June 18, 1863, The New York Herald
By the latest accounts it has been ascertained that no rebels were to be found as far as Shippensburg yesterday. They were in possession of the little town of Scotland, where they had burned the bridge. About three o’clock yesterday they retreated from Chambersburg.
An official despatch from General Tyler, at Harper’s Ferry received in Washington last night, represents that the enemy have a force of infantry and artillery from seven to eight thousand strong at Williamsport, and that their cavalry are making dashes into Pennsylvania. The rebel General Imboden is reported to be in front of Cumberland with two regiments of cavalry and a battery. Our troops evacuated Harper’s Ferry yesterday, and hold Maryland Heights, strongly fortified, to resist any attack.
It is reported that about five hundred of our cavalry were flanked at Greencastle by the rebels in force, and but twenty escaped. The rebels have burned the bridge at Chambersburg. They avoid the turnpike in their raids.
From all the information we have as to the position and movements of General Hooker’s army it would appear that it is again near the celebrated Bull run scene of action. The Third Army corps arrived at Manassas Junction on Monday morning. The First and Eleventh corps are at Centreville. The balance of the army – the Second, Fifth, Sixth and Twelfth corps – were expected at Bull run next night. General Gregg’s division are operating in the neighborhood of Warrenton and White Sulphur Springs. General Dufie’s division (late General Averill) are at the base of the Blue Ridge, near Ashby’s Gap. General Buford, with the regulars, has completely blocked up Thoroughfare Gap, thereby preventing the approach of the rebels to this neighborhood through that channel. Colonel Taylor, of the First Pennsylvania cavalry, now temporarily in command of General Wyndham’s brigade, has had the Orange and Alexandria Railroad under his special care. General Pleasanton, now in command of the cavalry corps, has his headquarters in the neighborhood of Warrenton Junction. Such was the position of things on Tuesday.
The latest news from Vicksburg – to the 12th – reports everything progressing favorably. General Ellett, with the ram Switzerland, had gone up the Atchafalaya to Simsport, and reports the river clear between Port Hudson and Vicksburg.
We give some highly interesting news from the military department of South Carolina, brought by the Arago from Hilton Head yesterday, relative to the departure of General Hunter, and the instalment of General Gilmore, the hero of Fort Pulaski, as commandant, in General Hunter’s place.
The British brig Mary Garland, from Pernambuco May 21 which arrived at this port yesterday, reports that the privateer Florida left Pernambuco two or three days previous to the sailing of the Mary Garland, and the United States gunboat Mohican arrived the day before, coaled and sailed the same day as the Florida on a cruise after her. The privateers Alabama and Virginia were at Bahia, and the Lapwing was cruising off the coast. The Mary Garland brings home as passengers the crews and parts of crews of eight vessels which were destroyed by the Virginia, Florida and Alabama.
At a meeting in Sheffield, England, on the 3d of June a resolution lamenting the decease of General “Stonewall” Jackson was adopted and directed to be sent as an expression of condolence to his widow.