The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-07-08
THE MARYLAND RAID.

EF0W ne Yfmeg.
We publish this morning variety Of reports,
by telegraph and by mail, puportug to supply
some details OF The progress Of the Rebel raid
on the Upper Potomac. The most direc. and
apparently authentic Of these reports repre-
sents the Rebels in considerable force near
Frederick City. Five miles from tha. place
an engagement or skirmish took place ve-.or
tay and late reports represent the 1tebels as
eins within one mile OF the town WI 70 Gene
Wallace is said TO have checked leir pro-
es-tbe sick and the Government stores.
nwhilei having been removed to aysid cap
art from this report, however, the stories
.eyeiYed by telegraph a.c sufficiently conflicting
70 Bewllder any one seeking intelgble intOrma-
non Inc only way Ia which We could expect 70
De furnished with Trustworthy detailed intelligence
L. Tor the moment, closed ag tinst Us. The tele-
graph wires are either cut or m possession Of the
Rebels both east aud west Of Maryland Heights
where General Sigel has posted himself; aud the
opportunity that oiiicrr has Of watching the
enemy movements Is practically lost, 50 far as
enabling the military authorities or the genurl
public TO Judge OF the real nature Of the emer-
genCy.
We assume, however from all that is yet
reported that General Sge holds MARYLAND
Heights without difficulty, and that even if
HuHter Is not already close upon the rear Of the
Rebel raiders, there IS no danger of any disas er
to the force under SigePs command. The posi-
tiOn is one et no common natural strength, and
II would not be worth while for Ewell or Early,
or whoever commands the Rebel army, TO waste
time and strength In assailing it.
From the accounts bcture Us we can form rs
yet, only vague conjecture as to the numer cal
streDgth of the invading army. The more
sober statements place IL at 1880 Caya'ry and in
fantry. The sensational reports fix il &c from
10000 to 10000. The readiest way to bring
these figures to a common sense test is so ask
what the Rebcs-they may be many or few
have been about since Sa urday lastl
All accounts agree that they have been plum
dering indiscriminaeiy at every point they have
touched; that they have shown almost total
disregard of everything like regu ar army disci-
plne, such as even marked their former raids (;
and, beyond all, that they have been seen driving
large herds of horses aud cattle across the river
above and around HagerstoSn, toward the en-
trance Of the Shenandoah Valley
All this certainly goes to prove anything but
the presence OF a large and thoroughly orr ,nized
corps of regulars. Or al lea,t it would seem TO
prove anything but deliberate scheme OF in
vasion, having any higher object than the re-
cruitment Of a used-up cavalry division or two,
and the procurement Of food and clothing for a
few thousand of the starving ragamUttns who
were sent in pursuit of Hunter
At Washington, reports of the rapid advance
of Hunter towards the Rebel rear appear TO be
fully credited On what foundation these reports
rest we find IL utterly impossible to diyiue They
may be thoroughly trustworthy, but We are not
disposed to be sanguine ab Jut it. The chances
seem at the moment not unfavOrable for Eary's
escape whenever he plea>es to 60, with very
considerable amount of plunder, as 1t Is open to
him, we should judge, to take whichever side of
the Blue Ridge may seem most advantageous in
his retreat.