Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-07-28
NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER.
THE LAST REBEL INVASION,

From The Rochester Republican, Democrat q 11y io.
We resign almost our entire editorial space inns Is
morning TO the admirable letter from SIDNEY,
giving a detailed and spicy account OF the sham
siege which the capital has recently enjoyed We
do not doubt that it will be found the fullest
statement of the affairs in that quarter yet pub
lished. 80,
Siege of Washington-Lyc IN a Beleaguersd Cuy-HoiO
-, mere Beaten 6p the Rebels the Game Of Var An
Entertainment in Four Acts
FIRST AcT-sUNDAY.
10 spite Of the exciting reports from Baltimore Harris
burg Frederick Chambersburg and other places it WASH
believed here that the rebel invasion amounted to any
thing more than mere demonstrating raid Mr. Stanton
telegram of Sunday morning nexplcable That there
had been battle, and that Wallace with the force sup
posed to be at his command had been defeated facts
not easy of enson There has been feeling here
as well as pretty generally throughout the country that
Pennsy developed unoyeabie as well as uhoya
traits Of character at the time of the invasion last year
and a. long as the rebels confined themselves to frightening
the border counties of that State many people were a
posed to applaud them The battle with Wallace ahd the
blunt telegram Of Secretary Stanton hereuPon were cal
cu!ated to put face upon affairs feopie were IN
cre6ulous however They refused 10 peie'o luat "avo
had fought serious battle.
WHAT WAS AT FIRST THOUGHT.
wsshjnqton pumed herself on the fact hst she wasn't
and wouldn't be- excited Reading might call for the
acpon Of every between the OF 10 and 49, but
the old score against
and speered at Reading Baltimore might ring her alarm
bells and stae every body with her loud roaring morning
GUNS but Washington remembered the old timed eIcita
bilty Of Baltimore and smiled at the new furore The
whole thing was regarded good joke Bully Tor the
rebs ssd more than who only meant that the
scsrs of bs neiqhbors pas his qualification Ready to
die for YOUR country 2" the salutston at Wilards IN
The evening "Of course" was always the answer,
which, with proper emphasis. was regarded as extremely
pleasant not TO say witty squad Of soldiers passed by
while stood there, OF whom led great lean dog on
whose back he had pair OF well niied saddle me
hour not and the tired dog wanted TO lie down Damn
the rebs Nose" said the old soldier to him; they've
scared the people up here and you must serve your cou
try Just | do, and shlrklng Inc croWd was IN
such good humor that II even laughed hearuy az TINS
ENEw ASPECT AFFAIRS.
Every hour or two came new and wilder telegram
srom Baltimore. The people there seemed half crazy.
without allowance it was necessary to believe that at
least fifty thousand rebels were marching upon the Guy
hvad that the very much, but all there was
ponted toward BALTIMORE At nine o'clock in the evening
the War Department gave u "oaa 'na' ,ho u"uy
the enemy wss upon the direct ad from washington 10
Frederick with the advance at Rockville seventeen or
eighteen miles distant With the advance II hock
yille"-n that mstter for consideration There Wa
then something of force and they meant Washington in
stead of Baltimore Well, Washington didn't know either
fact and therefore would sleep soundy one night at
and had force of two thousand cavalry under the right
kind Of leader they might easily lash into the city be-
fore daylight Of Monday Whether they could get out
again another matter but incontestaby it, and IT, and
i-behnd the thrce-re peated little word lay the guns OF
victory Washington went to bed unconscious OF beth
the fact the whereabouts OF the enemy-wen to bed
with smile the joke of the possibility OF another rebel
invasion.
SECOND AcT-MoNDAY.
Monday morning with camness and sweetness and
the roar OF year ago to the very day, IN
Southern town eprang out Of bed at daybreak to the
roar Of cannon They meant reconnaissance upon our
E.s few she'll thrown into the town. hurried march
= the rife pits the death of soldier and the
nn5in - All dozen, the capture OF few prisoners,
fo hours Of strain attention. aud then inc order Re
turn to camp" What 'u Us srn;n Rot tssu n 1
pared every BODY who heard them for le
the Chronicle that the rebels at least as 80 &c
vile, and might be expected 10 come nearer L..
pared every body who heard them heard OF them for
the early with its sensatioEcrestng report OF
fight just beyond Tenaytownsay eight miles from the
White House To be sure before night we learned that
the fight only skrmsh and very magnificent one
that but the report made food Tor late aud
early dinners may talk the streets and at the hotes
made sudden demand for and ink and paper and pos
tsge stamps made remarkably urgent calls Of business in
Philadelphia and New York made suspension OF work in
of the Offices and Departments made rapid move
meut Of troops rush Of horses and wagons and
persons upon the Avenue made an increase 10 the
ceps Of the street railway company made life and stir
in the War Department and at Gen Augurs headquar-
ters made joy in good many houses OF semiSonthern
Washington.
FIGHTING IN THE AFTERNOON.
Later IN the day there were more extras The news
BOYS seemed crazy with eager excitement They couldn't
make more commotion over the capture OF Richmond.
They were perfectly reckless the matter OF legs and
lungs voice and volume They sold many papers, and
thereby made demand for many morewhich demand ever
grew upon supply Later in the day there rebel
movement upon the Seventh street road" ATTACK upon
Fort Massachusetts, said the extra. Then the rebels
In force7 Yet, somehow most persons persisted in
Qarding the whole thing q supend0us joke. Got your
musket ready2" the word Of every Every
body to the trenches the mock order every hand
Clearly, Washington wouldn't get excited Later 10 the
day we learned that there attack Fort Massa-
chusetts and that all the fighting in that neghborhood
merely picket skrmIsb, in which killed and
half dozen wounded The report made much travel on
Seventh street made hot add crowded street cars made
money for the newsboys made spice OF talk for evening
calls; made fear and trembling IN a lew houses Yet IN
spite of the days work most persisted IN regard
ing the whole thing good Joke. Sheridan bad raldd
Wilson had Taded Kauiz had Taded, Crook bad raidd
Averll had raded Hunter had radedwby shouldn't the
rebels turn the scale and do little rsding their
account True, they reckless and foohardy in
ing in here; but not that proof OF their national
relationship to us2 We hated them rebels and
tamners Of the laws but loved them pucky fellows
who wernt afraid 10 great rks for the prospect of
great gains Horse stealing and general rObbng might be
their game but their sudacy in Knocking at the very
gates Of Washington was admirable
CUTTING OF THE TELEGRAPH.
Wishing to send despatch at noon to New York, we
got for that the wires were cut That's jol
ly" more than mans reply There was some
thing enjoyable being cut of from the North in that
True, there moneyed interests that would suffer