Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1864-07-20
w a r NE w 8 ,
The Invasion and Siege
From the National Republican

From the National Republican.
The rebel invasion of MARYLAND, and
the two days siege of Washington, are
ended, and our forces are in pursuit OF the
retreatlng column. 1t is now thought by
intelligent military gentlemen that the
enemy deliberate purpose was, in addition
to the ''gobbling" of horses, cattle. and
supplies. to penetrate Washington. and
destroy the public property Their plan
was well laid. They threatened Baltimore
ana cut OFT the communications beyond
that city, and produced the greatest DOS.
sIble excitement in that direction. Then
they approached our city, converging three
columns upon our weakest point, the Sew
enth street road If they had succeeded
IN penetrating the entertainments at that
point OF our line, they would have struck
Us terrible blow.
Some are now asserting that the rebels
had on y five or six hundred men in front
Fort Stevens; but that statement is a mon.
strous absurdity. Generals Breckinridoe
and Early were there in person, and in
the charge they made upon our line, and
the sklrmishing that took place at various
times, the 9th Corps lost some $50 men.
and the rebels left in Hon. f. Z. Blair's
house, at Silver Spring, 80 officers and
men, too badly wounded to be removed.
aud IN field hospital. one mile bevond
Dir. Blalrs house. 60 wounded, under the
care OF three Of their surgeons.
These casualties would prove that
heavy force was brought to bear upon that
point, If other evidences were wanting.
But our military authorities have plenty of
proof that strong force prepared to make
an attack upon our city.
Gen. Augur might have been able to
beat back the foe at the outworks. His
activity and his admirable disposition of
troops were equal in any emergency to
save the city from capture, but the appear.
ance of the 9th Corps settled the question
with The rebels.
They doubtless believed that the other
troops OF the Potomac army had come up,
except those with General Rickets, who
were at Baltimore. On Tuesday night
the 9th Corps made themselves felt, and
the next day the retreat was ordered
The migratory army, which has plumed
It's course northward for three successive
summers. has taken its return flight with
out displaying the God given instinct of
awaiting the coming of Boreas Though
short was its sojourn on loyal soil it will
be memora lie episode in the epic Of the
rebellion, and therefore all incidents will
prove acceptable.
When the rebels first entered Frederick,
a number OF citizens of that town waited
upon General Breckenridge, and, after be
ing courteously y received presented the
accomplished commander with luscious
vlands and sparkling wines, which were
certainly recreating to a rebels vision
The avOwed sympathy with the Southern
cause and sentiment came pulsing from
their hearts, that the Confederacy would
and should be triumphant
The war news is not particularly
stirring, the great heat and dry wealth
er preventing operations of magnitude
Considerable cannonading continues
at Petersburg, where all concur that
that city is completely commanded by
our guns. Smiths and Burnside's
troops have had several artillery fights,
as well as skirmishing. Sherman's
near Atlanta have created
much alarm in Georgia among the reb-
els, fears being now entertained that
he will take it. The pirate Florida
has destroyed several vessels off Cape
May.