Alexandria Gazette

From Maryland and Pennsylvania

All accounts received agree that great activity is prevailing in the Army of the Potomac, under its new commander, Gen. Meade. It is equally clear the Confederate forces are rapidly concentrating in the Cumberland valley, between Shippensburg and Chambersburg, with what object is, of course, not known, but many suppose that a decisive battle will be fought within the next few days at some point north of Baltimore, probably in the vicinity of Chambersburg.

Westminster, in Carroll county, was still in the possession of the Federal forces yesterday. Several skirmishes had occurred in the neighborhood.

The intelligence from Harrisburg and Carlisle, Penn., is no later than that published yesterday. Newspaper accounts confirm the statement of the falling back of the Confederates. A cavalry fight occurred at Hanover on Monday, resulting in the defeat of the Confederates, with a loss of fifteen or twenty killed and forty-six taken prisoners. A body of Federal troops surrounded Emmittsburg on Monday and captured a Confederate battery without opposition.

The pontoon bridges at Edwards' Ferry have been taken up and safely secured by the engineer brigade.

Gen. Stahl was relieved from his cavalry command by Gen. Hooker on Sunday, and Gen. Kilpatrick appointed in his place.

Brig. Gen. Copeland has been assigned to other duty, and his late command re-organized.

The Baltimore American of last evening contains some intelligence of military movements in Maryland and Pennsylvania. We extract the following:

"The rapid concentration of the Confederate forces in the Cumberland Valley, between Shippensburg and Chambersburg, indicates that General Lee already finds it necessary to secure a line of retreat to the Potomac fords west of the South Mountain, and to abandon his contemplated siege of Harrisburg.

The army is moving through a rich country unencumbered by wagon trains, and is enabled to go from point to point with a celerity that would astonish the reader, if it were proper to make public its present position and the route it has travelled to reach it. Suffice it to say that the rapid evacuation of York by the Confederates yesterday was made a necessity and so also was their withdrawal from Westminster, Hanover, and Gettysburg, and their retreat from Harrisburg and Carlisle. The cavalry raid of General Stuart in the vicinity of Baltimore and Washington was also changed into a flight for safety by the comprehensive movements of Gen. Meade, and the enemy is now concentrating his forces for fear they may be attacked and destroyed in detail.

There is, therefore, some prospect of a battle at an early day, probably in the neighborhood of Chambersburg.

The trains on the Western Maryland Railroad to Hanover Junction, and thence to Hanover Bridge, and on the Northern Central Railroad road are running this morning to Union and Gettysburg.

Both these places are occupied to-day by the Federal troops, and these lines of branch roads will become valuable for military purposes.

The occupation of York is also a possibility, though we are at present cut off from all communication by telegraph with that borough. The reconstruction of the destroyed bridges beyond Hanover Junction is, however, rapidly progressing, and the road will probably be open in twenty-four hours.

Our intelligence from Harrisburg this morning indicates the approach of a conflict in the Cumberland Valley, and shows that General Pleasonton has been playing great havoc with the enemy's trains. The rapid movement of Gen. Meade thus promises success in overtaking the enemy before he can concentrate his force from the extended field over which they are scattered. Gen. Pleasonton is said to have sent in large numbers of prisoners toward Westminster and Gettysburg. He captured one hundred of Stuart's cavalry in Westminster on Tuesday morning and pushed on rapidly after the main column, which had just left the town. Gen. Couch is also advancing on the column of the enemy retreating from Carlisle, and will be enabled greatly to harass his movements. The prospects are therefore promising for successful operations against the enemy, and the bringing on of a battle on ground chosen by Gen. Meade, or a hasty retreat towards the Potomac. Certain it is that he has already compelled a backward movement of the enemy, and an abandonment, at least for the present, of his threatened invasion of the North.

THE WAR IN PENNSYLVANIA

HARRISBURG, July 1.-Gen. Early was the last person to leave York. $28,000 in money, 818 barrels of flour, 1000 pairs of shoes, 1000 hats, 1000 pairs of socks, and great quantities of beef, were demanded by the Confederates. One hundred and sixty thousand dollars would have been obtained from the town authorities. The $28,000 was paid by the Burgess and received by Gen. Early in person. Gen. Early told several citizens that he desired to conciliate the people and would sacredly respect private property. Two or three hundred Confederate deserters are in York and vicinity, who express a desire to take the oath of allegiance. They are closely watched. Firing between Gen. Meade's and Lee's armies was distinctly heard at York yesterday afternoon.

The Confederates behaved remarkably well in York, and mostly encamped outside of the town. The Louisiana Tigers were not allowed to enter the town for fear they could not be controlled. The Confederates entered York at seven o'clock on Sunday morning and left on Wednesday morning. Had they stayed two days longer the whole amount of money levied on would have been obtained. Quite a number of cannon shots have been heard on the other side of the river here since writing the above. Everybody is anxious to know what it means. Some think a battle is going on at Carlisle, while others say the firing is near the city. The shots follow each other in rapid succession. We anxiously await developments.

HARRISBURG, July 1--10 o'clock P. M.-A battle took place yesterday afternoon at Hanover Junction between Gen. Pleasanton's force and the Confederate Cavalry. It lasted nearly the whole afternoon. The enemy lost 400 men in killed, wounded and prisoners, besides six pieces of artillery. The Federal loss is reported at 200.

It is believed that the main body of Gen. Lee's army is between Gettysburg and Chambersburg. The indications are that a battle has been fought to-day between Lee and
Meade, but to what extent, or with what result is not known, nor is it likely to be to-night. Heavy firing has been heard here during the entire evening in the direction of Carlisle. It is a long way off, but at times very rapid. The river banks are lined with people listening to the cannonading and discussing the possible results.

HARRISBURG, July 1- Midnight,--The heavy firing heard in the direction of Carlisle has now ceased. It is believed that the Confederates have made an attack on the forces belonging to this Department, between Mechanicsburg and Carlisle. The result is not known at this writing. A large fire is now seen in the direction of Carlisle. What is burning is not known. It is believed here that General Lee's headquarters are at Dover, in York county.

LANCASTER, July 1 -11 o'clock. --There is no news of importance to communicate from this quarter. Colonel Franklin has communicated with the Federal forces at McCall's Ferry and Peach Bottom by a line of couriers. The last message, received at 10 o'clock to-night, says that there were no signs of the Confederate forces in that vicinity. There is a vague rumor of the Confederates being again at York, but it is not reliable.

CHAMBERSBURG, July 1.--I have just returned from London Station, 14 miles from Chambersburg. The Confederates are reported to have left there, after taking forty horses, and are now decamping in the direction of Greencastle, which rather indicates a retreat towards the Potomac of that portion of Imboden's force.

Gen. Meade is said to have penetrated the Confederate lines between Hagerstown and Sharpsburg late yesterday. No great battle as yet, but heavy skirmishing. The Confederates left Mercersburg last night, at seven o'clock, going towards Greencastle. They numbered about two thousand cavalry, and four 12-pounders. No infantry.