Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-08-25
THE ARMY AT HARPER's FERRY.
HARpER's FERRY, MONDAY, AUGUST % 10

uAhPEhS FERRY, MONDAY, AUGUST ~, 1854.
The army now occupy the heights and on q line
with Hstown follow ng first of the three ranges of
hills comprising the Heights of Bolivar Our line 10 an
exceedingly strong and tits to be hoped the enemy
before by the Sixth Corps but the has been as
signed to the Nineteenth and the left to the Eighth Corps
Our right rests the Potomac and the left reaches to the
banks OF the Shep andoah thus giving complete COM
mand of this key to the valley.
As rides along the entire line of our front he il inn
pressed with the commanding position of these hills and
th,r especial adaptablty defensive purposes Away
IF ia the direction of Chs resown country stretches
out like Panorama and you every house and fed
for miles Charestown itself ia almost at your feet and
the Potomac winds Its oruous way the right its course
marked by dark fringe OF foliage On the eft the poetic
Shenandoah is lost amidst succession of hills and the eve
tires in following the diversifed landscape Of hill aud
dale.
Gen Sberidans headquarters have been established in
the Immediate vicinity OF HatowD upon which place our
centre rests The cavalry remained outsds of Charles
town and occupied nearly the position abandoned by
Generals Crook aud Wright.
When left Charlestown this morning at FIVE O'Clock
skirmishrg had bsen going for time and il as
sumed formidable dimensions cleared the town on INV
way to this place. heavy and constant dropping fre
kept up until nine o'clock, but shels were thrown
by either side.
Great disappointment by Union resdents expressed At
the falling back of Our forces in the direction of Harper
Ferry, and large numbers of refugees are this mornine
Leaving this place by the daily train for Baltimore. From
winchester they went to MarnsburR and yesterday they
aud the loyal citizens Of that latter town hurried INTO
Charestown hoping that they would be enabled to remain
at least that their homes but last night these uoor
tunate gentlemen were compelled to come to the Ferry
and seek safety still further in Maryland and Pennsy
vaaa But they mumur not, although they feel poignant
dsappon at the abandonment of the valley once more
by our troops Union man in these attitudes 10 Union
man indeed and their unasumiDg conduct amidst all their
undeserved hardshps would put TO blush msny
patriot Ia the far off and prosperous North.
HALL Town. (vA) AUGUST %. 1864.
The position of our army still reaans unchanged A
strong line of entertainments have been thrown nm bv our
troops and heavy line Of skrmshers have been thrown
out in 'front.'
Desutory skrmish firing could be heard all day yester
day and this morning broke out with redoubled strength
in froHt of the Nineteenth Corps holding the centre No
thing of Importance resulted from it, however, and it has
now almost entirely ceased-l2 o'clock.
No evidence of the enemy being 10 immediate front
has been obtained yet and il is believed that they will
make attempt to the river although our latest
nows from Wamspor says that they had yet crossed
the Potomac.
Guns could be heard yesterday up the river supposea
be Aver Smelling the woods in the direction of sharps
burg. The army is laying quietly in their eptrenohea
camps, and the suffers are arriving, which looks like
protrscted sojourn