USA > Pennsylvania > History of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania volunteer cavalry which was recruited and known as the Anderson cavalry in the rebellion of 1861-1865; > Part 54
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Dec. 24. Marched to Mitchell's, near Dandridge-having the ad- vance of the column of two brigades, which attacked the enemy at that place-charged the enemy's rear with eighty men, losing one Captain and nine men captured, their horses being shot; engagement lasted till sundown, then returned with our forces to New Market.
Dec. 26. Marched to gap of Bay's Mountain, near Mossy Creek to guard flank of our forces during engagement in front of Mossy Creek.
Dec. 27 and 28. Scouted towards Mansfield's Gap-struck enemy's pickets.
Dec. 29. Engaged the enemy at Mossy Creek in connection with other of our cavalry forces. Our Regiment held the right and drove the enemy four miles in disorder. Camped at Stokely Williams'. Loss, one officer killed and five men wounded-distance marched seventy-five miles.
Jan. I, 1864. In camp at Mossy Creek.
Jan. 7. Marched from south side of French Broad River into Beaver Dam, thirty-five miles; captured eight Confederate soldiers. Camped at Swans on Indian Creek.
Jan. 8. Marched to Evans, four miles below Dandridge.
Jan. 13. Marched from Evans at I A.M. with 140 men to pursue Brigadier-General Vance, who, with a force of 300 Confederates had come over from North Carolina and captured a train of nineteen U. S. wagons near Sevierville, Tenn.
Jan. 14. Overtook General Vance's command, about 3 P.M., on Crosby's Creek, twenty-five miles above Sevierville; charged in columns of fours and routed the enemy, wounding two and capturing General Vance, his Assistant Adjutant General, Assistant Inspector General and fifty-two enlisted men, together with 100 cavalry horses and equipments, 150 stand of arms, one ambulance with large stock of medicines, and recapturing the nineteen wagons and twenty-three U. S. prisoners. The remaining rebel force scattered to the mountains. No loss on our side.
Jan. 17. Drove Colonel Thomas' rebel battalion of Indians and whites over the mountains into North Carolina.
Jan. 18. Marched back to Sevierville, Tenn.
Jan. 21. Marched with General Sturgis' cavalry command to near Dandridge.
Jan. 22. The Regiment, with part of the First Tennessee Cavalry captured at Indian Creek seventeen rebel wagons and mules, two Captains, one Lieutenant, and sixty-eight enlisted men. Killed two of the enemy and wounded one.
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Jan. 24 and 25. Marched to Dandridge and Sevierville.
Jan. 27. Co-operated with cavalry command in engagements at Indian Creek; loss, one man captured and two wounded.
Jan. 29, 30, and 31. Marched with cavalry command to Maryville. During this month marched 400 miles.
Feb. 2. Took up line of march from Maryville, Blount Co., East Tennessee, for Chattanooga.
Feb. 10. Reached Chattanooga and camped at foot of Missionary Ridge.
Feb. 21. Started on reconnoissance with 142 men to Lafayette.
Feb. 22. Entered Lafayette, capturing three prisoners and four horses.
Feb. 23. Entered Summerville, Ga., capturing one Captain and two men; passed through Alpine and camped on Lookout Mountain.
Feb. 24. Marched towards Chattanooga along top of Lookout Mountain; good road. Camped at Nica Jack Trace; captured two men. Arrived there on the 25th.
March 2. The Regiment marched under command of Lieutenant- Colonel Lamborn to Pikeville, Sequatchie Valley, Tenn., and to Wash- ington, Rhea Co., Tenn., to protect the elections to be held on the 6th of March.
March 4. Reached Pikeville with the mounted men, the dismounted men being left at Washington.
March 10. Marched from Camp Lingel to Rossville, Ga.
March 30. Scouting party in command of Captain Betts sent on Lookout Mountain in vicinity of Stevens Gap.
April II. Scouting party sent out under command of Captain Betts to near Alpine, Ga., and returned on the 14th.
May 6. The Regiment left Rossville, Ga., for Nashville, Tenn., to be remounted and equipped. On the way the train was attacked by guerrillas near Larkinsville, Ala. The engineer and fireman were killed.
