June 20, 1863, The Charleston Mercury
GLORIOUS NEWS FROM THE BORDER!
GEN. LEE’S ARMY IN PENNSYLVANIA.
SHELBYVILLE, TENN., June 18. – Nashville papers of the 7th have been received here. The news they contain is highly important.
President LINCOLN has issued a Proclamation calling for 100,000 militia, to serve for six months.
The following despatches announce the advance of Gen. LEE’S army over the border and into Pennsylvania:
LOUDON, PA., June 16 – The rebels, in heavy force, have entered the Cumberland Valley.
BEDFORD, PA., June 16 – Scouts just in report that 6000 rebel cavalry are at Cumberland, Md., and that the inhabitants are flying for safety to Harper’s Ferry.
HARRISBURG, June 16. – Business here has been suspended. All important documents have been removed from the capitol. MILROY telegraphs officially his […..] from the Winchester fortifications by 15,000 rebels.’ He states his loss to have been 2900 men.
Governor CURTIN calls on all Pennsylvanians to rally to the defence of their State. He takes occasion to say that Philadelphia had not responded, though the enemy was in Chambersburg. He reproaches Pennsylvania for sniffling about the length of the term of enlistment when such an exigency exists. All the despatches received here state that everything looks gloomy, and that there is no saving the country south of the Susquehanna.
PHILADELPHIA, June 16. – The Mayor has issued a Proclamation closing the stores, in order that the occupants may joint the organizations for the defence of the city.
BALTIMORE, June 16. – Governor BRADFORD calls upon the people to rally to the defense of Maryland.
PROVIDENCE, R. I., June 16. – Governor SMITH convenes the Legislature on Thursday for the purpose or raising troops.
NEW YORK, June 16. – All the regiments here are getting ready and under arms. In Brooklyn the bells were rung at midnight, summoning the men to assemble. Regiments were leaving immediately for Philadelphia. Gov. ANDREW, of Mass., tenders to LINCOLN the whole available militia force of that State.
Later. – Further Northern accounts of LEE’S progress say that the rebels had advanced six miles beyond Chambersburg on the 16th. Gen. TYLER telegraphs, officially, his retreat and the capture of the Federal forces at Winchester. The New York Times of the 16th says that LEE and his army, 90,000 strong, were marching northward, and HOOKER’S army was marching on, to prevent, if possible, his advance. The Governor of Ohio calls for 30,000 troops, and the Governor Pennsylvania for 50,000, to prevent the invasion of these States.
WASHINGTON, June 15. – President LINCOLN has issued a Proclamation for 100,000 men to repel the invasion of Maryland, Northern Virginia, Pennsylvania and Ohio.
HARRISBURG, June 16. – Despatches from Chambersburg and Hagerstown dated June 14, state that the rebel cavalry were at Perryville and Martinsburg on the 14th, and that hard fighting was going on. The rebels had driven REYNOLDS from Perryville and were advancing on Harrisburg. The towns and cities throughout Pennsylvania are in great danger.
Private despatches states that the rebels were in full force at Chambersburg on the 16th. The Federals were removing their railroad machinery, stock and stores. Great excitement and alarm prevailed.
The Northern papers publish despatches from Vicksburg to the 10th June. GRANT’s lines were then contracting. KIRBY SMITH, with 6000 troops, came up the Wachita River, making a demonstration on the Louisiana side. The Federal troops at Milliken’s Bend have been reinforced.
The steamer Scotian arrived at New York from Liverpool on the 16th. She reports the burning of the bark Ira and the ship Oneida by the Florida.
Capt. LAMBERT, of the whaling schooner Kingfisher, says that his vessel was captured and burned by the Alabama. He publishes a card expressing his thanks for the kind treatment he had received from the officers of the […..] pirate.’ The brig Arabia, from Aspinwall, reports that she was boarded by the […..],’taken as a prize, and released on a bond for $40,000. The […..]’ Captain reported that he had destroyed two other vessels on the 12th, and intended to destroy all he could.
The English and Austrian Consuls had arrived in New York on the 16th, having been ordered out of the Confederacy by the rebel authorities.
Gold in New York 149. Cotton 58 cents.
MOVEMENTS OF THE ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA.
RICHMOND, June 18. – Passengers by the Central train this evening bring little additional news from Winchester. The number of prisoners taken is fully 7000, besides from 2000 to 3000 horses, and an immense number of wagons.
Before the capture of the place, MILROY notified the rebels that he would burn the town if any attempt were made to storm his position. EWELL replied that if the town were burned, he would hang every Yankee captured.
It is reported that EWELL has taken Harper’s Ferry, with immense stores. He is supposed to be pushing towards Frederick City, Md.
The Yankees have entirely disappeared from Stafford County. The buildings at Acquia Creek were not destroyed. The citizens of Fredericksburg, so long exiled, are prepared to reoccupy their homes. The poor people of Fredericksburg are reaping a rich harvest from the spoils of the enemy’s deserted camps in Stafford County.
(Later.)
RICHMOND, June 19 – Apprehensions of a drought in this vicinity have been relieved by an abundant and refreshing rain last night.
It is reported that Gen. MILROY’S wife was captured on Sunday at Martinsburg.
H. PINCKNEY WALKER, Esq., having submitted satisfactory evidence of his appointment, is officially recognized by the Confederate Government as Acting British Consul for the States of North and South Carolina.