THE PENNSYLVANIA RAID: How the Rebels Escaped Across the Potomac; The Skirmishing Without Material Results (10/14/1862)

New York Times - Times Machine ^ | 10/14/1862

[Homer_J_Simpson]

BALTIMORE, Monday, Oct. 13.

The American has the following special dispatch from Frederick:

"The escape of the rebels across the Potomac is fully confirmed.

After they were driven from Nolan's Ford they divided, and crossed the river in small bodies at different points.

Two farmers, taken prisoner by them at Mercersburg, were paroled at the river, and arrived here to-day.

The farmers report that Gen. STUART and Gen. WADE HAMPTON were both with the expedition. The cavalry force was a detachment from Virginia and South Carolina regiments. They seized not only horses in Maryland, but swept the parts of Pennsylvania through which they passed of every horse worth taking.

CLARK's newspaper expressman was captured, but escaped after the rebels crossed the river."

WASHINGTON, Monday, Oct. 13.

Information received up to 1 o'clock this afternoon, shows that the firing yesterday on the upper Potomac, between the forces of Gen. PLEASANTON and Gen. STUART, was without any material results.

PHILADELPHIA, Monday, Oct. 13.

The Washington Star of this evening says:

A man who arrived here this morning from near Conrad's Ferry states that he was in the presence of Gen. STUART a few minutes before he crossed the river with his marauding force in retreat from Pennsylvania. STUART informed him, in a sarcastic manner, he had fooled the whole party, but regretted he had not accomplished what was intended when he started, as he was expected to reach Frederick, Md., destroying the Government stores at that point, then destroying the bridge over the Monocacy river; but that all things taken into consideration, he had carried out his programme with much success. STUART's men and horses looked extremely exhausted, but the former were in high glee, and from the looks of the clothing on their horses, and that

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Free Republic University, Department of History presents U.S. History, 1861-1865: Seminar and Discussion Forum
The American Civil War, as seen through news reports of the time and later historical accounts

First session: November 21, 2015. Last date to add: May 2025.
Reading: Self-assigned. Recommendations made and welcomed.

Posting history, in reverse order

https://www.freerepublic.com/tag/by:homerjsimpson/index?tab=articles

To add this class to or drop it from your schedule notify Admissions and Records (Attn: Homer_J_Simpson) by reply or freepmail.

Link to previous New York Times thread

https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/4100256/posts

[Homer_J_Simpson]

1

2

3

4

[Homer_J_Simpson]

The Pennsylvania Raid: How the Rebels Escaped Across the Potomac – 2
News from the Southwest: A Disastrous Defeat at Corinth Acknowledged by the Rebels – 2
The Army of the Potomac: A Forward Movement to be Made Immediately – 2
The War in Kentucky: Some of the Results of the Late Battle at Perryville – 2
News from Washington: Our Special Washington Dispatches – 3
Another Promise Broken – 3
Editorial: A Forward Movement – 3
Church and State – 4
An Original but Doubtful View – 4
Great Expectations Disappointed – 4
Don’t Know the Things that Belong to Their Peace – 4
Where the Cash Comes From to Build Rebel Navies – 4
Good Advice from the Right Quarter – 4
Disaster to the Propeller Tonawanda – 4
Assembly Nomination – 4

[notdownwidems]

Should read: ‘how the rebels went back home after they kicked our asses’

[BroJoeK]

"Great Expectations Disappointed – 4"

This refers to Jefferson Davis' orders to CSA Gen. Bragg at the Battle of Perryville, that Bragg was to march to Louisville, KY and then permanently occupy Cincinnati, Ohio.

Even as late as the Battle of Nashville, in December 1864, Jefferson Davis will still be ordering his generals (John Bell Hood) to march on Union cities in Illinois and Indiana.

[BroJoeK]

"Where the Cash Comes From to Build Rebel Navies – 4"

Our editors believe Confederates are paying for foreign weapons and ships by shipments of cotton escaping the Union blockade.

"...at the present enormous price of cotton, a ship-load of it in the markets of England, or at Havana, will procure guns enough to arm a division, and artillery enough to accompany it.
A single cargo of cotton running the blockade from Charleston to England, will itself purchase a very respectable iron-clad steamer quite fit for rebel service..."

In the beginning of the Union blockade it's estimated that nine out of ten Confederate ships successfully slipped through.
By 1864 that number was down to two out of three and all-told about 1,500 Confederate ships were seized or wrecked in the blockade.
Overall, the Union blockade reduced the number of trips from Confederate ports by 60%, but exports of cotton on slow-moving bulk carriers fell 95%.