The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-07-20

town under contribution, and then at
tack Harrisburg in the rear. while It
should he attacked IN the front by the
rest OF the corps. relying. in the worst
contingency that might happen upon
being able 10 mount nv division from
the immense number OF horses that had
been run across the river. and then
move TO the West. destroying the rail-
roads and canals and returning back
again TO a place OF safety. This project.
however. was entirely thwarted by the
obstruction Of the bridge as the river
was otherwise impa ssablc. being very
VICE and deep at this point. l. there
iorc, ordered General Gordon TO move
Nis command back TO York next day
ana returned 10 that place myself that
night"
General Ewell SAYS nc received IN.
order 10 take Harrisburg on June 81.
General Lee appears to have repeated
TINS order the noxt day. for in his
dispatch OF June -. to Early. he saws.
II harrisburg comes within you.
means. capture it,"
ON June -. the advance on Harris.
purg began, Rodess Division leading.
WIN Jenkinse cavalry IN advance. and
Johnson'a Division following. General
itodes reports: ON the 22. the division
resumed its march and on that day
penetrated into the cnemy's country
ivcrson's Brigade was the first Ia touch
the SOL Of Pennsylvania on Juno q
Johannesburg was reached. and on the
q. Carlisle" General Rodes saws in
ms report: "On our arrival AT Carlisle.
JenN!ns's cavalry advanced toward
Harrisburg, and on tho 20 made a
thorough Reconnaissance OF the de-
fenses of that place. with a view 10
our advance upon IL, a step which
every man in The division contemplate
& Z. a
haVe been made on tho goth. hut on the
"'tn' having received orders TO nov,.
toward the balance Of the army. then
supposed to be a or near Cashtown.
we set out for that place"
General EwcIr. Report.
General Ewel, in his report. SAYS
IRON Carlisle l sent forward ms
engineer Captain Richardson. with
General Jenkins's cavalry. 10 recon
no!tre the defcnses OF Harrisburg and
was starting on the 29th for tha,
place when ordered By the general
commanding 10 join the main body
OF Inc army al Cashtown, near Cicttys-
burg"
80 near was Harrisburg TO capture
For II Is not 10 be supposed that the
inexperienced ;roops-ot however good
'na;erial--that occupied the entrench-
ments across the river could have long
w!thstood the assault OF the veteran
divisions OF Rodes and Johnson.
~ have said. the march from Har
crsto"n 10 harrisburg was begun on
June %. The distance is approx
mately sevcnty-fve miles. and could
easily have been covered by infantry
with their trains in five DAYS. Tho
delay was probably due IN part 10 the
occupation Of the troops In collecting
supplies from the country they ira
Versed, and in part TO the desire o.
General Lee 10 close UP his length
ened column by bringing UP the corps
Of Iongstrcet an6 Hill
Bu;. II CELEBRITY had been used there
seems to be no reason why Harrisburg
should not have fallen before the ne
cessity OF concentrating the Confeder-
ate forces in Adams County became
apparent.
The nearest approach OF the Con
federates - Harrisburg in any con-
siderable body was at Oysters Point.
where skirmish took place on June
20. apparently without loss TO either
side
Upon the retirement OF the Conted-
crates. the militia followed as rapid
~ as possible. and on June 30 had a
skirmish at Sporting Hill. and on July
the affair at Carlisle with Stuart's
Ges ,ribc-took place y
Confederate Rnid.
With the first rumors OF a Confed
crate raid towards Maryland and penn
s%lvania, the people along the border
became anxious, and with M!lroy's dis
aster at Winchester and the mad race
81 MS wagon train for safety behind
the SusGuehanna. anxiety grew TO
alarm, particularly among the farm
ers. who well knew that raid or In
fasion meant the loss of their prop
erty. Early in June the movement be-
gan of horses and cattle. and to n
small extent. of wagons containing
other possessions. All day long coun-
try roads and streets OF towns were
throneed by moving mas ses streaming
towards the SusGuehanna at Column
bla and Harrisburg. AS the advance
or the enemy grew nearer. banks sent
their money. evidences OF indebted
ness and books and papers 10 Phila-
delphia. and merchants shipped their
more valuable and easily transported
goods or concealed them in places OF
safety Business was almost entirely
suspended. and citizens sought the
streets and public places for the lat
est news. Such was the condition. not
only along the middle border OF Penn
sylvania. but the alarm extended to
Philadelphia, nearly n hundred miles
from the nearest approach of the Con-
federate troops, and point which
probably would not have been reached
by them. even If Lee had won the
battle OF Gettysburg Business was
seriously interfered with. wild rumors
were afloat. excited meetings were
held. and prominent citizens demand
ed that General Mcclellan should be
recalled to command. and that fifty
pieces of artillery and $4,000 veteran
troops should be sent for the defense
&C the city.
But with all this alarm and dis
turbance 1t Is creditable to the peo-
pie OF tho North that there was no
general panic. Stocks sold during
Lees invasion at their normal prices,
and on July ! the sale OF government
bonds amounted to $1,700,00o.