The heavy fog this (Monday) morning, at the hour this is written, prevents any object over the river from being distinctly seen. The flames do not appear, however, to have extended to any dwelling in Wrightsville, although two or three board-yards above the town were destroyed. Another yard below the town still contains sufficient lumber for the enemy to construct as many rafts as may seem desirable, but it is impossible to see whether the rebel guns are planted in its vicinity, or on the hills which come out naked and abrupt, with fields upon their tops, to the very edge of the river. One fact is certain, and the truth may as well be told, Columbia is completely at the mercy of the enemy, who, from the opposite hills just mentioned, can shell every building in the town. Nothing of importance was captured at the intrenchments except about five hundred rations, which have since been replaced. At the intrenchments the rebel fire was returned by our men to the best of their ability. The adjacent fields, however, were covered with long grain, in which the enemy could hide and fire at leisure. For this purpose some of their cavalry dismounted. During the whole affair the coolness and intrepidity of Colonel Frick were displayed, and to other officers the official report will do full justice. The three companies of Colonel Thomas's regiment were on the right. The City Troop and Bell's cavalry acted as scouts, aids, and orderlies. The colored volunteers behaved well. After the retreat the troops encamped on a hill back of Columbia, a portion of them, however, being detailed to guard a ford. One negro was killed in the intrenchments, and as many members of the white companies are still missing, it is not possible to give the exact loss. It will not exceed twenty, however; a small number, comparatively, but it must be recollected that the engagement derives its importance more from the fact of its proximity to Philadelphia, and the danger which threatens to the State, than from the mere loss in killed, wounded, and missing. The City Troop and Colonel Thomas's companies suffered no loss. Doc. 82. ADVANCE INTO PENNSYLVANIA. HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF NORTHERN. VIRGINIA, fulness on the part of some that they have in keeping the yet unsullied reputation of the army, and that the duties exacted of us by civilization and Christianity are not less obligatory in the country of the enemy than in our own. The Commanding General considers that no greater disgrace could befall the army, and through it our whole people, than the perpetration of the barbarous outrages upon the innocent and defenceless, and the wanton destruction of private property, that have marked the course of the enemy in our own country. Such proceedings, not only disgrace the perpetrators and all connected with them, but are subversive of the discipline and efficiency of the army, and destructive of the ends of our present movement. It must be remembered that we make war only upon armed men, and that we cannot take vengeance for the wrongs our people have suffered without lowering ourselves, in the eyes of all whose abhorrence has been excited by the atrocities of our enemy, and offending against Him to whom vengeance belongeth, and without whose favor and support our efforts must all prove in vain. The Commanding General therefore earnestly exhorts the troops to abstain with most scrupulous care from unnecessary or wanton injury to private property; and he enjoins upon all officers to arrest and bring to summary punishment all who shall in any way offend against the orders R. E. LEE, on this subject. General. RICHMOND SENTINEL ACCOUNT, Up to the battle of Chancellorsville, I had hardly conversed with a man who was in Maryland last year, (except Marylanders,) who was not opposed to another trip across the Potomac. But since then, matters have changed. It seems to be felt that the only obstacle to a successful invasion of Maryland or Pennsylvania, is to be made by Hooker or his army, and this army is willing any day to make a trial of strength. This last march was badly managed. The whole corps moved at once, and the consequence was, that the road was half the time "blocked." You have had full description of things about Winchester... We had heard that the Union feeling was strong at Martinsburgh; but on our arrival, I was greatly relieved by seeing a halfdozen girls run into the middle of the street, seize our flag and kiss it devoutly. I was near by when this occurred, and could but resolve, as the blood rushed to my face, that, by God's help, THE Commanding General has observed with when the time came, I would remember this marked satisfaction the conduct of the troops on happy baptism of virgin lips. One