Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1864-07-20
Special correspondence of the World. J
The Raiders in MARYLAND.
WASHINGTON. D G. JuIy

There is a calm! Yet there is nc
general agreement on the part of the in,
haoltants of the sorely vexed city whether
to laugh or pout.
1T was too good a joke" shout the
merry hundreds, beset during the proxim-
ity OF the raiders with fearful dreams O.
nights and trembling knees by day.
III was too outrageous" declare the
indignant hundreds, who preceived in this
menance of the capitol an insult hard G.
nough, indeed, to bear with patience,
In good sooth, Washington has had a
very narrow escape. This is evident e.
nough now, from facts which have trans
pred since the enemy retired. Their
forces brought into Maryland certainly a
mounted to thirty thousand men. who
gained an advantage at Monocacy which
not only gave them control of the turn
pixies leading thence 10 Baltimore and
washington, but opened all eastern Mary
land to their foragers
ihey dld not wish to pursue Wallace
at the risk Of meeting his forces behind
the defences of Baltimore They prefer
10 seek Washington as the most important
pilze, and one which might be cUmpara-
lively undefended Their mistake was
that they sought it too late Had they
marched immediately down the Rockville
turnpike after winring their victory. and
assaulted the capitol with their main force
IN earnest, their success would not at all
lave been uncertain.
But Hunter and Couch, whom thew
have despised, seeing how little those
commanders seemed to comprehend the
position of affairs, were still in their rear.
and mt to be watched. 1t is now shown
that they held a force of observation in re-
serve between the Monococy and South
mountain, and then. after assigning 70
their cavalry and a force of mounted in
tantry the agreeable task of plunderino the
country, destroying the railroads and tel
egraph lines, frightening Baltimore crazy.
and mtusing a panic-stricken estimate of
their numbers a6ore Washington into the
minds OF the country residents and farmers
10 DC transmitted TO the capitol in due
season-proceeded with the remainder
and greater part of their infantry force TO
threaten this city Their advance Guard
blvouacked at Rockville Sunday night
Oar cavalry met theirs beyond TenualIv-
town Monday morning: their skirrnishers
appeared in Front OF Fort Stevens Mon
day forenoon From that time until
O'Clock, p. m, the WEAKNESS and uncer
talnty OF the rebels themselves prevented
them from entering the city against COM
parailvely weak opposition. After that
hour there were many who would have
wltnessde with a sweet and thankful smile
any attempt which they might have made
TO storm or capture
But their wonderful success-their es-
cape over the Potomac at last Ave.
there's the rub. Behold a spectacle hu-
initiating beyond any Of the sad military |
dramas which have been enacted to our !
dlsfavor since the war began
Scene I.-Alaryland - the Potomac
lnvasion-an army of rebels crossing the |
rver-three Union armies ''disappeared,' I
and disappearing in the western and |
southwestern distance.
Scene Advance OF invaders-lively |
plundering by fankers and attachments
pluiiuer disappearing TO the rear.
Scene 3.-Battle of Monocacy-brave
struggle OF veterans against odds-skedad-
die OF hundred days men-'disorderly''
and jubilee by the rebels
those other Union 'armies'' still a.
loot
Scene General devastation by the
ln'"ders-plunder everywhere-pandemo-
mum IN Baitimore-railroads and tele-
graph lines destroyed-Washington me-
naced-the troops of the Union behind
mountains and Notifications on the edge
d me arena, watching the show
scene o--Grand return march of the
'eoei army over the Potomac, through
open doors, bearing the spoil of its CON
quest
Thus the drama closes.