June 26, 1863, The New York Herald
The Harrisburg Telegrams.
HARRISBURG, Pa., June 25, 1863.
The Coatesville cavalry, of Chester county, received orders to proceed to Carlisle immediately.
Mr. Fisher has arrived here from Chambersburg, and gives an entirely different version to the sensation intelligence received from there. He states that he saw no rebel infantry there up to four o’clock on Tuesday afternoon.
Colonel Lemule Todd arrived here to-day from Carlisle. He feels confident that there is no rebel infantry this side of Chambersburg. He urges the immediate sending of reinforcements to General Knipe.
Strong, able bodied men are arriving here hourly from the border. They do not care about enlisting to defend their homes, but make quite a loud talk about what the authorities and government ought to do.
Parties of respectability have called upon the Governor and urged him to declare martial law. He refers them to General Couch. That officer declines resorting to extreme measures as yet.
A band of minstrels – Carncross & Dixey– fled from here at noon to-day. Their scare led them to flee towards Lancaster. They were advertised to stay all of this week.
Correspondents are flocking in from all quarters. None of them have any intelligence of a reliable character to report. Major O. W. Sees, the attentive head of the telegraphic department here, has fitted up a compete set of rooms in the Capitol buildings for the use of correspondents.
Our telegraphic operator at Grayson’s arrived at Carlisle at eleven o’clock A. M., and, after stopping a short time at the latter place, went back a few miles to observe the enemy. He has nothing to report but that the rebels are still advancing.
The Mayor has issued a proclamation forbidding the retailing of liquors, &c.
Colonel Coffee is here, assisting General Couch with his advice, and giving him the benefit of his large experience.
Newspaper correspondents have been restricted in the freedom heretofore given to their despatches. General Couch, though, has no complaints to make of the HERALD corps.
Large droves of horses are arriving from the border. Some of them would make excellent cavalry animals.
A despatch received here this morning states that Gen. Jenkins’ force was crossing Cave Mountain and entering McConnellsburg. The operator had left, but he heard distinctly the voices of the rebel officers giving their orders.
A very beautiful silk flag was presented to the Henry Guard this afternoon by Mr. John Davis Watson, on behalf of their brethren of the police force of Philadelphia.
HARRISBURG, Pa., June 25, 1873.
There is an apparent pause in the rebel advance upon Harrisburg. The rebels have not advanced further towards Carlisle than where they were when I sent my last despatch. They maintain their position, however, and seem to be endeavoring to encircle Carlisle to ascertain the force defending it. They are now at Grayson’s Station, a town six miles west of Carlisle. They say they will destroy the crops in the Cumberland valley, and they have already carried out the threat to a considerable extent. It is reported that our forces have met their advance guard beyond Carlisle and repulsed it with loss, and that the pursuit was successfully continued four miles towards Newville. I will probably be able to let you know to-night how much truth there is in this report. Two rebel officers taken prisoners in the valley were brought in to-day. Ewell has his headquarters between Greencastle and Hagerstown.
While I was visiting the camp of the “Herald Guard,” Fourth New York artillery, to-day, a cannonade in the direction of Mount Union was audible. I have not yet learned anything further concerning it.
All the drinking saloons in the city were closed to-day by proclamation from the Mayor. The military authorities have not yet taken control of the town, though we are gradually approaching martial law.
Considerable reinforcements of infantry, cavalry and artillery have marched to the assistance of General Knipe since yesterday. Fresh arrivals to some extent supply their places here. Among those gone are Company C, of the Fourth artillery, and a Buffalo company, consolidated with it. General Knipe will defend what we now hold of Cumberland valley.
The citizens have abandoned Carlisle in great numbers. Many of them are here, while most are gone further north. The enemy will find a desolate country to advance through for the future.
There are many meetings called to arrange military organizations of citizens this evening. The colored men have also called one, and purpose offering their services to the Governor.
Most of the stores are still open, though some timid persons have sought security in flight. The general sentiment is, “Let the rebels come on.” Alarm gives way to a desire for vengeance.
HARRISBURG, June 25 – 2:30 P.M.
During the whole of last night and up to the present time long trains of wagons, laden with good and household furniture, have entered the city. The farmers are flocking in with their horses, also any number of contrabands, of all ages and sexes. There are about six hundred contrabands between here and Carlisle, on the way. The Jews and many others are packing up their goods ready for shipment.
The matter of declaring marital law is under consideration to prevent all the able bodied men from leaving the city. This is considered as the only mode of compelling hundreds of persons, whose only desire is to make money out of the misfortunes of their fellow creatures, to remain and defend the city.