woman in the march, and confidently anticipates results this town was thorough Union. She faced a commensurate with the high spirit they have crowd of men in the street and talked with much manifested. No troops could have displayed spirit; had a husband, in Bragg's army, she greater fortitude or better performed the arduous said, and argued the question of the war very marches of the past ten days. Their conduct in glibly, but not logically. I was glad to find, on other respects has, with few exceptions, been in inquiry, that she was from Massachusetts. Her keeping with their character as soldiers, and en-tongue, I fancy, drove her husband so far from titles them to approbation and praise. her. With some of the poorer classes the Yan There have, however, been instances of forget-kees have, during Milroy's reign, become very To familiar, and one of my sergeants found a Yan- twenty shilling gold piece. Most refuse to take kee concealed in one of their houses. it, and prefer that you take what you wish withThe country between Martinsburgh and Win-out compensation in this form. chester is much desolated; little grain raised; By the way, Order No. 72 of General Lee the lands not good. On Thursday evening we is being pretty generally carried out. crossed the Potomac at Williamsport. The river enforce it strictly, is impossible. The doctrine is one hundred and fifty yards wide here, but of not using or destroying some of the prinot more than two and a half feet deep. The day vate property of an enemy while in his country, was cool and rainy, but the boys waded in cheer- is a pure abstraction. You cannot possibly infully, and the air was rent with shouts of laugh- troduce an army for one hour into an enemy's ter as now and then some clumsy fellow stum-country without damaging private property, and bled and went under, head and ears. There are in a way often in which compensation cannot be bluffs on the opposite shore, and here the towns- made. I am entirely opposed to a wanton depeople collected to witness this singular specta- struction of the private property of an enemy, cle. As we passed through the streets, the wo-but to use it even without compensation, for the men and men in great numbers looked on in si- men and animals of our army, is, I think, proper. lence, as they did in Frederick City last year. Yet if a man takes an onion, or climbs a cherry These people seem to be neither "fish nor fowl." tree, he is, by this order, to be punished. HunI saw great numbers of young men of conscript dreds of men die annually, yea, thousands, for age here, and also in Hagerstown next day. I want of a mixture of vegetable and animal food. understand that upward of two hundred of those A soldier who has been living on dry bread and in Hagerstown joined our army. On enter salt meat for months, feels a longing, especially ing that pretty town of five thousand inhabit- in summer, which no other man can understand, ants, Friday afternoon, I was glad to see some for succulent fruits or vegetables; and that they very decided demonstrations of white handker- should not be permitted occasionally (for it is only chiefs, and that, too, from dwellings indicating occasionally they have the opportunity) to eat intelligence and refinement. Our boys recognized this common and every-day diet of an enemy, is this greeting of the fair in repeated and hearty singular indeed. If we take all his vegetables, cheers. There was really a crowd in the streets. he has some substitute in acids, but the soldier As we halted but a short time, no opportunity has none. It is wanton and wicked for me to was given to converse with the people. The only man I spoke to turned out to be a secessionist. The crops of wheat all along the road in Maryland, and up to this point in Pennsylvania, are remarkably fine. Considerable corn has been planted, but wheat seems to be the grain best adapted to the soil. You see no such fields, in extent, as we have in Virginia. A lot rarely exceeds fifty acres. Middleburgh, five miles from Hagerstown, is on the dividing line between Maryland and the Keystone State. About half of it is in the former, and in this part of the town I was glad to witness one or two secession demonstrations. From this point to Greencastle, where we encamped on Friday night, distant nine miles, we passed a succession of Dutch farms, all small, but highly improved, with grain nearly ready for the sickle. The North and South-Mountain, a continuation of the Virginian mountains, causes this country to resemble the Virginia Valley very much. The lands are no better than ours. The people are exceedingly ignorant. I saw no houses indicating refinement. Were I to tell you how profoundly ignorant some of these Dutch are, you would hardly