June 30, 1863, The New York Herald
OUR LANCASTER CORRESPONDENCE.
LANCASTER, Pa., June 29, 1863.
ALL BUSINESS IS SUSPENDED here today; but the organization of the citizens into companies progresses very slowly. They do not seem desirous of doing anything for the defence of the city worthy of mention, now that the moment of action has arrived.
RICH AND POOR NEGROES LEAVING.
There is a difference existing among the rich and the poor. The rich offer bounties; the poorer citizens wish to see them shoulder the musket; and thus they wrangle while the enemy is at their thresholds. Every negro has left or is leaving the place, and nearly every white person – some for the field, others for places of security. Every vehicle is brought into use, from the wheelbarrow to the railroad car, and the road for five miles between this city and Columbia is strewn with citizens and vehicles, trudging along to the north and east.
RUMORS OF REBEL MOVEMENTS.
It would be useless to refer to all the rumors which now circulate here. The latest is that the rebels have crossed the Susquehanna above Columbia, and have taken possession of that place. On inquiring at the telegraph office about the truth of this report, I found they have no news from Columbia to-day, and cannot find the operator; and this has probably given rise to the rumor.
EXCITEMENT UNABATED – PANIC CITIZENS.
The citizens crowd the streets to-day again, and the excitement is unabated. Men stand in groups everywhere and in crowds around the railroad depot. There are now thousands of men here capable of bearing arms if they had them and were willing. Unfortunately the events of the past twenty-four hours have too sadly convinced me that neither of these theories will hold. The cry is, what is Hooker’s army doing? Where is Hooker? Or why do we not hear from Hooker?
There are various reports from Harrisburg this morning. One that there has been fighting near the ford, above the city, and that the rebels were driven back. The most reasonable is that coming from parties who left Harrisburg to-day, who report the enemy falling back.
NO FIRING IN THE DIRECTION OF COLUMBIA.
No cannonading has been heard at this point or Columbia to-day up to this time; so the fighting, if there was any, could not be very serious. There are some here who believe the rebels will cross the Susquehanna in force; but this, in the present stage of the water, is impossible; for there are only two fords on the whole river from Marietta to a point opposite York, and these two points are well guarded.
THE REBEL PONTOON TRAIN.
It is also ascertained that the rebels have not pontoons enough in their train to pass any considerable force over the Susquehanna, if it would be possible for them to bridge it at all.
WHERE IS LEE?
Lee’s army is reported to be moving up the Cumberland valley now in full force, and reports fix Lee’s headquarters at Hagerstown, while others say he is already at Gettysburg. The opinion of the wisest men here, and those who are thoroughly acquainted with the river, is that Lee will never commit such a blunder as to cross it in force. His cavalry may swim the river at different points and attempt raids; but the design of Lee is to make Cumberland valley the battle field. It is also stated by parties who have arrived here from the southern part of the State that the Army of the Potomac is somewhere in the vicinity, on the different roads leading north. Some hope that the Army of the Potomac will pin Lee’s army in the Cumberland valley, while others fear that Lee will accomplish all his designs on Pennsylvania without interruption, then fall upon Washington by giving our army the slip again.
GENERAL McCLELLAN WANTED.
There is a general desire here that General McClellan should receive a command. There are persons here who say that if McClellan moved to Philadelphia without a man, and marched from that city here, he would have fifty thousand men at this point who would fight under him with a will.
EX-PRESIDENT BUCHANAN.
Mayor Clymer, of Reading, called on ex-President Buchanan yesterday. The old man expressed his firm devotion to the Union, but strongly denounced the method adopted of carrying on the war. He was particularly severe on the arbitrary arrests.