June 26, 1863, The New York Herald
Despatches from Harrisburg to half-past two o’clock yesterday afternoon stated that the enemy was advancing slowly, but that the best order prevailed in the city. The excitement of the previous days had considerably abated. During the entire of Wednesday night and all day yesterday, long trains of wagons, laden with goods and furniture, were entering the city for protection. Farmers were driving in their horses and cattle, and negroes in large numbers were also flocking in. At six o’clock reports reached there that the enemy had halted, but were foraging all over the country and destroying the crops. At ten o’clock last night the people of Carlisle, the nearest point to the rebel advance, within which they were only four miles distance at five o’clock, did not anticipate any attack before morning at least. General Ewell’s headquarters were then at Shippensburg. Despatches from Frederick say that General Rhodes’ division, ten thousand strong, left Hagerstown on Tuesday for Chambersburg. General Johnson’s division, twelve thousand strong, with thirteen pieces of artillery, crossed at Shepherdstown on Sunday. One half of this force was at Boonsboro on Monday, and left on Tuesday for the North. The other half went to Williamsport. The aqueduct at Williamsport has been blown up by the rebels, and the bridges over Black creek, Sleepy creek, Sir John’s run, Green Spring run and South Branch have been destroyed. One span of North Branch bridge has also been destroyed. It is generally believed that the greater part of General Lee’s army crossed over into Maryland since Friday, at Antietam, Shepherdstown and Williamsport.
With regard to the other movements of Lee’s army, we are told that he and General Longstreet were at Winchester on Friday last, with one hundred thousand men. An immense number of wagons were with them, and proceeded north through Hagerstown, Martinsburg and Boonsboro, as if with the intention of carrying off provender and supplies.
Over ten thousand men are now at work on the Pittsburg fortifications. They are distributed as follows: – Heron Hill, two thousand nine hundred; Squirrel Hill, one thousand three hundred; Negley’s Hill, two thousand one hundred, and Mount Washington, three thousand six hundred.
There is nothing stated of the movements of Gen. Hooker army today.
The latest news from Vicksburg, up to yesterday, by way of Cincinnati, is, in effect, most hopeful. General Grant position as against General Johnston is regarded as strong as that of General Pemberton against General Grant. The indications all are that the rebel army in Vicksburg must shortly surrender. The fire upon the city is very heavy and destructive, while the rebel reply to our fire is not heavy. General Johnston is believed to be mainly employed in preparations to defend the interior of Mississippi after the fall of Vicksburg.
The expedition recently sent into East Tennessee reports officially to General Burnside, through Colonel Saunders, commanding, that his troops struck the railroad at Lenoir, destroyed the road up to Knoxville, and made a demonstration against that city, so as to have the troops drawn from above, destroyed the railroad track and started for Strawberry Plains, burnt the state creek bridge, three hundred and twelve feet long, and the Strawberry Plain bridge, one thousand six hundred feet long; also the Mossy creek bridge, three hundred and twenty-five feet long.
They also captured three pieces of artillery, some two hundred boxes of artillery ammunition, over five hundred prisoners and one thousand stand of arms, and destroyed a large amount of salt, sugar, flour, meal, saltpetre and one saltpetre work and other stores. He found the rebel force in East Tennessee larger than he had supposed. We give a map today showing the route of this expedition.
The disastrous raids of the rebel privateers amongst our fishing vessels have stirred up the Navy Department to action. Several cruisers have been despatched in search of the Tacony, which is believed to be the attacking vessel off Nantucket at present, and four more will leave this port today. Whether the fast steamers Baltic and Atlantic shall form part of the squadron of defence to our coasts, depends upon the consent of the government to accede to the proposals of the company to which they belong. During last week no less than twenty-seven vessels – steamers and sailing vessels – have been sent out in search of the Tacony from New York, Philadelphia, Boston and Hampton Roads. If she escapes it will be something wonderful.
Salvos of artillery were fired at the Tuileries, Paris, on the 11th instant, to celebrate the fall of Puebla.