We have railroad communication up to this time. The citizens are arming themselves to protect the town, and all business is suspended.
The enemy is still advancing very slowly.
At this time the best of order prevails in the town, and the citizens are not indulging in any of that wild excitement that may be imaginable as incident to the occasion.
HARRISBURG, June 25 – 10 P.M.
The enemy appears to have come to a standstill. Our troops are advantageously posted to receive him if he should dare a further advance.
The firing at Mount Union is supposed to have been practice, as no reports of fighting have come from that direction.
There is no report of fighting in the Cumberland Valley at headquarters to-night.
Telegraphic communication is only open to Carlisle now.
The enemy is foraging all over the country he occupies and destroying the crops.
HARRISBURG Pa., June 25 – Midnight
At last accounts the enemy was within four miles of Carlisle. General Knipe had his little band, comprising the Eighth and Seventy-first New York infantry, and a portion of the First New York and Sixth Maryland cavalry, drawn up in line of battle a short distance west of the town. Every one expected an attack would be made before night, but for some reason the rebels have kept their distance.
A train of cars came down this afternoon. It was filled with people escaping from Carlisle. Among the collection was a large number of contrabands. Throughout the entire day wagons of all descriptions loaded with furniture and other property, have been coming into town. It is enough to touch the most obdurate heart to see the poor blacks as then come to this common asylum. Several of them walked the entire distance from Carlisle, and the feet of many were swollen and bleeding.
The Mayor has issued an order calling upon the people to stand firm in this crisis, and prohibiting the sale of all liquors until further notice.
A regiment of infantry and another of cavalry passed to the opposite side of the Susquehanna this afternoon. The rebels are advancing slowly from their position, and if they do not appear in too heavy numbers, General Knipe will certainly resist them at Carlisle. At McConnellsburg the militia ran precipitately. It is hoped they will do better hereafter.
The latest advices from Carlisle state that the telegraph company’s operator left there this morning, but the military operator is still there maintaining communications. The rebels are within four miles in force. Their encampment is in view of the city. Our troops were drawn up in line of battle nearly all day, expecting an attack. General Knipe is said to be throwing up entrenchments there.
General Couch to-day issued an order appointing Colonel Coppee, formerly Professor of Girard College, to collect from official despatches all the information that is not contraband. He is to make up two despatches each day for the use of reporters. Colonel Coppee has not attended to his duties, and consequently there is not a word of official news by telegraph brought from this department.
There is important news which ought to be sent, but it cannot be got at.
The Advance of the Rebels on Carlisle.
CARLISLE, Pa., June 25 – Noon.
I left Gleason’s Station at half-past ten o’clock to-day. The enemy was then abreast of us on the pike. The enemy’s drum beat this morning at half-past eight o’clock. At half-past nine the enemy commenced to move, and charged our cavalry, who then commenced to fall back slowly, in good order, the enemy following up cautiously.
The slowness with which the rebels advance is accounted for from the fact that the enemy is mounting his infantry as he goes along, so as to facilitate a retreat in case of disaster.
If the rebels remain ten days longer in the valley, the detriment to the crops will be very great, consequent upon the inactivity of the farmers there remaining and the absence of their horses.
Last night the roads were literally covered with citizens skedaddling from various towns.
General Knipe’s command is here.
CARLISLE, June 25 – 5 P.M.
The enemy’s advance is within five miles of here.
CARLISLE, Pa., June 25 – 10 P.M.
We do not expect the enemy here to-night.
General Ewell’s headquarters are at Shippensburg.
General Knipe is obeying instructions, and making the best disposition of his forces that can be made under the circumstances.
The enemy’s force is very strong.
General Ewell, when at Chambersburg, issued a printed proclamation to the citizens not to sell liquor to his soldiers under certain penalties. We have a copy of this proclamtory order, dated on the 22d inst.
The enemy is feeling along very cautiously. His cavalry may annoy us here before morning; but this is doubtful.
HARRISBURG, Pa., June 25 1863
Captain Barton, late of the One Hundred and Twenty-fourth Pennsylvania Volunteers, who left Carlisle at half-past two P.M., states that no rebels were in sight when he left. We had about one thousand men in the intrenchments, four hundred of whom were citizens. The Eighth and Seventy-first New York regiments were there. The rebels were in sight of our pickets. There was great excitement and a large number of residents leaving, particularly contrabands in charge of horses.
Mr. S. Ogilby, of Hagerstown, who left Carlisle at twenty minutes past three P.M., informs me that our troops had left the rifle pits, and were out in the Walnut Tree road cutting down fences, trees, &c., barricading the roads.