Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-08-18
NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER.
TIE LATEST INVASION


land through the Shenandoah valley, occupied the
city Of Frederick, defeated Maj Gen. Wallace IN
the battle of Monocacy, cut the railroad communl-
cations between Baltimore and Harrisburg, and
between Baltimore and Philadelphia, placed the
national capital under siege for two days, inter
rupted its railroad and Geographic communications
with Baltimore, and, after levying forced contribu
money, horses, and supplies, withdrew across the
Potomac, encountering little obstruction IN its
retreat as in its advance. We commented on these
events at the time in such terms we thought
appropriate to characterize the want of fore
sight and capacity implied in our military ad-
ministration by the impunity with which such
humiations could be inflicted on the country at
the present stage of the war. Our expressions to
this effect were feeble, however, mpared with the
echoes of indignation which were evoked by these
events throughout all parts Of the LoyI States,
and especially from the political adherents OF the
present Administration.
Thus warned by the access of danger through
the valley of the Shenandoah, our military admin
istration, it was every where supposed, would not
agair suffer itself to be taken at unawarcs during
the present summer 1t was announced through
the public press that the insurgent forces Of Gen.
Early had been holly pursued, that they had re
tired down the valley Of the Shenandoah, that they
had been compelled to disgorge portion of their
plumber, and that Pennsylvania and Maryland were
again safe from invasion and Washington from
siege If the country had not yet recovered from
the sense o. shame left by the unimpeded progress
of Gen Earlys forces through the State Of Mary
land il at least lived n the confident expectation
that it would not soon be called to witness the
repetition Of such disgrace
Gen. Early raised the siege of Washington on
the 18th Of July 1t was only sixteen days after
wards, to wit, on the Doth Of the same month that
after he had driven our forces once more out Of tn.
Shenandoah valley, two of his brigades, Gen. John
sons and Gen McCausland's, again crossed thu
Potomac into Maryland at the fords Of Cca
Spring They marched directly on Mercersburg
5. In the State Of Pennsy lvania. Another column 3
his forces fresh from the late invasion Of Maryland
recrossed the Potomac on the Both of July at q
near Williamsport, and advanced against liagers
town Still another body Of Early's troops crosse
the Potomac at ShepherdstOwn and moved toward
Lete1sburg. And 50, in fortnight after the il
vasion in the early part of July, the country wa
called to witness the spectacle of second invaso.
by the same troops, in the same numbers, moyin;
through the same valley, and crossing the Potoma
at nearly the same tords
We chronicled these events at the time of the
I,,t do he
though comment was unnecessary. The burnin!
homes Of the undefended people of Chambersburl
placed the military mismansgement which hat
brought that calamity upon them and that neV
shame upon the county in light so clear that n
words Of ours we're required to expose it Arc
when the national sensibility was quick en-, ugh Z
perceive the source Of its hurt, we did not care 10
indulge in fresh censure on a military administra.
ton which it was needless to attack, as few q
none we're found willing or able to undertake liz
defence. The record it had made up against itself
In permitting two invasions of the LOYAL States
through the Shenandoah valley in one month was
quite sufficient.
And we perhaps should not have advertcd Il
this disagreeable subject if we were not called Il
consider it in the official exposition just made BY
Governor C+sRTIN, who, despairing Of the protcc-
ton Of Pennsy lVania by the General Government,
has just summoned the Legislature Of that com
monwealth in extraordinary session to take mea-
for the defence Of the State from these
ring irruptions Of the enemy He truly says in
his message that Pennsylvania has steadily de-
voted her men to the great service. From the be-
ginning she has always been among the first to re-
spond to the calls Of the United States as is shown
by her history, from the three months men and
the reserve corps to the present moment. Thus
faithfully fulfilling all her own obligations, she has
right to be defended by the national force az part
of common country. Any other view would be
absurd and unjust"
And yet, in the fourth year Of a war undertaken
for the purpose Of quelling an instruction in the
South, Pennsylvania is to-day for the first time
placed under the conscious necessity Of taking
measures to guard her own soil against invasion,
and to protect her own cities from pilIage and
burning. As the source Of this deplorable neces-
sity is not found by any body, 50 far as We arc
aware, IN tn. growing power or superior numbers
OF the insurgent forces, it must be sought in the
military improvidence which fails rightly to per-
ceive the duty Of the hour or the military incapa