New-York tribune., 1868-05-25
YORK pa.


We have letter from an esteemed citizen of
York, which assures us that the stone thrown
at the car in which Gen. Logan and his party
were travelling from Washington to Chicago
was so thrown at petty Maryland village
known as Texas and not at York, whose citi-
zens were wholly unaware that any such party
was on the train till after it had passed.
AS to the surrender of York in 1853 to the
Rebel army before it had reached that borough
our correspondent states the case in substance
thus:
On the day before the Rebels reached York,
a leading business man and a member of the
Committee of Safety "drOve out to recon-
"noiter," and, passing the Rebel pickets, met
Gen. Gordon Qate Conservative candidate for
Governor OF Georgia) not eight but eighteen
miles from the borough, where promise was
obtained from said General that he would
"protect persons and property" on condition
that the Rebels should be provisioned while
they should remain in or near York Return
ing, this member of the Committee of Safety
passed the Rebel pickets only fire miles from
York (though they were subsequently drawn
back two or three miles,, and fastened
to the borough, being sharply chased 10y
Rebel horsemen-Cicn. Gordon not intending
TO let him go back in advance of his men. He
was thus enabled TO warn q small militia force
under Major lIoller so rs to enable 1t to
escape capture by flight
A town meeting was thereupon held, at
whose request Chief Burgess Small and others
were sent out to negotiate with Gordon :" for
"the safety of our citizens and their prop
ell faH To
the Rebels just out of the town, but did not
till seven miles distant. Our correspondent
proceeds: r..A
At this audience our Mayor had but little 70 and
purely for the control OF the place
this fixed. Gordon suggesting that all rumshops
be kept closed and promising that his men should be
shot like dogs II they insultod lady &c &c The
next speaker. Col. Hay, commenced by assuring the
General that IL would be much In accordance with
feelings TO have met him at the head OF an armed
force that even the few lighting men our little town
could raise were on duty the river and
powerless resist, desired to make the best terms
possible lie say that did not propose 10
surrender but the contrary they would find flags
up and waving such little defiance could show Tor
words to that cfecU This sentiment cordially in
dorsed by the committee and evidently respected by the
General, for he gave them pass back again to
town through the lines. remarking as he did so
TO the Commtteel' II Is unusual To pass strangers be-
fore when invading enemy's territory; but can
not refuse 10 believe men who spoken you have
and II your statements true, there IA no danger
ask nothing than that you remain in town until our
arrival Not one word was said about 'compoundlng
the safety OF the place. word said OF surren2er
except 10 ignore t. The Rebels reached town the follow
ing morning; and may say that they kept faith better
than expected"
We have thus given 0Ir correspondents
version of the material portion of the affair in
his own words He says in another place:
"wel, this II what ice did. and nothing more: We
gave up twenty eight thousand dollars TO millions
Nor even this reluctantly agreed upon. until they
had swarmed among like locusts and were com
petey their mercy % unfortunate friends
at AndersOnville and Belle Isle"
We beg leave to assure our correspondent
that this is not what they did" by any means.
They supplied the enemy with important and
precious information with regard to the posi-
ton of our forces and the direction in which
they might forage and plunder with impunity.
When the "rcconnoitereI" from York made
his way to Gen. Gordon's headquarters, eight
cen miles away, and opened negotiation for
the safety of the place, he apprised the Rebels
that we had no considerable force in this di-
rection, and that they might career over the
country at pleasure. This information might
have lost us a great battle-nay, the mighty
issues defending on the contest. York should
have heldher peace and kept her "neonno-
"terers' a, home until the enemy swarmed in
her streets. The town not being defended, it
was in no danger of being burned or sacked
or rather th danger was exceedingly slight.
SO, having given our friends version of the
unhappy affair he must allow us to express
our opinion Il it. @