Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1864-02-11

their guard for a moment, and seemed
constantly sppyehensiye. us well they
might Ne, Of surprise and attack To.
wafl evening all retired to their camp
near town, from whence they left some
time during the 18th, but the main army
of General Imboden remained within less
than days march, for several days un.
molested After these occurrences, it car
easily be credited, that no assistance came
from New Creek until the evening of the
18th, and no adequate defence until the
morning of the 18th. But these came
before General Imboden's orders for their
forces to return here, could be carried out.
Some of our citizens were informed by
wounded prisoners at Martinsburg after
Lees retreat, of General Imboden's rage
at our escape, OF his orders for the i'm
prcssmcnt of all the country wagons and
teams to return for plumber, and he named
as they said the order of their work. LIST
Drugs; I'd. Clothing; Sd. Groceries, and
if none remained Provisions. 1t may
be, that Harness and Col. Imboden were
somewhat influenced by the solicitations
of citizens, and almost certain destruc-
| ton of the city from kindling any fire,
and because disappointed at his men from
above not joining him, unaccountablei to
them for any other cause than their cap
turc, and well knowing that any plumber
and destruction would tend to denoralize
his men. He no doubt waited until next
day for their return, and probably only
heard of their joining Imbedea below, SO
late in the day that with it also came news
of the tardy advance of our men from
New Creek But we feel confident, that
if his men joined him in fulfllmont of the
plan attributed to and believed of them,
most of our city would have been in ruins
before night e-.
And now Mr. Editor, before proceed
ing to Escape No. 2, which is clearly
providential, let us call attention to the
extraordinary movements Of our forces in
this vicinity Immediately afterwards.
This command of FIVE Thousand was
rapidly increased in numbers to 10, 900,
including three fine batteries, and some
1000 cavalry.
After The battle of Gettysburg and
Lees necessary retreat was known here,
this division could easily have been on the
Virginia side of the Potomac, in time to
cut off Lees reserves of ammunition &c,
and to cut up and harass his retreat
Sufficient time was wasted in our vicinity
to have accomplished this, unless We are
egregiously mistaken. But it was SO
managed that they toltoecd after the en-
envy, and after crossing into Virginia,
and getting into the vicinity of the enemy
this large force of 10000 men, fresh and
eager for fight were retrcatcd in the night
to Cherry Run, on most extraordinary
alarm. that they were surrounded.
Is it not an anamaly in warfare that
such body of men, large army in it.
self, pursuing defeated and retreating
enemy, whose sole salvation depended on
their retreat being uninterrupted. should
halt and detach nearly one half of their
available force, to surround and capture
body of ten thousand men, and this too
when they were threatened by an attack
from Gen'l. Meade's pursuing victorious
columns But this is easily credible, when
we became familiar with the mode in
which they have been controlled and
commanded.
My remarks have been sonecessarily pro-
tracted that | must be brief. We know
how little reliance is to be placed in ru-
mors and reports. We can set a true
valuation upon all the victories in this, re-
gion, especially the boosted capture of
Romney.
And now to Escape No. 2. Every
well informed man here knows, that no.
thing saved us, SO far as any can form
reliable opinion, but the merciful frost,
which came from no earthly General, and
which so paralyzcd the forces Of the en-
envy, as to render their further progress
in that raid impossible. We should real
ly like to know any other impeachment adj
equate to the result One thing seems to
be correctly known about our forces at
New Creek-that the local commander
there ordered all the forces into the small
fort, which does not sufficiently protect
the government buildings and stores, and
telegraphed to Cumberland for the Cath
Ole priests to come up there Immediately, 4
which we are informed they did. Now,
with the greatest reverence for the Chris
tian sentiments of any man, it seems to
us a novel mode for raising the courage
of soldiers under an anticipated attack,
to provide the means of making their
deaths comfortable and safe. But now
for Escape No. B. Of this we can only
recount our losses. In raid No. 2 a val
liable train of wagons worth $50, 900,
some five or six containing all tic pecu-
liar ammunition of particular battery,
were taken. In raid No. 3, ninety-odd
wagons, teams &c. We have seen ex-
traordinary official bulletins about all
these humiliating occurrences and from
what is now reputed the last is the most
disgraceful of all. We will refrain from
abiding to what we have heard recently
of this last But how an investigation
can now be avoided into the misfortunes
and failures characteristic of this Depart
ment since the beginning of the war, is
beyond our belief surely, there is great
blame, Ignorance and continued ignorance
somewhere. For the sake Of the great
majority Of innocent confounded with the
guilty. let the latter be ascertained and
punished. ,J
Millions, tens of millions We have seen
squandered in the most lavish and foolish
manner, the only lasting effects of which
seem to be the enriching Of some OF the
greatest enemies the Union had, aud not
withstanding their oaths Of allegiance, we
believe still has--the thing is sure. We
have never seen the true interest of the
Union advanced except negatively in this
quarter.
Thank God our cause is just, and sup
ported by so great a preponderance OF
wealth, power and national spirit, that ii
has prevailed as we knew it must, from
the first alarm of treason, and will soon
be crowned by the most signal and com.