Year: 1863

/


| Rebels In Psnnsytveats.


| The progress Of the rebels In thoir advance


upon Harrisburg and their raid into tho inte-


rior of Pennsylvania has been somewhat
| slow. The news Of this morning and
glance ct our map. published elsewhere. will,


however, satisfy any person that they oontem-
plate striking blow in that vicinity that will


require time to recover from. They have
guarded we'll their TANKS at every STEP and
have secured several valuable strategic points,
important TO them if they contemplate fur


ther invasion in that quarter. or merely


the capture Of Harrisburg and the cutting of
communication with Baltimore and Washing


ton from the West and North by that route.
The Cumberland valley, through which the


rebels have been working their way towards
Harrisburg, is one Of the richest valleys in the


world and under high state Of cultivation
The surface Of the country is level, and there
is no point between Chambersburg and Harris
burg where our forces could make stand


without the danger of having one or both Of
their aanks turned by the enemy. The Blue


Ridge Mountains lie along the northwestern


border of the valley; but there are numerous.
gaps and roads over that range, making it
very convenient for cavalry force to dodge
around undiscovered into the rear of our
troops. The result is that eur small forces in
advance have been compelled to gradually fall


back to prevent capture by . 6ank movement.
The rebels are undoubtedly taking advantage
of this circumstance, and are taking In large
stock Of supplies from the storehouses Of the
farmers in the valley. But that they contsm-
plate more than merely foraging expedition Is
evident from the fact that they have driven our
pickets in and that battle is being fought at
Harrisburg


sterrett's Gap is ON the western slope Of the
| Blue Mountain range and near the Duncannon
Iron Works. The mountains in that vicinity
come down almost perpendicular to the banks
Of the river. passage for the Central Rail-
| road had to be cut through even to find room
| for that road to pass along ON the banks of the
river If the rebels succeed in driving our
| pickets and forces from that quarter they will


then hold point that will almost Isolate the


eastern from the western portion Of the State.


If they find themselves unable to hold it, a few
| hours spent in shelling and blasting will
place distractions upon the Pennsylvania
| Railroad that it will take weeks to remove. 1t
| is through this pass Of the mountains that all
| communication between the eastern section of
| the State and the Juniata valley, as well as
| that portion of the State west of the Allegha-
| nies, is kept up. Now that the rebels hold the


with Bedford and the west over the old State
| road there is no other route open, except
| long circuitous one through the upper valley Of


the Susquehanna near Williamsport. If the
| rebels have driven in our pickets near Duncan
non they have shown q knowledge of the coun-
! try and disposition to make the most Of their


raid in the way Of damaging railroad communi-
cation. The rebel forces at Sterrett's Gap are


also in easy striking distance of the aqusduct


near the junction Of the Juniata and Susque-
hanna canals, and also but q few miles from
two important railroad bridges across the
Susqushanna. agsH


The rebel forces at Gettysburg appear, on
| the other hand, to have followed the railroad
| down to Hanover, and thence to it's junction
with the Northern Central Railroad, q few miles


below York, which place our later kilograms


state they have captured. This completely cuts
| of communication between Harrisburg and


Baltimore and Washington, except by the way
Of Philadelphia and Havre de Grace. In fact,
that is the only railroad communication now
left between Washington and the North. It is
| yet uncertain whether the rebel forces at Hano-
| yer Junction intend to move from York and
across to Columbia and strike the Pennsylvania
Railroad near Lancaster, or to follow the
Northern Central Railroad down from the
Junction towards Baltimore. 1t In already
stated that the bridge at Columbia is in flames
The bluffs on the opposite side of the river at
Harrisburg furnish an excellent place for rifle
pits and intrenchments for the defence of the
contemplate raid into the Lebanon valley and


the northern part of the State, and the fords Of


the Susquehanna above aud below Harrisburg


be low enough for their passage, the city


would be hanked. We imagine, however, that


all Of these fords are by this time well guarded


by our troops, and we trust that sufficient force


has been sent to Sterretts Gap and Duncannon


to prevent the rebels obtaining possession Of


these points long enough to damage the rail


roads to any extent. With the fords and that


point secured small force on the opposite side


of the river can prevent the capture of Harris


burg, and thus stay the progress of the invaders


until q sufficient force is gathered TO drive them


from the State or destroy them. 1t viii be thus


seen that matters in the Susquehanna are not


as happy as some people would have us believe


II, however, the administration have given Gen.


Smith, who is now in command of the fortifca-


tions at Harrisburg, sufficient authority to act


we have full confidence that the rebels will not


be able to continue their raid on this side Of


the river anywhere in that vicinity


The CONDITION or THE PARK BARRAcKs.--We
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