June 28. Campanies G, I, L, and M marched to Springfield, Tenn., to procure horses, by order of Brigadier-General Miller, commanding the post, and under command of Lieut .- Col. Chas. B. Lamborn, a distance of twenty-eight miles.
Aug. 8. Left Nashville, Tenn., newly mounted and equipped, for Chattanooga, via Murfreesboro, and McMinnville.
Aug. 15. Arrived at Chattanooga, distance marched 132 miles.
Aug. 17. Left Chattanooga in pursuit of rebel General Wheeler. Marched to Grayville, Ga., and scouted the country east of Taylor's Ridge, White Oak Mountain, for three days.
Aug. 20. Returned to Tunnel Hill and Dalton, Ga. Distance marched fifty-one miles.
Aug. 22. Left Dalton, Ga., via Cleveland, Tenn., for Hiawassee River to guard the fords and prevent Wheeler's return.
Aug. 24. Arrived at Columbia, Tenn. Distance marched fifty miles.
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Addenda.
Aug. 31. At Columbia, Tenn. Distance marched during August 260 miles.
Sept. I. Left Columbia on Hiawassee River, Tenn., for Calhoun, Ga., where we arrived on the 3d and remained, resting up, till the 13th.
Sept. 13. Left Calhoun, Ga., under orders from Brigadier-General Elliott, chief of cavalry, to proceed to Hiawassee River, East Tennessee, to intercept portion of Wheeler's rebel cavalry under Debrill and Wil- liams, which had been detached from the main command and was sup- posed to be trying to make its way down through Georgia.
Sept. 19. Arrived at Sevierville, East Tennessee, having failed to accomplish our purpose.
Sept. 26. Arrived at Bull's Gap, East Tennessee, and formed junction with the forces under Brigadier-General Gillem, who was about starting on an expedition to co-operate with Major-General Burbridge in the capture of the salt works at Abington, Va.
Sept. 29. Acting as the advance to General Gillem's column, en- countered the enemy at Jonesboro, East Tennessee, and unsupported drove a large party, outnumbering ours, across the Watauga River, killing several and capturing five without loss to our Regiment.
Sept. 30. Arrived at Carter's Station, East Tennessee. Total dis- tance marched during the month of September 240 miles.
Oct. I. Reconnoitered the country along the Watauga River, East Tennessee, finding the enemy's pickets at the ford.
Oct. 4. Arrived at Blountsville on reconnaissance, finding no enemy.
Oct. 5. Arrived at Kingsport, East Tennessee, where, on the 7th, skirmished across the north fork of Holston River with a superior force of the enemy, and had one man wounded. Colonel Palmer, with seventy- five picked men, started with a dispatch to General Burbridge, in Virginia, from Kingsport. Learning when near Estenville, Va., that Bur- bridge was defeated or retreated from Abingdon, he made his way north through southwest Virginia into Kentucky by Osborn's Gap, reporting at Catlettsburg, Ky.
Oct. 8. The main force of the Regiment in a sharp skirmish, while crossing the Holston River, below Rogersville, Tenn., repulsed the enemy in greatly superior numbers, taking two officers and six men prisoners without loss to our command.
Oct. 22. Arrived at Chattanooga and went into camp near Mis- sionary Ridge.
Oct. 30. Rejoined the command at Chattanooga, having marched 530 miles; in addition paroled eleven prisoners, and captured thirty horses, traversing for a long distance a part of the country never visited by a Union force.
Oct. 31. Arrived at Wauhatchie below Chattanooga and camped. Total distance marched since Oct. Ist, 456 miles; this in addition to dis- tance marched by force under Colonel Palmer.
Nov. I to 30. Regiment in camp at Wauhatchie, Tenn., engaged in
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History of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry.
scouting Lookout and Sand Mountains, and Lookout and Wills Valleys, which are infested by numerous gangs of guerrillas.
Nov. 26. Companies H and K, which have been detached at Head- quarters Department of the Cumberland since September, 1863, re- lieved and joined the Regiment, marching from Atlanta, Ga., 145 miles.
Nov. 30. Under orders from Maj .- Gen. Geo. H. Thomas and Major- General Stedman, left Wauhatchie for Bridgeport, Ala., to operate with General Stedman's forces against the rebel General Hood's army, which is moving towards Nashville, Tenn. Arriving at Bridgeport, re- ceived orders to march north to Cowan, Tenn.
