us sou I,a