believe me. Our Virginia negroes are vastly better informed about military matters. Some think that Governor Curtin has a wand by which he can collect a body of militia, who will whip us out of our boots; and in the redundancy of their affections, they even express some little sympathy for us in the event we shall await the shock of this militia host. They think our confederate money is worth no more than brown paper, and one man sold one hundred and fifty dollars of it for al turn my horses into an enemy's wheat-field, when a clover-field, just as good for the animals, is on the other side of the fence. When I am hungry, I have a right to eat at an enemy's table, but I have no right afterward to turn round and break up his crockery. The distinction is too manifest to need further illustration; though, simple as it is, it seems not to be comprehended by some of our authorities. I have no idea that General Lee's late Order No. 72 should be construed in that literal sense that some imagine. It is generally and eagerly discussed. According to the literal construction, the corps quartermaster and commissaries are the only persons who can impress; but it must be manifest that they have a right to delegate their authorityotherwise nothing worth mentioning can be done by these men. I have been informed from good authority that no such idea was entertained by General Lee. But I must hasten to close this lengthy communication. The roads here are not so good as in Maryland. Yesterday we travelled a mud pike resembling a bad Virginia road. From this point the roads promise to be better. We are about seventeen miles in Pennsylvania. General Ewell left this place, I understand, for Harrisburgh, Friday morning. I presume his force is sufficient to take the capital. If not, we will help him. I'know nothing of the future movements of this army, but I think the bulk of it will remain in this vicinity until some large Yankee force is brought out to meet us. One division, I imagine, will suffice to disperse any militia that may be collected. Chambersburgh is a beautiful town of about eight or ten thousand inhabitants. The houses here, and in most of the towns, are built with much taste. Some are elegant. In the country, as before intimated, the Dutchman expends all his taste and money on his cows, horses, or barns. Great consternation prevails among the country people-the women are terribly frightened. Many, and indeed most of the girls are barefooted, and can get a dinner or breakfast for you in "no time.". Poor creatures! They think that we are as mean and as vile as their own soldiers. A man in town said to-day that the State militia did them worse than our own men. There is much excitement among the artillery in impressing horses. The farmers only ask one hundred and fifty dollars for the finest horses. Every one I have spoken to is in favor of peace. A hot Black Republican and a Democrat both agree on this question. They say they have heretofore felt none of the effects of the war worth speaking of, and from the number of new houses and barns, it seems they speak the truth. But I must close. A REBEL LETTER. The following letter was picked up on the battle-field of Gettysburgh, by a member of one of the Philadelphia regiments: CAMP NEAR GREENWOOD, PA., June 28, 1863. MY OWN DARLING WIFE: I have written two letters to you since I left the trenches at Fredericksburgh. I received a letter from you, dated the fourteenth instant. You may be sure I devoured its contents with great eagerness, but oh! how I was pained to hear that you were so unwell! It makes me miserable to think of you as suffering bodily afflictions, with all the great troubles you now have to contend with, and I not there to help you. road; yet there is a good deal of plundering going on, confined principally to the taking of provisions. No houses were searched and robbed, like our houses were done, by the Yankees. Pigs, chickens, geese, etc., are finding their way into our camp; it can't be prevented, and I can't think it ought to be. We must show them something of war. I have sent out to-day to get a good horse; I have no scruples about that, as they have taken mine. We took a lot of negroes yesterday. I was offered my choice, but as I could not get them back home I would not take them. In fact, my humanity revolted at taking the poor devils away from their homes. They were so scared that I turned them all loose. I dined yesterday with two old maids. They treated me very well, and seemed greatly in favor of peace. I have had a great deal of fun since I have been here. The country that we have passed through is beautiful, and every thing in the greatest abundance. You never saw such a land of plenty. We could live here mighty well for the next