From Harper’s Ferry

A FORWARD MOVEMENT.

BOLIVAR, JEFFERSON CO., NEAR BALTIMORE, Feb. 28. – Since Monday night Harper’s Ferry and its vicinity have changed hands.  Our advance guard, consisting of the 28th Pennsylvania regiment, passed over the Potomac from Sandy Hook to Harper’s Ferry before day break on Monday morning by a rope ferry, and took possession of the town next day.  Ample provision for transporting troops over the river was provided, and our advanced guard considerably reinforced.

Bolivar and Charleston and a considerable portion of the country on both banks of the Shenandoah are now occupied by our troops.  Except about twenty of the enemy, which were captured, they all retired on the approach of the army.

The people in this town and neighboring places which our troops have occupied, where in a condition bordering on starvation.  There are comparatively few of the inhabitants remaining here now, and they all profess Union sentiments and great delight at being relieved from the thralldom which has oppressed them for the last six months.  Many refugees are returning.

The right wing of the army has considerably curtailed the Rebel territory in Virginia, and made a foothold for itself which all power of the rebellion cannot wrest from it.

The enemy have made sad havoc among the residences of the town where since the departure of our troops.

So far no opposition has been given to our advance, not a hostile shot having been fired.

Gen. Banks has established his headquarters on the road from Harper’s Ferry to Bolivar.

The enemy shelled a train to-day at Berlin as they were passing down to Bolivar, but their piece was bad and out of twelve shots fired only two exploded, and neither did damage.

The plans of Gen. McClellan are being rapidly unfolded and you may rely upon it, from my own personal observations that the young Chieftain is laboring to crush the monster rebellion.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, March 8, 1862, p. 3