June 25, 1863, The New York Herald
The Harrisburg Telegrams.
HARRISBURG, Pa., June 24, 1863.
Great alarm prevails here. The rebels have advanced to Shippensburg in force. Captain Boyd called in his pickets, and the telegraph operator left.
The opinion of Generals Franklin and Couch is that the rebels are now advancing with serious intent upon the State capital. Their move is necessarily slow, as the cavalry march with the infantry. Every preparation has been made to give them a proper reception, and our soldiers are buoyant with the hopes of a speedy brush. The people are passive under the exciting intelligence, but the politicians are leaving.
Reports from McConnellsburg state that the rebels are in that vicinity, about thirty thousand strong.
The Shippensburg operator has just arrived at Newville, a distance of eleven miles from the former place. Captain Boyd could not inform the operator either as to the character or force of the advancing rebels. He came the eleven miles on a hand car in fifty minutes.
A despatch form Altoona to the Governor states that the rebels, marching on Shippensburg, have a supply train with them three miles long.
A refugee here, who has means of collecting information, informs the Governor from three sources, as follows: – A lady who saw the rebels in Greencastle, saw eight pieces of artillery on the Diamond, or public square of that place, and a large force of infantry; another refugee counted seventeen pieces of artillery, judges their force to between six and eight thousand good men, and John Whitmore whose farm they occupied, counted eighteen pieces of artillery, and estimates their force to be as above.
The Shippensburg operator has fallen back from Newville to a point called Grayson’s Station, five miles east of Newville and six miles west of Carlisle. He states that the rebels have halted eight miles west of Carlisle. Our scouts are also in that vicinity.
The Thirty-seventh New York made application to the Governor to-day for horses.
Passengers along the line of the Northern Central Railroad report everything quiet along its line.
A deputation of the soldiers of 1812 called upon the Governor to-day, and tendered their services to serve in the rifle pits. They had with them an old flag, tattered and torn by bullets and age. They made a singular request – namely, that they should be furnished with flintlock muskets, with which they promised to do great execution. Their acceptance and request were very handsomely replied to by the Governor, who stated that it was true, from some cause, that while other parts of the State had been most liberal in furnishing men for his call, but very few had volunteered in defence of their homes from this place. He trusted the example of the venerable men before him would have a happy effect upon the young men of the place. It is true we had war and all its results. While he would ever regret that one drop of blood had been shed, it was not time for parleying. There were differences of opinion; but there should be but one to mind in the contest about to be opened at our very doors. The Governor in fervid language depicted the horrors entailed if the rebellion should succeed, which he prayed God would alert. He was thankful, very thankful, to the venerable body, broken with age and whose heads were silvered with gray, for the lesson in duty they had taught those who were their juniors by enrolling themselves for duty. (Loud cheers were given by the populace for the Governor and veterans.) They will be stationed in the rifle pits.
A citizen named J. K. Martin, veterinary surgeon, was arrested to-day for uttering disloyal sentiments. He took the oath of allegiance and was discharged.
Hon. Thomas B. Scott left here in the early train this morning for New York.
HARRISBURG, Pa., June 24 – Evening.
The rebels still continue to advance upon Harrisburg. The slowness of their movement, however, proclaims it a feint.
Our scouts reported them within one mile of Shippensburg this morning at eleven o’clock. Our pickets retired upon this information to Newville.
Our scouts confirm the previous reports that the enemy is in heavy force. His numbers are not stated.
A rebel deserter, who entered our lines to-day reported General Ewell in command of the rebel forces in Pennsylvania advancing on Harrisburg, with six brigades, composed of fifteen thousand men.
Cattle and other movable property is still streaming northward for security.
The rebels have again destroyed the railroad bridge at Scotland by fire. They have also cut down the telegraph poles and destroyed the wires for miles.
The latest advices from the vicinity of Gettysburg report the enemy withdrawing from that point upon their main body, towards Chambersburg.
I am informed by an officer of the regular army that there is information at headquarters which puts it beyond doubt that the enemy is at least thirty thousand strong in the vicinity of Boonsboro.
The new cavalry force is getting into shape.
No collisions are reported so far to-day.
The rebel advance upon Harrisburg is now within five miles of Carlisle, on the road from Shippensburg. Carlisle is eighteen miles from Harrisburg. By a flank movement the column that was at Gettysburg has suddenly turned up at Papertown, six miles south of Carlisle.
There has been no fighting yet, but preparations are making. The clerks in the different departments have tendered their services to the Governor.
There is great excitement here, and it is on the increase. Perhaps the rebels may make an effort to carry out the threat of being here to-morrow night.
HARRISBURG, Pa., June 24, 1863.
News from up the valley shows that the rebels are rapidly advancing in this direction in strong force. No troops would likely venture so far from their base of operations into an enemy’s country without force sufficient to act on the offensive. So far no opposition has been made to their movements.
The rebels are now twelve miles from Carlisle, and still advancing. Gen. Knipe, commanding the forces in the valley, will probably give them battle at that point. The rebels will no doubt appear in front of that town to-morrow. Our cavalry, who fall back as the rebels advance, have been unable to discover any infantry as yet, but there is no doubt that a strong force is in supporting distance.
A deserter belonging to the Forty-fourth Georgia regiment arrived here to-day. On Sunday night his regiment was doing picket duty near Hagerstown, and on Monday morning fifty of them deserted and safely made their way to the mountains, where they remained all night. Yesterday morning they all started for Frederick City, hoping to make their way to Baltimore, with the exception of this man, who came to Gettysburg. He states that General Ewell’s whole corps of six brigades was at Hagerstown when he left. They number about 12,000. The last brigade left Williamsport on Friday, arriving at Hagerstown the same day. Orders were issued on Sunday for the corps to move at five o’clock on Monday morning. It is believed they are coming in this direction, supporting Gen. Jenkins’ force of cavalry.
HARRISBURG, June 24 – Midnight.
The rebels are within twenty-five miles of Harrisburg. The enemy’s column halted about dusk about eight miles the other side of Carlisle and went into camp. The authorities are in telegraphic communication with Greyson’s Station, two miles from the rebel pickets. Their line to-night is very strong.
The result of to-morrow is looked forward to with much anxiety. General Knipe may give the enemy battle at Carlisle, or can fall back to the Susquehanna. A battle will undoubtedly be fought, or the place evacuated before to-morrow night.
General Couch has thrown a strong column in the neighborhood of Gettysburg, on the enemy’s right flank. This, in connection with certain movements by the Army of the Potomac in their rear will make it a dangerous experiment for them to attempt to hold the line of the Susquehannah.
Numerous arrests have been made to-day on the south side of the river of parties suspected of being rebel spies and guerillas, but on the cases being investigated, most of them proved refugees.
The works on the opposite side of the river have been completed and guns are being mounted.
The Philadelphia Gray Reserves, one thousand one hundred strong, are still here, but refuse to be mustered in. Their conduct is severely commented on by the other troops.
General Andrew Porter arrived here to-day and tendered his services to the authorities.
Everything is quiet in the neighborhood of Gettysburg and Hanover Junction. Great activity is being displayed in that quarter to prevent any demonstration on the line of the Northern Central Railroad.
A rebel operator at ten o’clock to-night attached the wires at McConnellsburg and opened communication with Pittsburg. He told a long story about Jenkins, and what he intended doing. No reliance is placed in it.
It is reported here and believed that General Milroy had been relieved of his command.
It is known here to a certainty that twenty regiment of rebel infantry passed through Chambersburg to-day. They were moving in this direction, and are undoubtedly Gen. Ewell’s corps (late Stonewall Jackson.)
Important events are likely to transpire to-morrow.