twelve months, but I suppose old Hooker will try to put a stop to us pretty soon. Of course we will have to fight here, and when it comes it will be the biggest on record. Our men feel that there is to be no back-out. A defeat here would be ruinous. This army has never done such fighting as it will do now, and if we can whip the armies that are now gathering to oppose us, we will have every thing in our own hands. We must conquer a peace. If we can come out of this country triumphant and victorious, having established a peace,, we will bring back to our own land the greatest joy that ever crowned a people. We will show the Yankees this time how we can fight. Be of good cheer, and write often to your fondly attached husband, WM. S. CHRISTIAN. Doc. 83. You can see by the date of this, that we are now in Pennsylvania. We crossed the line day before yesterday, and are resting to-day near a little one-horse town on the road to Gettysburgh, which we will reach to-morrow. We are paying REBEL ATTACK NEAR ROCKVILLE, MD. back these people for some of the damage they have done us, though we are not doing them half as bad as they done us. We are getting up all the horses, etc., and feeding our army with their beef and flour, etc., but there are strict orders about the interruption of any private property by individual soldiers. Though with these orders, fowls and pigs and eatables don't stand much chance. I felt when I first came here, that I would like to revenge myself upon these people for the desolation they have brought upon our own beautiful home; that home where we could have lived so happy, and that we loved so much, from which their vandalism has driven you and my helpless little ones. But though I had such severe wrongs and grievances to redress, and such great cause for revenge, yet when I got among these people I could not find it in my heart to molest them. They looked so dreadfully scared and talked so humble, that I have invariably endeavored to protect their property, and have prevented soldiers from taking chickens, even in the main WASHINGTON, D. C., June 29, 1863. YESTERDAY morning, at about half-past nine o'clock, I started from Washington in company with three officers of the topographical engineers. It was our intention to ride through to Frederick, stopping at Rockville for the purpose of taking dinner, but we all knew the liability of well-laid schemes, whether bi or quadrupedal, to go wrong. By the time we reached our first post of cavalry pickets we came up with the rear of a long wagon train, comprising one hundred and fifty vehicles, each drawn by six mules, driven by a very black and picturesque negro. This train must have been at least two miles long, for by the time we had reached the other end, riding leisurely, we were within a mile or two of Rockville. Here, just as we had passed the last wagon, an excited horseman, coming from the direction of Rockville, halted our party, and in a somewhat confused voice gave us the pleasing intelligence that about four hundred rebel cavalry were close at his heels. A short consultation of war resulted trated at this point. The corps of General Thomas was yesterday thrown forward, and his advance is within four miles of the enemy. We shall probably advance to-day; and if so, the chances are in favor of a great battle to-morrow. It seems likely that Bragg intends to make a stand at Tullahoma. Tullahoma is a strong position naturally; its artificial defences are respectaable, and the troops are laboring day and night strengthening them. While sitting to-day with General Rosecrans and a number of the members of his staff, under the General's marquée, General Stanley, Chief of Cavalry, with General Mitchell and his division of horse, reached headquarters-being just back from his brilliant expedition to Shelbyville, the headquarters of the rebel army. I have already sent by telegraph the leading points of the affair;. but, in the course of an afternoon's gossip, there are many details which may be of interest. in our making up our minds to retreat. This confined to get his troops and trains all concenconclusion was scarcely arrived at when two more men came full tilt past us, shouting that the rebels had fired on them and were close behind. Then came a cavalry soldier, one of the six who formed our paltry guard, leading a rider less horse, whose master (another of our guard) had just been shot. Then came thundering along a second trooper, much excited, and evidently charged with some important mission. He immediately halted all the mule teams, ordering them to turn back. And now commenced a scene of excitement and confusion which none but a maniac could properly describe. Wagons upset by their drivers in abortive attempts to turn them