Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1864-08-29
to the point at which his command was en-

70 The point at which his command was en-
About Ii o'clock Thursday nightit was first
whispered around on the streets OF TINS town
that the rebels had made their appearance a'
Failing Waters, and the news spfeAa lapioty
About an hour afterwards those Wno . mao Ie.
tired for the night were aroused Dy tue IeeA oi
horses, cows and sheep, which were oelng nuI
riedly driven off the farmers OF ashlHkan
county for safety. The rear was oioagn. W
by a large string Of tour-horse wagons Ioadea
with wheat that had already been tnrasneo'
but which the millers had refused 10 receive,
owing to the anticipated rebel invasion Inc
confusion and excitement occasloneo py tnls
grand skedaddle at the dead hour OF the night
can be better imagined than described.
In the morning, shortly after the merchants
had opened their stores and were ready to
wagon train came dashing up the Sharpsburg
turnpike pen NEIL, and was driven through
the town at rapid rate, taking the road lead
ing to Gettysburg. Post Z uartermaster Wray,
who had his effice on north Potomac street, OF
this town, "pulled stakes and despatched his
trains in the same direction a. that taken by
Ayerills. Rumors now flew thick and fast,
and some ofthe boys who are fond Of the ssske-
daddle excitement" circulated the report that
the rebels had succeeded in crossing the river
at Wtlliamsport, and were marching on
atsly closed, and the Union citizens were to be
seen rushing wildly around with carpet bags
In hand, eager to obtain some means OF con-
Veyance to get out OF town. Omnibuses, stages,
the road to Pennsylvania, all loaded down
with live freight In almost less time than 1t
takes to write this paragraph the town was
left in the possession OF few Union cavalry.
men and several newspaper correspondents.
Upon Gen. Averill reaching Hagerstown he
despatched a courier after his train, which was
oyertaken at Leitersburg and brought back.
This was source OF great encouragement to
the stockholders, and many OF those who left
IN the morning returned in the course OF the
day.
regret to say that part of General Averilrs
command is in bad state of discipline, and the
farmers OF this county complain that they ha We
suffered as much by the depredations Of these
men as by those Of the rebels. Some Of the
officers appear to have no control OF the men,
or If they have they neglect to exercise it. Since
General Averill has been encamped at Sharps-
burg he has been 1ndustriously engaged in
reorPanizing his command, and g. better state
Of affairs can now be looked for. There is no
better fighting material in the Union army than
in General Averill's command, and during the
past six months his men have seen very rough
service, OF which their clothing and worn shoes
bear evidence. They are all now, however,
being furnished with new clothing, remounted
and equipped, and portion OF them have been
supplied with Sharps seven.shooter carbines.
There Is fine opening up this way for sew.
eral military detectives, as there are q number
OF men lurking around in this county who
claim to be Government scouts, but who are in
fact body OF se-thieves. Hardly a night
passes but that our citizens and farmers lose
number OF horses.