NEWS FROM CHAMBERSBURG!
REBEL CAVALRY RAIDS SHIPPENSBURG
Harrisburg, PA- It is with great concern that Governor Curtin has announced that Confederate forces have indeed raided Chambersburg and Shippensburg and have even been found on the outskirts of Carlisle. A large force consisting of infantry and cavalry has made an appearance in the latter, raiding stores, demanding supplies, and taking possesion of state and Federal property. Because of the loss of communications from these places, we can only assume what must be occuring during the disaster that is befalling our state.
Two days ago, rebel scouts passed through the village of Shippensburg, closely followed by a large force of Cavalry under Gen. Albert Jenkins and an infantry force of an estimated 3,200 troops commanded by General Rodes of Virginia. A number of stores were forced to turn over their wares and goods, paid for in Confederate script that is very much worthless in our state. These Confederates came through Chambersburg which is said to have a large portion of Lee's army camped around it.
SKIRMISH AT ALDIE UNCOVERS LEE'S MOTIVE
 Battle of Aldie sketched by Edwin Forbes |
from a New York Times correspondent- "As an eyewitness to the battle at Aldie, Virginia,may have proved to be General Lee's undoing for it was the gallant attack by our cavalry force that uncovered the presence of the large rebel force west of the Bull Run Mountains. Prisoners taken at the battle near Aldie loudly boast of 'whipping the yankees on their own land' in the future and one stated outwardly that Lee intends to march to Harrisburg and capture the capital of Pennsylvania. As for the battle of Aldie, there was the bravest qualities of our soldiers exhibited there. One young stand out was Captain George Armstrong Custer, a staff officer of Gen. Pleasonton's, who was in the center of the battle and personally led several charges upon the enemy."
Daniel Townsend of the US Artillery submits this letter of his experience at the battle:
"We came in sight of the town of Aldie about four o'clock in the afternoon, having rode a distance of thirty five miles and only halted once which was to water the horses and they were pretty well jaded out. Two of our team horses giving out had to be taken out of harness and one of them fell dead a short time after. When we got within a mile of the town we turned out of the road and moved up in the fields on the right of us and halted a few minutes. One of our scouts came in, dressed in a rebel uniform, and reported the enemy half a mile the other side of the town on a hill which could be seen from where we were. With (Gen.) Kilpatrick leading the van, the Second Massachusetts ahead and our battery close on their heels we went flying through the town, to the great bewilderment of the people who were gathered around the doors and windows of the houses, some of them too timid to venture outside and not wishing to be seen were peeking through the blinds of windows, and came in position on the hill designated and immediately opened fire on the enemy to which they responded. The right section of our battery was in position, the other remained in the town. The rebels had six pieces firing on our two, the solid shot fell thick around us and the shells burst above and before us. Nothing daunted we kept up our fire making almost every shot tell and one shell we fired exploded and emptied sixteen saddles of rebel cavalry. We drove the rebel cannoneers twice from their guns by our sharp shooting and made it too hot for them to venture near for a few minutes which caused a lull in the firing. Another of our batteries had taken position on the opposite side of the road and the firing was again resumed and became hot and heavy. There was a shell exploded between two of our officers and every one thought that they were killed until the smoke which had enveloped and obscured them from view cleared away, when it was found that they had received no harm. The rebel cavalry made a charge upon our battery after having driven our cavalry back some distance and our guns were rendered utterly useless to fire on them by being up on the hill we could not get the elevation in the position we were in and besides we would have killed some of our own men had we been able to fire. We had our limbers back up and were just ready to limber up and decamp from the field to save our battery when Kilpatrick's brigade repulsed the charge and other regiments of cavalry arriving on the field the enemy were driven back and we then opened on them again. Heavy cannonading and carbine firing was kept up until sundown at which time our cavalry held the position the rebels occupied at the commencement of the engagement. I think we done remarkable well."
ARMY OF POTOMAC MOVES!
UNION FORCES CROSS POTOMAC
GEN. HOOKER "AGITATED"
 Gen. Hooker |
Near Frederick, Maryland- The Army of the Potomac has marched through northern Virginia in response to the Confederate approach of Harper's Ferry, Shepherdstown and the apparent invasion of Maryland and Pennsylvania. This week, the majority of General Hooker's army crossed the Potomac River on pontoon bridges laid down by army engineers while troops forded the river and encamped on the Maryland side. Presently the army is gathered near Poolesville and Barnesville, up to the mouth of the Monocacy River. General Hooker has made his headquarters at Poolesville.
Our regiments have marched very rapidly during the past week and with the army concentrating in southern Maryland, citizens in Washington are not as apprehensive about the Confederate force in the western part of this state. General Hooker has released the itinerary of the army to the reporters who are assigned to headquarters, who report that the general appears "agitated at War Department officials who will not release the troops at Harpers Ferry to his command." These troops include those of Milroy's command who were defeated and routed from Winchester last week. The general has made "several demands" for the release of these troops and the sending of re-enforcements from Washington, but no action has been taken upon his call.
