New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-07-14
THE RAID.
to see.

Alter thlrty-SlX hours OF lnlerruptloli Ielo-
graphic intercourse with Washington is resumed,
and it appears that the railway and telegraph
have been cut by struggling cavalry or guerrilla
force but that the line has not been occupied
| by any considerable body Of the enemy. AS we
write, the information sent us is very meager,
the wires being occupied with official dispatches,
but the rsopening seems to dispel thoroughly oil
notion Of attack upon Washington, or oil Ieen-
forcements to the Rebels by Edwards's Ferry OF
otherwise from the Virginia side OF the Poto-
mac If futher information is received II Will
| be found in the news columns.
The first that was publicly known of q Rebel
raid into Maryland was last Monday week,
when the approach of force toward Martins
burg was announced The head of the Shenan-
doah Valley was then held by Gen. Sigel, who
seems not to have apprehended the possibility
of Rebel advance, and who accepted the
news of it as a signal for retreat upon Harpers
Ferry. 1t does not appear that the Rebels were
at first in any considerable force. They made
various demonstrations, pushing cavalry
across the Potomac at Falling Waters, and
at Shepherdstown, and threatening simulta-
neously an inroad into Pennsylvania and a
movement upon Baltimore. With their ac-
customed audacity, they had shown their heads
OF columns days before the main body was
within supporting distance, and although they
might easily have been driven back in confusion
had they been resolutely met were suffered to
| III Of fha ~ 40
without serious opposition. They occupied both
Hagerstown and Frederick, and did not dec-
sively indicate their line of advance till the
whole Pennsylvania border had retreated in
panic-then turned scornfully toward Baltimore.
| The evidence of what we have stated above
as to the slow arrival of the Rebel columns is
found in the fact that from the time when the
crossing Of the Potomac was aseertained down
fought, nothing was known Of the Rebel move
ments. Their force was simply concentrating.
Gen. Wallace, with what troops he could
gather, went up from Baltimore to Frederick,
and on Friday discovered the presence Of the enc
my in force advancing on the Hagerstown turn
pike. Falling back to the Monocacy as the best
defensive line, he fought battle on Saturday
and was defeated. His force was about 1000;
that OF the enemy at least twice az many. But
his stand had served to develop the number and
something of the intentions of the Rebels-was,
In fact, reconnaissance in force, and as such
successful, and we have seen nothing in the
published accounts Of the battle to explain why
Gen. Wallace was subsequently removed.
After the battle the movements of the Rebels
were rapid and well-direuted. A cavalry force
were sent east TO cut the Northern Central and
Philadelphia and Baltimore Railroads, and did
their work pretty thoroughly, considering the
time and means granted them. They succeeded
in creating the impression that a dash on Wash
ington was contemplated-the supposed dan
ger to Baltimore disappearing whom it became
known that Wallace was not pursued, and that
no infantry force had crossed the Monocacy.
The bridges on the Philadelphia road, being pro-
tected by gunboats. were not seriously injured,
excepting that over Gunpowder Creek, but the
Telegraph was cut, two passenger trains from
Baltimore were captured, and time was gained
for the safe movement of the main body on the
Rockville road toward Washington.
South of Baltimore the Rebels followed the
same tactics. Their columns were massed, and
their cavalry cut the Washington road with
the same purpose and result as they had pre-
viously cut the Philadelphia. From the cessa-
ton OF Geographic and railway communication
sprung the widest rumors Of attack upon
Washington by force estimated to comprise
two.thirds of Lees army. The original invaders
were nearly the whole OF Early's corps, and were
said to have been joined at Edwards's Ferry by
A. p. Hill with more than men enough to make
up the traditional forty thousand which used to
follow at Stonewall Jackson's heels. Tuesday
and Wednesday it was scarcely doubted that
these combined forces had assailed the defenSeS
of the Capital. But news now comes that both
railway and telegraph are restored. and that
near this interrupted line but single Rebel
and he half starved, can be found.
1t seems to have been presumed that this
Rebel demonstration hos occasioned panic
among the civil and military authorities in
Washington. We fail to find any evidence of
il. The raid, was known to Gen. Grant q fcrt-
night since, and its purpose communicated, of
course, 10 the Government. But there has been
no repetition Of the Mcclellan Nc Dowell STRAIT
legy-perhaps because General is now in COM
mand whom il is possible to trust with the
safety Of the capital as well as with operations