Dec. I to 3. Marched to Cowan on Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad. On arrival found General Stedman's command had left for Nashville and railroad cut.
Dec. 7. Returned to Wauhatchie under orders of Major-General Thomas.
Dec. 12. Companies A, B, C, and D, ordered to Dalton, Ga., to scout the contiguous country and returned to Wauhatchie on the 19th, having marched 146 miles.
Dec. 20. Regiment left Bridgeport under order of Major-General Thomas to co-operate with General Stedman's command at Decatur, Ala.
Dec. 28. Arrived at Decatur, marching via Stevenson, Coon Creek, Paint Rocks, and Huntsville, making a junction with General Stedman's command and taking the advance, moved against the enemy under Gen- eral Roddy, the same night; routed them five miles from Decatur, and captured two twelve-pounder Howitzers and seven prisoners without loss-continued the march.
Dec. 30. Arrived at Leighton, Ala., pushing the rebel General Roddy's command all the way.
Dec. 31. Hearing that Hood's pontoon train was within striking distance, started from Leighton before day. Avoided the rebel pickets. Went through Lagrange and Russellville, and in the evening came up to, captured and burned the train consisting of eighty pontoons and about 200 supply wagons, eight or twelve miles from Russellville, on the Fulton Road, with no loss to the command. Distance marched during December 360 miles.
Jan. 1, 1865. From Russellville went in pursuit of a rebel supply train, which was moving towards Tuscaloosa, Ala. Overtook it on the Cotton Gin Road about forty miles southwest of Russellville, Ala. It consisted of 110 wagons, which were burned about midnight and we captured forty prisoners and over 300 mules.
Jan. 2. Started from near Boxar, Miss., to return.
Jan 5. Encountered Colonel Russell's rebel brigade and routed it near Mt. Hope, Ala., captured and burned his wagon train and took forty prisoners.
Jan. 6. Arrived at Decatur, Ala., without the loss of a man.
Jan. 10. Arrived at Huntsville, Ala.
Jan. II. Left Huntsville in pursuit of the rebel General Lyon's
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Addenda.
forces with 150 officers and men. Scouted the country and found the rebels had crossed the Tennessee River.
Jan. 14. Crossed the river on gunboats.
Jan. 15. Surprised and routed the enemy near Red Hill, Ala., capturing 100 prisoners, one twelve-pounder Howitzer and General Lyon, who subsequently escaped by killing his captor, Sergt. Arthur P. Lyon, commander of our advance guard.
Jan. 17. Returned to Huntsville. Marched 398 miles during the month.
Feb. I. Scouted in pursuit of bushwackers infesting Jackson and . Madison counties, Ala., and Lincoln county, Tenn.
Feb. 7. Returned with twenty-six prisoners, including one captain and one lieutenant.
Feb. 7 to 28. In camp near Huntsville resting the command.
Feb. 19. A detachment left for Louisville, Ky., to procure horses for the Regiment. Marched during the month 152 miles.
March 2. Left Huntsville. Ala., to concentrate at Wauhatchie, Tenn., for a prospective expedition. Marched via Salem and Winchester, Tenn., and Bridgeport, Ala.
March 10. Arrived at Wauhatchie at II A.M. Distance 115 miles.
March 16. Left by rail for Knoxville, Tenn., and were there assigned to the First Brigade First Cavalry Division, Department of East Ten- nessee, Col. and Brvt. Brig .- Gen. William J. Palmer commanding.
March 21. Started on expedition into Virginia and North Carolina. Marched to Strawberry Plains, sixteen miles.
March 22. Marched to Mossy Creek, fifteen miles.
March 23. Marched to Morristown, fifteen miles.
March 24 to 28, inclusive. Marched from Morristown, via Bull's Gap, Joresboro, and line of Watauga River to vicinity of Boone, N. C., 110 miles.
March 29. Marched to vicinity of Wilkesboro, N. C., thirty miles.
March 30 and 31. Marched to Jonesville, N. C., twenty-nine miles ; delayed by high water. Whole distance for month 330 miles.
April 2, 3, and 4. Marched from Jonesville, N. C., to Christiansburg, Va., 103 miles.