Speculation is high that General Hooker will advance his army corps into the South Mountains and along the Potomac to protect the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal and cover the fords of the Potomac River. There is great excitement in Frederick and the citizens, wary of another rebel invasion, have taken to removing goods, livestock, and private stores from the city.
Our correspondents also report that there is a general lack of information as to the exact whereabouts of the Confederate Army that was reported to be crossing the Potomac at Williamsport and which had occupied Hagerstown. One excited citizen reported that a force of over 100,000 rebels were camped east of the city, well-armed and supplied, and eminating the highest spirits for their rebellious cause. "They have great dislike for the Army of the Potomac," this civilian was overhead to remark, "and all say that one of them can beat ten of ours in an equal match."
OUR SCOUTS LOOK FOR LEE
 Cavalry escorts for General Hancock Sketched by Mr. Homer |
Poolesville, MD- While the army encamps along the Potomac, Gen. Pleasonton's Cavalry Corps has renewed their search for the Confederate forces that are now in Maryland and Pennsylvania. The rebel commander J.E.B. Stuart and his force that blocked the passes at Middleburg and Upperville have left that pass, yet our scouts have lost track of them. Gen. Pleasonton's staff officers admit that they have been baffled before by Stuart's tactics but are not willing to believe the sightings of Confederate troopers near Wolf Run Shoals on the Occoquan River, placing the rebel leader behind the army. Meanwhile, the cavalry has been going through horse flesh at a rapid pace. The burden of heavy campaigning and numerous skirmishes has caused the breakdown or loss of well over 2,000 horses and 500 mules. A fresh herd of horses from pens near Alexandria arrived at Fairfax Court House on the 21st, but there were hardly enough to fill the demands of battle losses in the regular and volunteer regiments. It must be noted that the various escort troops for army headquarters are, for the most part, splendidly mounted as the riders have more time to preen their horses and take proper care of them.
DEPLORABLE CONDITION OF UNION GRAVES
AT BULL RUN BATTLEFIELD
Sgt. George Bowen of the 12th New Jersey recently passed over the old battlefield of Bull Run and informs us, "On June 20 we marched to Gainesville today passed over a part of the battlefield of Bull Run where the road was livid with the skulls and bones of those who fell in that battle, who had never been buried or that the rain had washed off their covering of earth that had been thrown over them."
LETTERS FROM THE ARMY
More letters have arrived at the YANKEE GAZETTE and are printed here for your information:
Another letter has arrived from Lieutenant Cornelius Moore, 57th New York Infantry, addressed to his sister:
Camp near Gainesville, Va.
June 22nd 1863
Dear Sister Adeline:
I wrote you last on Friday, the 19th, while laying at Sangster's Station. The next day, late in the afternoon, received orders to march, and after a rapid march of some 5 or 6 miles, reached Centreville and encamped behind some breastworks in a most disagreeable storm of wind and rain. The following day pushed on to Gainesville, some 5 or 6 miles from Thoroughfare Gap, and 12 or 15 from Centreville. And here we are now. On our way here we crossed the celebrated Bull Run Creek and over some unknown battle field, the scene, probably, of some conflict of Pope's [General John Pope commanded the Union Army of Virginia in August 1862 at the Battle of Second Manassas] retreat last fall. The field was covered with graves which having been washed away by the rain, exposed many a human skeleton to our gaze, while fragments of bursted shell, broken guns and accoutrements, were scattered far and near. Truly Virginia is becoming one extended battle field, and its hills and dales an extensive burying ground!
This complicated move of our forces may prove to be one of the grandest undertakings of the War. I must confess that I do not begin to understand it. We await patiently for time to reveal the result.
Good bye,
Cornie
THE MARCH IN VIRGINIA
MAINE SOLDIER WRITES TO THE GAZETTE
Pvt. John Haley of the 17th Maine Infantry submitted his journal of the recent march northward in Virginia:
"June 22- A goodly portion of this day was spent in frantic efforts to reduce our stock of lice. We were never in such a fix before, and I hope we may be spared from any more of such severe experience. No move today so far as we know. We are covering so much territory at present that we know but little of the other corps.
"June 25- It was with many sighs and grunts of relief that we beheld the dawn of day, though it was still raining. We were terribly cramped and chilled and were very glad to get up. We soon crossed over to the rest of the division and found them wallowing in mud up to their ankles. About 8 o'clock we started for Point of Rocks [Maryland] and arrived about noon, bivouacking alongside the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad after marching six miles. We found a store not far away and hoped to get something there to tickle our palates but, to our great disgust, the entire stock of this apology for a grocery store were a few salted fish and a couple of hams that looked a thousand years older than Adam."
"WHAT SAY YOU, O'HEARN?"
New York- Instituting the recent draft has not been easy for recruitment officers in New York. A number of men, specifically those of Irish decent or recent immigrants, have refused to report as ordered, and city policemen have been asked to assist in locating the culprits, so that a military detail will make the final arrest.