Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1864-07-15
INTERESTING PARTICULARSOF THE
REBEL INVASION.


five or Forty thousand Strong-They
have 40 Cannon on the Blair Place.
Rebel sympathizers who, on Monday, were
jubilant in this city with the idea that Wash
ington was soon to be in Confederate posses.
sion, and showed their faith in it, some of them
to the extent Of going out to assist the rebels In
its capture, soc speak of the invasionists as
mere raiding party of some 5000 men, "a sraid-
ing party of 5000 men," indeed, with two major
generals and half dozen brigadier generals y
All the reports received to-day, brought in
by intelligent parties, resident at various points
visited by the rebels, concur in fixing the rebel
force in front OF Washington at not less than
thirty thousand men, leaving out of account
rebel detachments stationed at other points,
for purposes OF observation or sent out for raid
ing purposes.
From Mr.. J. E. Turton, of this city, who
enjoyed superior opportunities for observation,
having been In the hands of the rebels at Sill YER
Spring during their entire stay there, we get
some clear and interesting particulars.
He was filling contract in remodeling the
Montgomery Blair house, which is-or was
perhaps an eighth of a mile from the house
of Francis Z. Blair. About eleven O'Clock
on Monday morning he was surprised by
the appearance OF six rebels, who dropped
down upon him as if from the skies.
They inquired whose house 1t was, and
particularly If it was the house Of Lincoln's
was, the leader of the gang exclaimed to the
others, "This house must 60 upr The house
was locked up, mot being in present use by
Mr.. Blair,) and they proceeded to break open
the doors and despoil 1t, scattering books (of
which they seemed to have an Indifferent opin-
ion) and papers around in every direction, and
carrying OFF whatever they deemed would be
They did the same at the house of Francis p.
Blair, and found there what they deemed an
especial ,priZe, an excellent county map of
1ns map atsss
wards a corps OF Rebel draughtsmen occupy
ing the house OF Thomas Gettings, at the third
toll gate) were busily employed over it making
sketches and copies The main body of the
Rebel forces did not appear in front OF Fort
SteVens, but remained encamped On the Will
son S1a,1 iarm a ,s mile and half beyond
At this point Wilson's farm there were not
less than $500 or 10000 men. Neither did the
~ Csortv niecao ~ ae1d ieEy but parked
and fields Of the Blair farm. This artilIery did
not arrive until about O'Clock Monday altar
noon. The rebels had SO prisoners, taken at
the battle at the Monocacy, at the Wilson farm,
under guard. Mr.. Turton saw and conversed
with the rebel Generals Early, Breckenridge,
Ransom, Gordon and Ramseur. Gen. Gordon
Of troops in Washington and the condition of
the de1ences. Mr.. Turton evaded the questions
by saying he had not been in Washington for
some days.
Breckenridge has grown stout and gray. He
was dressed, like the other rebel generals, in
coarse homespun gray, and had long mus
tache, but no whiskers. The officers did not
let anything fall in Mr.. Turton' presence as to
whether they intended an attack upon Wash
lngton, but the men talked quite freely of what
they would do If they got possession Of Wash
ington. They would not leave one stone upon
another, they said.
The rebels began to leave the vicinity of
Silver Spring about O'Clock Tuesday night,
and at II o'clock they set fire to the house of
Montgomery Blair, as their rear was moving
away. They offered no personal harm to Mr.
TurtOn, but took his change of clor thing, and
on his demonstrating, they said eve can't help
it, you are where you can get plenty, we can't
The rebel artillery brought up the rear as they
moved off