April 5. Destroying railroad. Major Wagner with six companies destroying railroad between Salem and Lynchburg. Left Christiansburg, Va., at II P.M., going towards Danville, N. C.
April 8. Reached Henry Court House, distance seventy miles.
April 9 and 10. Marched to Salem, N. C., distance seventy-four miles.
April 10. At 9 P.M. started to destroy railroad bridges north of Greensboro, N. C., and south towards Salisbury, N. C., to Jonestown, accomplished without loss, also destroyed large quantity of rebel govern- ment property, including the armory at Florence, N. C., with its machin- ery and about 4300 stand of arms, also surprised and captured the Third South Carolina Cavalry on April II, taking about eighty prisoners
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(officers and men), 120 horses, besides many exchanged for those ex- hausted by hard marching.
April II. Returned to Salem at 3 P.M., making sixty-six miles in fifteen hours-the flanking detachments marched much further. At 6 P.M. started for Salisbury.
April 12. Reached Salisbury in the evening, distance fifty-two miles.
April 13. At 5 P.M. started towards Taylorsville, N. C.
April 15. Reached Taylorsville at midnight, distance fifty miles.
April 16 and 17. Marched to Lincolnton, N. C., forty-eight miles, dispersing the advance of Basil Duke's command of cavalry, who were in the vicinity for horses previous to joining Johnston's army.
April 17 to 22. Holding line of Catawba River to prevent disbanded men, not paroled, from Lee's and Johnston's armies, from escaping.
April 23 and 24. Marched to Rutherfordton, N. C., forty-five miles.
April 26. Started for East Tennessee, reaching the vicinity of Ashe- ville, N. C., twenty-five miles. Received orders that armistice had been raised, and started for Yorkville, N. C.
April 28. Reached Rutherfordton, N. C., at sundown, twenty-five miles.
April 29 and 30. Marched to Spartansburg, S. C., sixty-two miles. Our efforts turned towards capture of Jeff Davis. Regiment marched 620 miles during the month.
May I. Left Spartansburg for Lawrenceville, S. C. Major Wagner, with one battalion, sent to Lawrenceville, where he destroyed train of cars and captured a large number of prisoners and horses. Balance of com- mand moved to north fork of Raitnier's Creek. Main column marched thirty-two miles; Major Wagner's battalion forty-five miles.
May 2. Crossed Raitner's Creek, Reedy and Saludo rivers to Honea Path, S. C., where a culvert was destroyed on Greenville-Columbia R. R. Moved on to Anderson Court House, distance thirty-nine miles.
May 3. Crossed Tugaloo River at Shallow Ford and marched to- wards Danielville, Ga., distance fifty-two miles.
May 4. Moved to Athens, Ga., to prevent Jeff Davis' cavalry escort from escaping across Savannah River, which was successfully done, he having been compelled by this movement to abandon his escort and move across the country a fugitive; distance marched seventeen miles.
May 7. Started on special expedition after Jeff Davis, moving south from Athens, Ga., twenty-eight miles.
May 8. Crossed Appalachee River and moved, via Fairplay, towards Covington, Ga., thirty-two miles, capturing seven wagons in which were $185,000 in gold, $1,585,000 in bonds and securities belonging to several Southern States, the Bank of Macon, and another Georgia bank, and several millions in Confederate bonds and notes.
May 10. Portion of Regiment captured General Bragg and staff; took his parole to report to Brevet Major-General Wilson, at Macon, Ga. Regiment, now much scattered, guarding fords, ferries, and roads to ap- prehend Davis.
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Addenda.
May 10. Portion of Regiment captured General Bragg and staff ; Davis had gone, Regiment was concentrated and moved, via Covington and Sheffield, Ga., towards Chattahoochee River. Main column marched twenty-six miles.
May II. Moved via Decatur, to Atlanta, Ga., for supplies, twenty miles.
May 12. Ordered to guard line of Chattahoochee River. Counter- manded. Moved, via Sandtown, Campbelltown and Jacksonville to Asheville, Ala. Difficulties in obtaining forage. Distance marched to Asheville, Ala., 146 miles.
May 15. Whilst en route received despatch of capture of Jeff Davis near Irwinton, Ga.
