The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1863-07-21
cur AaMY CORRESPONDENCE.
MARTIksRuRG- Inly 18th. l3l

Beforo this reaches you, It Will have been
announced to your readers and the expectaud
public generally, that the Army of Northern
Virginia ia again on the South eide OF the Po'
tomac. That a recrossing had been determined
on has been apparent for day or two past
The movement began last night, and early ye .
tertay morning found all our wagon trains
the never falling avaat couriers Of the army
safely on the Virginia side. The army finished
the passage of tho river about II o'clock Tues
day pighs. Eweil'a corps fordsd at the upper
ford above Wifiiamsport; the corps Of Gems.
Hill and Longsires! crossed on pontoon bridges
abou. Eve miles below Wiiliamzport, which
has been built to replace those destroyed by
the enemy g cavalry the week preceding at the
same place. Just before tho rear guard ie #
tue opposite bank an affair occurred which
lost t, the Corfsderaey one Of is ablest ana
most gallant otieers-GsDesai Petti2rsw, oi
North Carolina. A body Of the enemy's cav
airy, hoveringaround our rear, and percoiv np
his trgade not in line, dashed boldly in amo ne
them, hoping to create panic. Our N eu
tnrned quickly upon them, scattering them Ii Re
chaff bsio1e the wind, killing, wounding, a 40
capturing nearly ali. Ths prisoners pass sd
through here to-day en- Toute to Richmond -
Cen Pettigrew received mortal wound in
the orset. His Adj5taEt General was also
mortaily wounded in the sams affair, aud dieG
here this morning.
After withdrawing from our position at Get
tysbnrg, almost simuleansoualy with the ems
my. Gen. Lac formed line of battle, our ri ,ht
resting neariv at Hagerstown, our left on the
river, nsar WilliaMspoIt Our line extended
about the distance of eight miies, end'ia this
stu 9tion we remained two days end nights in
iins of batts offering fight and swaiting the
advance of the enemy, for which cur men
were eager, that they might encounter them
on field that furnished, in its Typographical
features eOmeShing Of equality in poeition; but
Meade, evidently too much crippled at Gsttys-
burg, did not dosm it prudent To risk MS
columns in fight under sueh contiious, and
e. close ON ihe heels Of the other. His poi-
tou was about ono aud a hah miles III our
front, which he was daily strengthening by
ntreachnlen.s, q fact " hich, of itself, apeaks
loudly in favor ot ths crippled condition of his
army.
Now that it is patent to ths enemy that the
Confederate army Las returned 10 the south
aide Of the Potomac, there can be no inipso-
pristy in Publishing it to your readers. Bat
of onr present movements it lie imp,udens to
spesk for the present, and I forbear. Savs 10
the Com maDder in Chief aud his LieutpEants,
our destination an designs are really u.i.
known. The whereabouts of the ensny is
equally unknown He has made nd move
me Mt yet which tecds to develop his designs
but rs the goal OF ankee hopes ia the WasI
has i .llsn, il is a reasonable presumption that
Richmond, or the aun.hilation OF the army
that defends it, will oe the next object agaiust
which his resources aEd efforts will bs cons
csntfated. We may expect q vigorous prose-
cu'i,n of the summer campaign-'' sharp at
least, and decisive" perhaps, so far as these
two opposing armies are concerned
x,tcAr. ~
that induced our return to the sell Of Virginia
The 'invasion" has not eqnaied the expecta-
tions IN all respects OF the army AMI tho pab-
lie, but it is certain that we are largely in she
ascendant 30 far SIS additions to our stock of
horses, &C. ia concerned II has been otici ally
calculated that we brought away ten thousand
excellent horses from Maryland and PsnEsyl-
vani.. Besides We nave relieved our commis-
sariat by fora2ing largo army on the enemy q
country for several weeks, and afforded time
to our own farmers to harvest th cir crops Of
wheat and other cereals. Notwithstanding the
gettysburg aif4ir must be viewed as reverse,
OF which will speak more particularly when
| have gathered more details OF that meuOra-
bic affair Gen. Lee was then at liberty to
give or decline battle at his option, and was in
Ihat condition every day our feet pressed the
enemy's soil. L.
are Secessionists-tru sons and daughters of
the Old DJmiui0n-''rative and to the man.
ner born" The activity they have displayed
in our causa, regardless of the ultimate surg
ing Of the tide Of war, hich has severn!
times exposed thsm to the tender mercieg OF
the enemy, adds no. a little to the regret with
which we view the retrograde Of our army.
The beautiful women, particularly, have dis
tmguished themselves by zeal in attention to
our sick and wounded. They have taken
them to their own houses, and Contributed
everything possible to their comfort. Way u
greater proportion of the population of Mar
tinsburg are ''Union" wil bs readily uadsr-
stood from the fact that most OF them hail
originally from the land of wooden nutmsos,
and are attaches Of the Baltimore and Obio
X abroad, which runs through the town. A
mutual amnesty seems TO nave been estab.
llshsd by common consent between the Union
ionists and Sscessionlsts; hence there is little
or none of the elimination aud recri nination
which might naturally Do expected when the
chances OF war throw them within the lines
of either armies.
MARITIME burg is the homo Of the vivacious
and celebrated Miss Belle Boyd, SIS 0baoxious
70 the Yankees rs ehe is enthusiastic In cur
cause. She has sterIninsd ID b:ave the PIE
ssnce of the enemy, now liable TO occupy Mar
tinsbupe 1T any day.
Gen Paul j. Ssmmes, of Georgia, wounded
at Getty s5urg, died here, at the resldence OF
Mr.. Allen, Thursday night, and was consigned
to the grave Sunday morning. He was stiu;k
by a missile in the thigh on Thursday of the
battle. which severed the fsn0rsl artery. He
Immediately applied a tearniqaet, and was
taken TO the hospital. but, At nis earnest en-
treaty nc. to be left tbsrs, was conveyed to
MaIt.nsburg. His condition gave great hope
of recovery to his friends until the following
"Wednesday night, when 4 change was mani
fest He perceived it, and told his attendants
he would not survive. He expressed great SD
icituds about his alb ,ent and Interesting faml-
". TO whom he was intensely devoted, ana dt
rec.ed -, bis sword and Testament be cent
to his ri. ). He aiso EXPIRE ssed his resignstion
TO his Las, aud died as he had often expressed
q wish 10 die In the service OF his country -
Ii was intended to convey his renains TO Co
lumbus, Ga, his place of residence, and tof
this purpose q msiallic case WAS procured Win
considerable difficulty; but rapid dscomposi'
zion compelled burial for the present in the
cemetery here. Gen. Ssmmes wAs - true
knight 40 ever drew q sword, true Christian,
hixh-toned gentleman, and full OF chlvairy'
Endowed with extraordinary talents gnd fond
ness for military life, and an ardent patriot, ne
WIS one Of the frst 10 snter tho lists agains,
the invading enemy, and from Colensley
Fearless Of danger and stranger 70 fear,
he had often rendsred himself conspicuous foI
vallsniry on the most memorable battle .6slds
OF this war Had hs ivsd, his services Rnd
abilities would 10 all probability been recog-
nixed by Hejos 0snsrxfs conmissiou-. ~
his deaiA the CoRledsyacy has sastainsd thS