round, others locked together, mule teams inextricably snarled up, and through this jam and mess some twenty or thirty horsemen (your correspondent among the number) galloping like mad. Had the devil been behind us, it would have been impossible to go faster; as fast as the frightened horses could lay their legs to Our force, all of which was under command the ground they went, kicking up stones and of General Gordon Granger, first met the enemy earth with their heels in the most exciting man- at Guy's Gap, where he occupied a strong posiner. Two scared farmers led the retreat on pow- tion. It was determined to take it by direct aserful horses, and so long as they galloped it was sault. The head of our column deployed as impossible to stop any of the other horses. At last we got sufficiently far from the train to deem ourselves safe, and as the farmers had got out of reach, we pulled up and reconnoitred. Away far back on the road we could distinguish smoke from the burning teams. They were doubtless all destroyed. All the mules were captured, and two ambulances containing officers were likewise gobbled up. At about four o'clock we, the fortunate ones, reached the city, after a six hours' ride of nearly thirty miles, very sore and very tired. skirmishers, and advanced in échelon up the hill, the enemy meanwhile falling back, their rearguard resisting our progress up the hill. On reaching the top, however, we found the rebel force on the full run down the pike for Shelbyville. They were, however, closely pursued by the First Middle Tennessee cavalry, (Colonel Galbraith,) supported by the Fourth regulars, (Captain McIntyre,) and forty or fifty of them were ridden down and captured. Minty's entire brigade followed the fleeing foe until they reached their intrenchments at Shelbyville, where, under cover of their breastworks and two pieces of artillery, they made a stand. Colonel Minty ac This bold dash of the enemy caused considerable excitement in the city directly we arrived. Colonel Wyndham was immediately put in com-cordingly dismounted the Fourth Michigan and mand of all the cavalry in and around Washing- Third Indiana, and sent them to right and left in ton, with authority to mount and organize all the woods, as skirmishers. On the advance of the horseless troopers he could lay his hands on, the skirmishers, the rebels limbered up their and to mount a Maine regiment whose time is guns, when one hundred and fifty men of the just up, to act as mounted infantry, provided Seventh Pennsylvania and two companies of the they would consent to serve in that capacity for Fourth regulars pursued the battery to within a a few weeks. The Scott's Nine Hundred (cavalry) mile of Shelbyville, at which point two more marched through town at two o'clock this morn- guns were opened on our column, causing it to ing, and the Sixteenth New-York leave for Fred-halt. A section of our artillery was presently erick at three P.M. It is Colonel Wyndham's brought up, which fired two rounds, after which intention to see if he cannot fall foul of these re- the detachments already mentioned being in bel gentlemen and recover our mules, and take a their saddles on the road in rear of the guns few hundred prisoners at the same time. The immediately charged forward, chasing the enemy appointment of Colonel Wyndham gives great into the town. The rebels here took up a strong satisfaction. No officer in the army has a higher position on the public' square, with three guns reputation for energy, activity, and soldierly commanding the pike by which we had to apknowledge. Doc. 84. .. AFFAIR AT SHELBYVILLE, TENNESSEE. MANCHESTER, TENN., July 1, 1863 HEADQUARTERS Still remain here, and the efforts of the General for the past three days have been proach. A charge was forthwith sounded-the Seventh and Ninth Pennsylvania, under command of Major Davis, being selected for the work. It was made with sabre drawn first rank, tierce point, second, right cut. The column rushed forward into the teeth of the gun's, but with such rapidity that before the artillerymen could serve the pieces a second time, they were captured, with the rammer half-way out of the muzzle. We now engaged the enemy's cavalry hand to hand, and from all that I can learn, the public square and streets of Shelbyville must have been witnesses to some of the most exciting hand-to-hand encounters that have occurred during the war. The enemy was completely routed, and while they were still running, Colonel Campbell, with his command, reached their flank near the upper bridge of Duck River, into which they were driven, and a hundred of them killed and drowned. The rebel General Wheeler's horse was killed, and he escaped on foot, without coat or hat. Our captures foot up sixty