May 18. Regiment now guarding line from Blimsville, Ala., to Crossville, Ala., to prevent officers and men, not paroled, from joining Kirby Smith's Trans-Mississippi Department.
May 19. On account of forage moved westward and held line to Elyton; marched to six miles north of Chapultepec, in Murphy Valley. Headquarters marched twenty-two miles.
May 22. Moved towards Huntsville, Ala.
May 23. Reached Guntersville, Ala. Marched thirty-eight miles.
May 24. Crossed Tennessee River by gunboat and marched for Huntsville.
May 25. Reached Huntsville, forty-one miles. Entire distance marched by Regimental Headquarters during May, 495 miles. Several hundred prisoners were also paroled by order of Brvt. Brig .- Gen. W. J. Palmer. Company K was detached at Jacksonville, Ala., and ordered on special mission to Montgomery, Ala., joining Regiment again at Huntsville, having marched nearly 400 miles.
June 21. Regiment mustered out of service at Nashville, Tenn.
TELEGRAMS FROM THE FRONT.
T HE following telegrams were sent from in front of the Confederate forces at the time of the threatened invasion of Pennsylvania, just before the battle of Antietam. The only United States troops con- fronting the enemy were 200 men of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry and a company of regulars from the barracks at Carlisle.
GREENCASTLE, PA., September II, 1862.
A. K. MCCLURE,
Chambersburg, Pa.
If possible, send the regulars on to-night. They will be invaluable if we can get them here before morning. How soon will they reach here?
F. B. WARD.
GREENCASTLE, PA., September 12, 1862. MAJ. A. K. MCCLURE,
Assistant Adjutant General, Chambersburg, Pa.
4 A.M. I have just returned from the enemy's cavalry camp, where I have been all day. I left there at 8 P.M., and was obliged to walk through the fields to avoid the pickets. Only about 250 rebel cavalry had reached Hagerstown by the Boonsboro road, but at 3 P.M. two regiments, say 1500 infantry, 2, cannon and 25 wagons, came in by the same road and camped in town. Owing to the rebel cavalry having selected the farm at which I was lodging for their camp and placed guards around the house, I was unable to ascertain what force entered by the other roads, if any, but my impression is that another infantry and cavalry force, etc. (people say Longstreet's Division), came in by Carlton road. I could not possibly ascertain the truth of this personally. The rebel sentinels told me the main body of Jackson's army, with Jackson himself, turned off at Boonsboro and went to Williamsport, probably to flank our men at Harper's Ferry. This was confirmed by the statement of another rebel cavalryman to my landlord, whom he knew, and called upon on first reaching Hagerstown. A sentinel told me, and an officer informed my landlord, that their cavalry was ordered out to go into Pennsylvania, at between 12 M. and 2 A.M. this morning, and that their infantry would follow this morning. On learning this, I left immediately for Greencastle, having no one that I could send with a message. In accordance with your instructions, and as my men would make a poor show as yet in a fight with untrained horses and miserable saddles and bridles and without spurs, I have instructed my pickets to fall back slowly, and shall have to do the same with the small mounted force here. say eighty men, in case the enemy approaches. The dis- mounted men will be sent to me on Greencastle road, as fast as mounted. Lieutenant Spencer's command should do the same or not come on to Chambersburg. If they had been here, we could have held the rebel cavalry at the State Line. All of Jackson's soldiers say they do not intend to injure a single Marylander, but threaten to do all sorts of bad things when they get into Pennsylvania. This movement may be a feint, but the rebel soldiers do not so understand it, and the fact of their bringing wagons and infantry shows it is no mere raid. From the con- ciliatory manner in which the rebels behaved yesterday toward the citizens (they even went without grain for their horses, when plenty could
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have been seized), I think they imagine they will hold Maryland. One of their objects in invading Pennsylvania is to let the North know how invasion feels, and their policy may be to treat the non-combatants roughly, but I hardly think they will except in the matter of property. The enemy's cavalry was under command of Colonel Brinn, who resides near the State line and knows all the byroads. The infantry were under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Drake, and number 1300 men, a number of recruits having been received since entering Maryland. They were armed with pistol, saber and carbine, and well clothed and shod, and were soldierly looking men. Some Mississippi soldiers were reported by this cavalry as being on the Covetown road, and the soldiers say more infantry would be in this morning. I tried to obtain a pass to Leiters- burg from Lieutenant-Colonel Drake, of the cavalry, but he advised me to wait till morning. 4.30 A.M. A messenger from my pickets on the State Line has just reported that they heard the reveille blow in the rebel camp. The telegraph operator will put up his instruments at Marion-five miles from here. I will communicate to you further from there. The train will go on to Chambersburg. Is there a clear track? Has Lieutenant Spencer's party reached you? I shall endeavor to leave three men in citizen's clothing in Greencastle.
