Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-08-18
THE LATE INVASION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

alluded brief To the contents al the Message laid before
| both Houses BY Governor CURTIN complete copy OF
this document having since reached US IN the Harrisburg
papers transfer to columns ms matter OF general
interest much Of it gives history of the late nVa-
sion Of that State The Message is dated on the 9th
instant aud what subou the opening portion OF it
have called you together 10 advance OF your adjourned
seuD the purpose OF taking some action Tor The de-
fence Of the State. =
From The commencement of the present rebellion Penn
syyana has done her whole duty TO the Government.
Lying as her southern counties do IN the immediate vlc-
nifty the border and thus eIpOed to sudden INVASION
resh policy would have led her to retain sufhcen part
OF her military force for her own defence In so dong
me would have failed in her duty to the whole country
Not only would her have been withheld from the field
of general operations but the loans and taxation which
would have become necessary would have, to large
tent diminished the ability OF her people TO comply with
the perunsry demands Of the United States. she would
also hgve necessarily uteriered with and hampered all the
military action Government and made herself to
some extent responsible for any failures and shortcom
ugs that may have occurred In pursuance of the policy
thus deliberately adopted this State has steadily devoted
her men to the general service From The beginning she
has aways been among the frat to respond to the calls OF
the United States lie shown by her history of three
months men, and the corps to the present mo-
msnt Thus faithfully fulfilling all her own obligations
she has right be defended by the national force as
part Of the country. Any other view would be
absurd and unjust She Of not complain when
she suffers by the necessary contingencies OF war.
The reflections that have in TOO many quarters been
made upon people Of the southern counties most
unfounded They were invaded 1862 when Union
army superior any force of the rebels and on which
they had Of right To rely was lying 10 their i'm
mediate vicinity snd north of the Potomac They were
again invaded IN 1868 after ire defeat of the Union forces
under Mroy at Winchester and they have sgan suffered
1864 alter The defeat of the Union forces under Crooke
and Averll How could agricultural people III open
country be expected to rise suddenly aud beat back
hostile forces WHICH had defeated organized veteran
If the Government? 1t of expected that the IN
habtants Of invaded country will do what is in their
power t. resist toe invaders, aud tie facts hereinafter
stated viii show think that the people of those counties
have not failed in this duty.
If Pennsylvania by Of Der geographical position,
has required be defended by the national forces has
only against the emmy. 1t has been
uec6ssary weaken the army the field by sending heavy
d4tachments her cities from being de-
vastated small bands OF rutaus composed of their
inhabitants have her people been disposed to at
the great OF awabdng citizens in any other state
: who have required such protection. Yet when brutal
enemy pursuing defeated body Of Union forces
our border and burns deencrles town. this horrd bar
bnry instead OF firing the hearts of all the people Of our
common country, actually in quarters made the
Of mocks aud jbes at the unfortunate sufferers
thousands Of whom have been rendered houseess and
thesa hearlless acoIs proceed from the very Who
the State authorities oreseeing the danger,
Skiing precautionary rdcued the idea OF there
any daneersneered at the exerons TO prepare for
it, and succeeded to some extent in hwartng their
etol is t. raise forces These themselves morally
responsible Tor the calamity which they chuckc
J, and rub their hands.
II might have been hoped-nay, had right to ex-
pchs the people Of the loyal States engaged in
mon fl IT t. preserve their Government and all that il
dear to freenen would have forgotten least for the
time their wretched oc. esouses and sympsthzed tn
all loyal citizens, wherever resident within the
borders Of county. 1t should be remember
tat the original source OF the present rebellion in
such eaouses encouraged for wicked purposes
puluus politicians The men who Tor any purpose now
continue them ought To be held public
q tm,s-euemes Of Union and peace, and should be
treated Is such. Common feelings common sympathies
are the necessary foundations of free Govern
ment Lam proud to ssy that the people of Pennsylvania
every blow AZ any of her sister States assault
upon themselves and give to them all that hearty good
WILL the expression Of which is sometimes important
under the ctiou OF calamity than material sid
1t is TO refer to the approach Of the rebel
army up the Shenandoah Valley the Sd day Of July last
b. the defeat Of Gen Wallace on the M0hocacy their sp
proach and the threatening of the capital their
destruction of properly and pilsge OF the counties of Ms
yard wing on the border These events have passed into
d history and the responsibilities will be settled by the udg
= msDt Of the people
" at that tue call was made upon Pennsy vana for
volunteers he mustered into he service of the United
Sstes end serve for one hundred days the States Of
Pruns lvana and Maryland and at Washington and its
o vicinity" Notwithstanding the advertisements which
complicated the orders their organization aud muster
'-"nuts enlisted and organized and battalion
81 reg" The regiments were withdrawn from
thu !" State The las. leaving h Gay OF July dsir.d
that at least part If THE force shouu > Tend Aud
service T. the States Of Pennsy vauia and Mar, =.
inside such sppl cation 10 the War Department Az
the proposition cd not meet their appreciation it
iced an the general order changed include the States
: named aud Washington and IT. vicinity
NJ psrt II the rebel army at that time had come within
the STATE. The people Of the border counties
ed and removed their Il OK, aud Chambersburp and
York organized and armed for their own protection
0 Ofcsly informed of the movements OF Federal
armies ard Of not Of the strategy Of their com
mandeTs but il stated in the newspapers that re-
bel army closely pursued after il had crossed the PG
tonne, and retiring up the valley Of the Shenandoah
Repeated successes ~ troops were alec announced
the people Of this State had Just to believe that
quite sufficient Federal force had been thrown forward for
lie protection upon the line Of the Potomac.
On Friday, the 29th Of July the rebel brgades Of John
ston ind NcCausard, conssng Of from $500 to 3 900
mounted men, with TX guDs crossed the Potomac at Clear
Spring ord They commenced crossing at ten O'Clock A
NJ, and msrched directly to Mercersburg There were
about forty five pcketed in that direction under com
mand Of Lieut. Mclean " s. Army and the enemy suc
creted IN cutting the telegraph communication, which
from that point had 10 pass west by way II Bedford
Information could be sent t. Cen Couch by telegraph
who then ut erburg 4 h head Of this column
reached Chambesburg at three O'Clock A. NJ on Salur-
, day, the 30th.
! be rebel brRsdes # Vaughn and Jackson numbering
about three thousand mounted crossed the Potomac
At about the same time at WlamspCrt Part Of
the command advanced H4gerstown-the main body
moved on the road leading from Wlamsport to Green.
cattle AnO her rebel column Of infantry and artillery
crossed the Potomac simultaneously at Sheppardstown
AMI moved towards Lett rsburg Geo Aver, who com.
mandei force reduced to about two Thousand six
drsd at HagerstOwn and being threatened in
front by VaVghn and jackson, his right by NcCauaud
and johnson Who as0 threatened bis rear his left
BY be column which crossed at Sheppsrdsown he there
fore fell back upon Greencastle.
Gen Aver il il understood was under the orders Of
possible 81 the enemys movements on his right and
la bia Gen in bars hurg