or seventy officers and nearly seven hundred men. Our loss six killed and between thirty and forty wounded. The joy of the loyal people of this thoroughly Union town of Tennessee, is said to have been beyond all expression. The Stars and Stripes were displayed from the house-tops and windows, and the ladies, after waving their handkerchiefs, threw them away with joy and waved their skirts. not be able to justify himself before man and EXPLOIT AT MCCONNELLSBURGH MCCONNELLSBURGH, June 30, 1863. I take advantage of to-day's mail (the first that has gone north for many days, and perhaps the last that will go for many more) to inform you of the particulars of the brilliant affair that came off in our streets yesterday. Captain Jones, at the head of a detachment of the First New-York cavalry, entered this place, at nine yesterday morning, on a reconnoissance. Scarcely had he dismounted his men and established his pickets, when one of the latter came rushing into town and reported the rebels but a short distance up the Mercersburgh road, and advancing. The bustle and excitement usually incident upon the receipt of such intelligence was not exhibited by the New Yorkers. Captain The fortifications of Shelbyville-the result of Jones asked their number. A hundred was the five months' assiduous labor on the part of an reply; and, although his force did not amount enemy who has vast faith in digging-prove to to half that number, he coolly answered: "I'll have been of the most formidable character, and fight them; men, take your places!" By this could not have been taken by direct assault with- time the rebel advance was entering town. Our out enormous loss of life. They covered Shelby-men had mounted, and were proceeding leisurely ville three miles and a half north of the town, down street; the enemy, supposing them on a and for nine miles across-rifle-pits, abattis, and retreat, followed cautiously. Suddenly the Newenfilading works for heavy artillery. The strate-Yorkers wheeled, the rebs halted. The distance gic manoeuvre on the rebel flank made these utterly useless to the enemy, and caused them to be voluntarily evacuated. Doc. 85. INVASION OF PENNSYLVANIA. MAYOR'S OFFICE, PHILADELPHIA, June 29, 1863. between the parties was but two hundred yards; for a moment they gazed on each other, and oh! the anxiety of that moment! but it was soon dispelled. The rebel officers, standing far in the rear of their men, cried to them to "Charge, charge the Yankees, charge them !" But it was no use, the men wouldn't move. But when the clear voice of Captain Jones rang out, "Charge!" the order had not to be repeated; led by that gallant officer, his men, with one wild whoop, that sent terror into the hearts of their cowardly foe, sabre in hand, sprang forward to the work. Had the rebel lines been ONE more appeal is made to you in the name braced with iron, they never could have stood of duty and of manhood. You can close your that shock; they broke and fled, and, amid the eyes no longer to the startling danger and dis-waving of handkerchiefs and the cheers of the citigrace which hang over your State and city. The zens, the New-Yorkers dashed after their flying foot of the rebel is already at the gates of your foe. The sharp ring of the carbine, the clang of capital, and unless you arouse to instant action the sabres, and the shouts of the pursuers, creit may in a few days hence cross your own thresh-ated a scene at once so wild, so exciting, and so olds. There is yet time to prepare for defence. full of interest, that I doubt whether it has been You number more than fifty thousand able-equalled during the war. The rebels were overbodied men; the means to arm and equip your-taken at the edge of the town; our cavalry selves are at hand. Close your manufactories, dashed in amongst them, and a regular handwork-shops, and stores before the stern necessity to-hand fight ensued; for a few moments the for common safety makes it obligatory. Assemble yourselves forthwith for organization and drill. Come ready to devote yourselves to the protection of your homes until your services shall be no longer needed. Spurn from you those who would delude you to inactivity or disaffection. Their tongues and hearts are more false and hateful than even the invaders of your soil. Let no one refuse to arm who will crack of the revolvers and the rattle of the sabres was incessant. The result, however, was soon decided in our favor; three only of the rebels escaped, and the New-York boys returned to town driving before them more prisoners than their own number. Cheer after cheer rent the air as they marched down the street, and such an amount of good feeling was never before exhibited by l'our citizens. Two of the rebels were killed and |