The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-04-21
PATTERsoN's ADVANCE.

Zen. Robert Patterson, with about
10000 men, broke camp at Chambers
burg, June 7th, and advanced to Hagers-
town, while Col. Lew. Wallace, on his
right, took quiet possession of Cumber-
land, and made dash upon Romney,
which he easily captured.
Gen. Joseph e. Johnston, command
ing the rebels, burned the bridge at
Point of Rocks on the 9th, and evacu-
ated Harper's Ferry on the 18th, de-
stroying the superb railway bridge over
the Potomac. He retreated upon Win
chester and Leesburg, after having de-
stroyed the armory and shops at the
Ferry-the machinery having been al
ready sent off to Richmond.
The Chesapeake Canal and the several
railroads in this region were thoroughly
dismantled. The Potomac was crossed
at Williamsport, by Gen. Thomas, on
the 10Th. But, for some reason, this adj
vance was countermanded, and our
troops all recrossed on the 1Sth-Gen.
Patterson remaining at Hagerstown.
The rebels at once returned to the
river, completing the work of destruc-
ton at Harper's Ferry, and conscripting
Unionists as we'll as Confederates to fill
their ranks.
Patterson recrossed the Potomac at
Williamsport on the morning of July 2,
at place known as Falling Waters, %
encountering small rebel force under
Gen. jackson (afterward known as
"Stonewall,") who, being outnumbered,
made little resistance, but fell back to
Martinsburg, and ultimately to Bunker
Hill.
On the 18th, an order to advance on
Winchester was given, but not executed.
Finally, on the 18th, Patterson moved
forward to Bunker Hill, on the direct
road to and nine miles from Winchester,
which he occupied without resistance.
On the 18th, he turned abruptly 20
the left, moving away from the enemy
in his front, and marching to Charles
town, II miles eastward, near the Pc.
tomac, leaving Johnston at full liberty
to lead his entire force to Manassas.
The consequences Of this extraordinary
movement by Patterson were so i'm
portant and so disastrous as to demand
for it the fullest calculation.
GEN. sANFoRD's TESTIMONY.
Mai.-Gen. Charles w. Sanford, of
New York, who was second in command
to Gen. Patterson during this campaign,
tcstifes (before the Joint Committee of
Congress on the Conduct of the War;,
positively that he was dispatched from
Washington by Gen. Scott and the
Cabinet, on the 9th of July, to report to
Patterson and serve under him, because
of the latter's hardness and manifest in
disposition to fght-that he reported to
Patterson at Williamsport, with two
fresh regiments, ON the 10Th; was there
placed in command Of division COM
posed of 5000 New York troops. and
delivered orders from Gen. Scott, urg-
u III Wdio lhOSCiIClit CD
possible y; that Patterson then had
$4,000 men and two batteries; that de-
lay ensued at Martinsburg; but that the
army advanced from that place-on the
15th-to Bunker Hill, nine miles from
Johnston's fortified camp at Winchester
-Sanford's Division moving on the left
or east of the other two; that Patterson
visited him Sanford whose pickets
were three miles further ahead-that
afternoon, after the army had halted,
and complimented him on his comfort
able location; to which he g. re-
sponded-" Very comfortable, General,
but when shall we move on? to which
Patterson repied-but this is so import
ant that we. must give the precise lam
guage of Gen. Sanford's sworn testi-
m0ny:
He hesitated moment or two, and
then said / don't know yet when we
shall move. And if l did, | would not
tell my own father thought that
was rather a queer sort OF speech to