Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1864-07-20
WHOLE NUMBER 1922.

The Latest News.
We received by mail on Thursday morning =
large budget Of Richmond and Petersburg papers,
from which We make the following extracts The
Petersburg Espre.s of the 18th July says:
We except the usual picket friug and occasional
mortar shetllng, it may be said with much truth,
that all has been quiet at the front since our last
There has not been as much shelling during the
past day As on the several days preceding and our
people entertain faint hope that Grant has at last
come TO the conclusion, that the army now confront
ing 1t cannot be whipped by endeavoring to fright
en- the women and children who are unable to leave
the city.
Rumors of the enemy's leaving were most indus
trlousy circulated At an early hour yesterday, and
were repeated durig the day. This is very far from
being an ascertained fact After dilisent enquiry
we are satisfied that these rumors have crown ont
OF those g. clouds of dust" about which we have of
iate heard so much. An officer of high position
informed US yesterday, that there were good rea
sons tor believing that the enemy was moving a
portion Of his forces But that ne entertains the
idea OF abandoning entirely the position he now
noids is quite different matter. Grant is most
stubborn, pertinaclous sort of man, and has been
oafhed so often already since the campaign COM
menced that he will scarcely leave where be is now
unless forced to do So Besides, he now finds great
protection in his gun boats-the first time he has
enjoyed such protection since he left the West
we nave positive assurance that Grant has great.
~ contracted his lines. After repeated efforts to
extend bis left flank around to Reams Station, he
has now withdrawn 1t to the east Of the Plank Road,
and several miles nearer to City Point. Probably
ne has abandoned the idea of cumvaating
md Riohpn nd fov< <ho-
| able to command the 100000 men, which it
would require to eGectually accomplish such an
undertaking.
Cannonading was heard yesterday afternoon on
the enemy's left, but it is believed to have been
nothing more than little shellirg of the woods,
which the enemy have lately infested to considera-
BILE extent
We conversed with an acquaintance yesterday
who left Prince George Sunday, but reached Peters
burg much sooner than he expected. so greatly has
the enemys lines been contracted He informs US
that Grants army is stretched frem his lines i'm
mediately to the east of Petersburg down to City
Point. The people without exception have suffered
the loss Of every thing that can contribute to the
support of life."
The Petersburg Express of the 11th says:
We are indebted to our friend, Mr.. Norman
Gregory, of the 18th Va. Regt, for a copy of the
Washington Chronicle of Friday last July 8. The
late hour at which it was received last evening,
coupled with our small force of compostors, pre-.
vent the publication of full details of its news this
morning. Tho paper has two columns on what is
termed the 'Rebel Raid" and expresses the opin.
on that the force now on the north side Of the Po
tomsc is larger than at first supposed. 1t is be-.
lieved to be not far from 80, 900. We append the
following:
Hagerstown under Contribution.
toRaa, just arrived At Greencastle says McGaus
lands command, formerly Jenkins, Is, 900 strong,
and mounted infantry, and one battery, entered Ha
gerstown yesterday, and left at II o'clock by the
Frederick turnpike, where the main body had all
gone.
A requisition was made on the people for fifteen
hundred outfits and twenty thousand dollars, under
threats Of burning the town, which was paid
Harper's Ferry.
BALTIMORE, July Z, 1915, P. M.-The rebels at
Harper's Ferry have destroyed all the railroad
property there, including the telegraph and ticket
Offices They have also burned large qusntity of
forage
Nothing definite is known as to the damage done
to the road beyond Harpers Ferry and Martinsburg,
though it it is believed that its destruction was
of the main objects of the raid and it is to be pre-
sumed that they have accomplished all within their
power.
Intense Excitement.
We learn from York. Harrisburg and the Cum.
berland Valley, tina: the excitement among the peo
pie is more intense than during any previous inva-
| sion Hundreds of men, women and children, have
| passed through York on their way to the Susque-
hanna ard the roads were lined with horses cattle
and wagons, loaded with goods and provisions, be-
| ing driven in the same direction Many have hid
den their stores and cattle in the mountains
The excitement at Chambersburg this morning
on hearing that Hagerstown was occupied, and that
| the ret ell cavalry were advancing on Greencastle,
is represented as most intense.
| Frederick Threatened.
FREDERICK, July THE enemy is now one mile
| from town on the Hagerstown pike All the sick
and government stores have heen removed.
| A Serious Matter.
HARRISBURG, July IA rebel prisoner captured
in skrmish at Hagerstown, states that the pres
ent raid is not only to procure horses, but crops
and provisions that it is headed by Lee and com
posed of Ewells and Longstreets corps, and is an
effort to invade Pennsylvania and other Northern
States.
The capture of Baltimore and Washington are
also aimed at.
While Lee is thus operating against Washington
| CITY, Beauregard has been left in command at Pc
tersburg where he has sufficient force, so our reb
el informant ststes.
A dispatch lust received from Greencastle states
the rebel forces have evacuated Hagerstown, rstir
ing on the road towards Frederick
A Bridge In Flames.
BALTIMORE, July IA telegram from Sandy
Hook to night states: The rebels are again burn
ing property in that place. Large fires are nov
burning.
The bridge on the Shenandoah is also in flames
the contlagaration casting glow Of light over tn
country for miles around
The following is the latest Northern account Q
the condition Of things in Maryland and Pennsyl
l. vana:
The Enemy Repulsed Three Times.
BALTIMORE July THE following particulars ar
gathered from headquarters from information re
ceived there to night:
This afternoon the rebel advance made an eff,r
to gain the bridge over the Monocacy. Gen. Wa
lace, with only small portion Of his force, move