The Confederates in Maryland.
A letter from a Confederate soldier, dated
Williamsport, Md., the 17th inst., gives the following account of the crossing into
Maryland:
We tarried in
Martinsburg only long enough to gather our spoils, and from thence came to this place, arriving here night before last.
Martinsburg is strong for the old Union, and several Yankees were found concealed in the houses, even after the owners had sworn that none were there.
All that part of
Virginia, I fear, with but very few exceptions, is unsound to the core.
But of all the sights I have ever seen, none can compare with this little town.
On crossing the
Potomac, and entering the place, I was at the very head of the column.
Not a soul, save a few boys and scattering Confederate cavalry, graced the scene.
All the stores and every house was closed; and every window, and even curtain, was down, as if the sight of a
rebel could not be tolerated.
On advancing further into the town, a few faces (woman's curiosity) occasionally protruded from a window, and groups of men could be seen gathered on the street corners.
At one corner about a half dozen young girls were collected, who waved their handkerchiefs quite bravely and cheered us. This we have named Secession corner.
I cut the buttons from my coat to give to these girls, for which I hoped to get in return breakfasts, dinners and suppers.
But generally the women looked very grum, as if hesitating between a laugh and a cry, and the men looked serious, and were as mute as blocks of granite.
All betrayed and evident fear.
After dark, I went to town from our encampment, and saw a good many ladies on the streets.
All declared their sympathy with the
South, but said they were afraid to make manifest their preference, as their names would be repeated whenever the
Yankees returned.
But the men remained silent.
Little, however, did we care for those things, and yesterday
Gen. Rodes opened all of the stores, and made the proprietors sell to soldiers for Confederate money.
Of course articles of every description were immediately advanced --coffee, for instance, at fifty cents per pound, and every other article in like proportion; but no greater extortion was allowed.
In the evening, all the men and officers, save the staff officers, were ordered out of town, and the
Government impressed everything it wanted, paying in Confederate money, and if that was refused paying none at all.
The merchants had concealed their goods in every conceivable place, but a rigid search soon brought them to light.
The people say nothing to all this, but you can see that they sell with a very bad grace.
By a despatch received from
Gen. Ewell last night, we hear of the capture of
Winchester, with a great, many spoils.
Milroy deserted his army, and, coward like, escaped through
Berryville, accompanied by forty cavalry as an escort.
His men are scattered all over the country.
It is reported here, this morning, that
Milroy has been captured, but the report needs confirmation.
Gen. Ewell will probably join us to-day or to-morrow, and future movements will depend upon circumstances.
Our cavalry, under
General Jenkins, is already in
Pennsylvania, and we are only 12 miles from the
State line, and three days march from
Harrisburg.
Gen. Ewell has men enough to whip any 50,000 militia the enemy can put before us. Our army is splendidly equipped.
Of artillery there is no end, the enemy having left as many in our hands as we know what to do with, and a large amount of ammunition of all kinds.
