The Invasion, Aug 1864 (Folck's Mill)

CUMBERLAND, MARYLAND.

Wednesday Morning, August 3, 1864.

The Week’s News.

The Invasion.

To this community the past week has boon a season of intense excitement and apprehension. It was known that a Rebel raiding force was operating in Pennsylvania and it was deemed Highly-probable that in returning to Virginia they might strike for the upper fords of the Potomac. Hence, during the latter part of last week all the roads leading into the town were strongly picketed and ingress and egress prohibited. On Sunday morning it was ascertained that they had captured arid destroyed a portion of Chambersburg, Pa., but had been finally driven out by General Averill’s forces, and were retreating towards Maryland. On Monday morning the excitement increased to such a degree that business was almost universally suspended, the business houses closed, and the merchants in many instances packed and removed their goods.

About noon the scouts reported that a heavy body of rebel cavalry and mounted infantry was approaching the town upon the Baltimore turnpike, and was then distant but about six miles. Gen. Kelley at once took the field in person and the troops stationed here were marched out the turnpike some two and a half miles. The enemy had formed his line of battle a short distance behind the residence of Jesse Hinkle, Esq., his troops holding the turnpike and his artillery posted in high positions in the neighborhood . As soon as our troops we reformed into line, the rebels opened a brisk fire, which was promptly replied to by our guns. The battle opened about three o'clock, and the artillery firing, interspersed with an occasional volley, of musketry continued until six, when the rebel ceased firing, both sides occupying pretty much the same position as when the contest began. The dwelling, mill and barn of John Folck, Esq,, were pretty much in range of our guns and were struck several times by shell.— The barn was fired by an exploding shell, and was entirely destroyed with its contents almost the entire product of the late harvest. The casualties were not very numerous. Forty or fifty, perhaps less, will probably cover the entire number of killed and wounded on both sides. Fatal injuries were sustained by only one of our gunners we believe, while the wounds received are not generally of a severe character. Two or three of the enemy are said to have been killed. Our troops rested on their arms during the night; and in the morning it was discovered that the enemy had retreated much to the relief of our citizens. The next point we hear of them is at Green Spring Run, where they captured and paroled Col. Stowe, and some eighty of his troops, who are hundred day men. The railroad battery of Capt. Petrie was lying there, the engine attached to which received a shell in its boiler, thus becomeing disabled. The battery is also said to have been considerably damaged. We have heard various estimates of the rebel force, but they are so extremely diverse ,and conflicting, that we cannot gather from them a clear idea of the number. Gens. McCausland and Rosser, with their brigades, are believed to have composed the force, though we have also heard it stated that Gen. Bradley T. Johnson was with them. A considerable number of horses and cattle were taken from the farmers along their route in the lower part of the county.

Three citizen volunteer companies were organized to aid the regular military forces in expelling the invader. They were placed under command of Gen. Charles M. Thruston and were assigned to active duty upon some of the roads loading to the city. They were relieved on Tuesday, after it was known the enemy had retreated from the neighborhood.

The excitement here has not entirely subsided, and as yet there is nothing like a general resumption of business. The pickets were driven in at Brady's Mills, on the B. & O. Railroad last night, the telegraph wires cut and the road is said to have been somewhat damaged.