Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1864-07-06

PoiptN Of Rocks Defeat Of r ebels at
south Branch-Fisht Going on at Mary.
land Heights.
1t was reported and believed on Monday
morning (the ith) that Hagerstow n was in
possession Of the enemy, the opera tors at that
place having left their posts between and 10
O'Clock, abruptly, under an alarm. They re-
turned to duty, however, about O'Clock, and
nearer than Falling Waters and Williamsport,
from six to ten miles distant on the Potomac,
where, it was said, on Monday afternoon that
fighting was going on.
going on at or near -Sharpsburg-the Federal
forces being commanded by Gen. Sigel. Pre-
vious reports from Harper's Ferry had located
Gen. Sigel, during Sunday night at Shepherds
town, to which point he had fallen back from
Martinsburg, and where junction was formed
with him by Muiligan, with the force from the
Leetown fight Of Sunday, ten miles below.
This joint force, it was thought, would move
that place il attacked.
An attack was made upon Harper's Ferry
about or 10 o'clock on Monday morning, by
a force estimated at some 1900 cavalry, with
more than as many infantry. Gen. Weber,
however, set about vigorous defense, and up
to the latest accounts was holding his own,
though with small force compared to that Of
the enemy.
Nothing had been heard up to D. m. at Har
per's Ferry from Gen. Sigel or Mulligan's
forces, which is accounted for. perhaps, by the
opposite Shepherstown, to which point they
must have been followed.
After2 O'Clock in the afternoon the wires were
interrupted near Harper's Ferry, on the east
side, and the operator at Point of Rocks was
understood to report that a body of cavalry
had crossed the Potomac there, and interrupt
ed the telegraph
In the meantime the excitement at Frederick
the provost guard of the town, were removed,
the former going to Annapolis. The Govern.
ment stores were also moved from Frederick,
as they had previously been successfully from
Harper's Ferry. No reason is given for this
movement from Frederick, as NO hostile forces
were known to be within twenty miles of the
place, except cavalry detachment near the
Point OF Rocks, twelve miles of.
Gen E. b. Tyler remained at Monocacy, in
command Of Gen. Wallace's forces, that point
being the extreme western limit of this De-
bridge over the Monocacy river, three miles
from Frederick, but no sign Of the enemy ap.
peared up to Monday night. :.
The object and extent Of the whole move
ment are as yet mystery.
The accounts also vary as to the officers in
command. Major Gen. Ransom is belle we'd to
have charge OF the cavalry, and he is said to
be Stuarts successor. The object Of the enemy
may be inferred to be regarded as an import
ant enc by Gen. Lee.
The infantry force is said to be commanded
by Gen. Early, who is reported to be Ewell's
successor. Ewell's late corps probably now
numbers not more than ten or twelve thousand
men. Other reports name Breckenridge, I'm
boden, jenkins, and even Wheeler, as the
leaders; but both Southern Jenkinses were
killed in the present campaign; Wheeler is
known to be in Tennessee or Georgia, and
Brec klnridge's presence IN the Valley is very
doubtful
Later Accounts.
AT 10 O'Clock on Monday night the oper ator
returned to Point Of Rocks. and the telegraph
communication was renewed to that point.
The rebel cavalry had returned to the south
Nvir
things In and around the Point OF Rocks. The
telegraph between the Ferry and ihe Point Of
Rocks, which was also destroyed, would be in
received on Monday night from the Ferry or
from General Sigel.
At a late hour on Monday night dispatch
land, via Wheeling, in which be stated that the
rebels were Smelling his forces stationed at
South Branch Bridge, an important railroad
station about sixteen miles west of Cumber-
land. He was making all the defense he could;
the enemy were in large force. It was thought
that the enemy intended to burn the bridge
(Which is q three.span bridge, forty feet high,)
SO as to prevent General Hunters forces from
reaching the scene OF operations from the
Kanawha.
General Max Weber was compelled to give
up Harper's Ferry and fall back to the Mary.
land Heights, on the north side Of the river.
His force was not large enough to cope with
the enemy.
Generals Sigel and Mulligan reached Mary
land Hights about p: M on Monday night
day on Monday. This large reinforcement
doubtless ensures the safety Of the position Of
Gen. Weber, opposite Harper's Ferry.
and was Smelling Sigers forces on Monday
night across the river. The firing yesterday
morning at Maryland flights show that it Is
holding still, and Gen. Sigel has warned the
citizens OF Harper's Ferry that he would shell
the town at noon to drive the enemy out
1t is not known what has become OF the force
The enemy seem to have distributed their
men so widely that 1t is difficult to tell their
numbers.
1t is now said positively that Ransom is their
chief cavalry officer, and that Early is in COM
The rebel force on the south side Of the Pc.
tomac, opposite The Point OF Rocks and up to
the Ferry, can be seen from the opposite shore,
but they had made no further demonstration
at last accounts.
The railroad is clear from this city to the
river opposite Ferry.
Scents and citizen refugees report the forces
OF the rebels, as having passed through Win.
chester, at $1,000 infantry and 1000 cavalry,
while other well-informed persons only esti-
mate the force altogether at from 5000 to
1900.
A despatch from Cumberland, via Wheeling
and Pittsburg, says that Gen. Kelley has sue.
cessfully defended the Baltimore and Ohio
railroad bridges at Patterson's Greek and at
the north and south branches Of the Potomac,
where block houses and IRON clad caissons
have been placed. No danger was done to
the road or bridges, and the enemy had all
been driven back efectually, being but few
cavalry OF an independent or local command
F... The Very Latest. -
At six O'Clock last evening an attack was
about being made upon Maryland Heights,
where General Sigels whole force was con-
centrated and formed ia line of battle for de-
Tense. rf.t 1855
Very little information OF the details Of the
progress OF the siege OF Maryland Heights
could be obtained, owing to there being no
trains running that far up the road, and the
telegraph operator not being In q position to
understand the true condition OF affairs, other
than the fact that Maryland Heights was still
in Gen. Sigels possession
q -Four railroad trains, loaded with govern
ment supplies, as we'll as the mail tram from
Hafpers Ferry, that went up on Monday,
and was intercepted by Moseby on its ret urn,
were all worked through from Harpers Ferry
to Baltimore successfully yesterday afternoon,
without the slightest loss. They were fred at,
however, very earnestly, from the Virginia side
opposite to the Point OF Rocks.
No dam age to the railroad has vet been