W. J. PALMER, Captain Commanding Anderson Cavalry. GREENCASTLE, PA., September II, 1862.
R. H. LAMBORN,
Greencastle, Pa.
Five hundred of Palmer's men coming on from Carlisle. Scott in- structs me to confer with you as to officers. Advise me promptly. Eighty regulars are also coming under Lieutenant Spencer.
A. K. MCCLURE.
GREENCASTLE, PA., September 11, 1862. MAJOR MCCLURE, Chambersburg, Pa.
Tell Lieutenant Spencer to come to Greencastle with all his mounted men immediately. Answer.
W. J. PALMER, Captain Commanding.
CHAMBERSBURG, PA., September II, 1862.
CAPTAIN WARD,
Greencastle, Pa.
If position of matters does not change, will send regulars forward at once with horses and equipments. The movements of Palmer's men will be determined by circumstances; will probably drop there on railroad some point in your rear and move our forces forward. Give me your views. You cannot resist flank movements at Greencastle. We can where my men are now. Train will reach here about 4 o'clock.
A. K. MCCLURE.
MAJ. A. K. MCCLURE,
GREENCASTLE, PA., September II, 1862. Chambersburg, Pa.
We have sent a squad of five men, with a light, over the road on a hand car, to see that it is unobstructed. Please send down men to meet
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History of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry.
them, also provided with lights, with instructions to show these lights distinctly, and if they see the headlight of the locomotive to take the hand car off the track. If you send a train down, let the engineer know that men are on the track, and caution him about running.
R. H. L.
GREENCASTLE, PA., September II, 1862.
MAJOR MCCLURE, Chambersburg, Pa.
We want a Provost Marshal here with nerve. Captain Palmer would be the man if we could get him, but he has not yet come in. We want one who will move not only property but the citizens themselves, if need be. I will inquire of Captain Ward regarding officers of Anderson Troop. Hand car not yet returned.
R. H. L.
GREENCASTLE, PA., September 12, 1862. A. K. MCCLURE, Chambersburg, Pa.
Don't apprehend any attack before morning. I have the road strongly picketed. I will strengthen the pickets still more, and think I can hold my position till daybreak at furthest. It depends altogether who gets the earliest start, the rebels or us.
F. B. WARD.
GREENCASTLE, PA., September 12, 1862.
COL. JOHN A. WRIGHT,
Harrisburg, Pa.
Cannot something be done to provide our remaining 700 men of the Anderson Cavalry with horses immediately? I have not enough to re- lieve my men, and they are all on picket to-night again, and will have to be until I get reinforced. What is the objection to sending 100 of my dismounted men out for ten or twenty miles in the country and seizing 700 horses immediately? Another of our pickets, an Ander- son trooper, on the State Line, was captured this afternoon by a dozen rebels, who made a sudden dash on him on Greencastle road. The regular, taken this morning, was released on parole.
WM. J. PALMER, Captain Commanding.
GREENCASTLE, PA., September 12, 1862. COL. THOS. A. SCOTT,
Governor's Room, Harrisburg, Pa.
From all that we can learn from various sources, it appears that the advance guard of the enemy has moved during the past twenty-four hours from a point about three miles southward of Hagerstown to a point on the road to this place about four miles northward of Hagers- town. The main body of men, however, appears to be yet somewhere in the meridian of Hagerstown. Several parties have declared that a large force is at Williamsport, but how they reached that place is not stated. The rebel Lieutenant-Colonel Brinn is said to have been making exceeding merry at his house about one-half mile south from the State Line. and that he is guarded by some 500 cavalry. The rebels upon entering Hagerstown placed guards at all the roads. with orders to shoot anyone who attempts to leave. Many rumors have been afloat
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