The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1864-07-22

| ana De mustered into service fer Bixty
days, Citizans were seen on everv hand
with guns on their shoulders, while the
emyloyes Of the departments and governs
lnent workshops, who had been previous
| ly organized and drilled, turned out, sew
era thousand strong. Three thousand
lconvalescent soldiers were also obtained
from the hospital ard, besides, the vete
ran forces were increasing hourly by fresh
arrivals
| At noon intelligence of the cutting Of
all telegraph and railroad lines between
| Baltimore and Washington came to hand.
Washington became isolated, and 80 re-
manned tor thirty-six hours.
On Tuesday afternoon Pennsylvania
avenue was crowded with troops, march
| ing in all directions, while an incessant
| flood of extras from newspaper offices, an
nouncing that Fort Lincoln, situated on
the Baltimore turnpike, three miles north
east Of the capital had been attacked,
brought M tie excitement to the highest
! pitch during the INVASION
In the meanwhile sk;rmishing con.:nu.
ed all Tuesday afternoon along the lines,
without anything new being developed iu
| the enetny's lines; and so Tuesday wore
into night, and, Notwithstanding PUBLISH
ed rumors of advances of the rebel force
on the south side Of tho Potomac, an ap-
parent feeling of security prevailed, for it
was then doubted if the rebels intended
an assault, and # they did, our forces
would prove too much for them The line
was strong as usual, stretching from the
railroad this side of Bladensburg to For,
PENNSYLVANIA two miles from the Poto>
mac. The city now was perfectly isola-
Ted. Many Of the places of business were
closed. and provision prices became fan
cy. Flour rose in price SO per barrel,
and citizens found difficulty in providing
for their families when suddenly ordered
into the ranks
| On Tuesday afternoon no one was al
lowed to 60 to the from. without q pass,
and rumor was glib enough. There was
but little excitement, exc1pi among the
militia. It was understood that all was
in readiness by our forces to attack on
! Wednesday a. m. but dav break came.
and, 10 aud behold, the skirmish line of
pickets had vanished, and the enemy was
gone. Ruined fields, smouldering houses,
and his dead and wounded were all he
had left behind,-a most sickening me,
mento of his visit.
| Cavalry followed in pursuit, and tho
enemy were found to be relreating towards
Frederick. A small body had remained
near Bladensburg, firing at a railroad
train, long after the main line had retreat
! ed.
Thus commenced and thus ended the
rebel invasion of the District Of Columbia
and the investment Of Washington. The
enemy's troops came nearer the city than
ever before, at several points From their
| line the city can be piaiulv seen, and OBJ.
jects of special interest distinguished
while, from the roofs of some of the pub.
lie buildings, skirmishng could be seen
with the aid of common opera glasses.
The rebel headquarters we're at Silver
Springs, in the residence of Francis 7.
Blair This was about the only house
spared from the flames on the 7h street
road. Postmaster General BIair's resi-
dence, adjoining it, was burned. with all
its contents Early and breckenridge
were two days at F. p. Bairs house, and
it was through the influence Of Breckin-
ridge that it did not share the fate of his
sons.
TIE President and Secretary Stanton
showed their anxiety at the situation bv
being present at the wharf where the stea-
mers were unloading troops, and hasten.
ing them to the front; while the former,
in company with Gen Naleck, was At the
front a good deal of the time All three
were in Fort Stevens when several were
| killed near them
Various opinions preva as to The real
intention of the enemy. Many insist that
a feint was made on the city to cover the
retreat of tho larger force towards tho
Potomac, laden with pIunder while 9TH
ers declare that general attack was pre-
medtated, and miscarried.
Our forces are pushing the retreating
| foe, and the city ha, settled down into
qnletness, after en- Dying The mos, tremen-
dous sensation in its history during thi.
war
The railroad and telegraph lines are Be.
ing rapidly put in repair The former
was slightly damaged.
During the most critical period all the
forts were connected with he Department,
by telegraph, the entire force of tbs Amer
lean telegraph office being detailed As
operators. In this way troops could be
centered on any weak part of the limo.
| The country which, week ago, was
blooming with boun,iful harves's is now a
barren waste. The enemy DESTROYED ey-
erything they could, cutting down or
char0s, firing hay stacks, &c. The dss,
truction OF property is very large.
Our eut'le losses during the investments
were between 400 and 500, including =
good many officers
G. TADnD