The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-12-11

bringing nsd battery Frsessone Point After shelns
the buildings and hill, and driving back the pickes,
and fred four houses, which have burned
TO the ground. They contained Suffers stores four &c
Az eighteen hours elapsed before the flames subsidized
judge that the quantity OF stores have been consde-
rable. The enemy tired but a few musket shot.
REcoNNoIssANcEs.
On Friday last General Hancock out IN force TO-
wards centrevie for the purpose mainly Of observation
and incidentally to procure forage Detachments went
out at the same time from General Porters division to-
wards Flint Hill and from General NcCalrs towards
Drainsvine General Brooks was stationed Freedom
Hill, sending detacbments beyond Vienna. These latter
we're intended TO and support the advance Of Gene
raj Hancock, who commanded the principal force. The
several dcachments moved to their positions at early
hoar 10 the morning. and were in every respect success
mi in accomplishing their object. General Han
cock procured ninety -four loads OF forage and
General Mccall Gfty. None Of the enemy
we're seen save few cavalry scouts who re-
tired rapidly from view. But the expedition was, 1t
now appears or considerable Importance its results
General Hancock carried every respect his plans
going no further towards Cenheve than he originally
designed.
will be observed man has yet lost from
Ibis {Smths) division and the is because
small parties sent out Whenever force goes out
side the lines 1t is strong enough to fight battle Then
two lines OF skrmshefs every wood in advance OF
the column.
NUMBERS OF TIRE REBELS.
believed, from all that be gathered, that the
rebel force in front Of our lines numbers at least
hundred thousand men.
THE REBEL ARMY IN vRGINlA-INTEREsTfNi TIERS.
On yesterday morning Intelligent coorcd boy
came within The lines and stated that he lett Centevs
on Saturday morning and succeeded in avoiding the
rebel picles by keeping in the woods He says he is
free boy born and raised in New Orleans He has been
eight months in tho rebel army, the of Capt
~ D. Miller, of the Washington Artillery. He the
battles OF Bu run and Balls Bluff and gives miaue and
correct accounts Of the principal events He has
ceived no pay for his services save few
shnpssters and upon being refused on Satur.
day his pay, determined to come within our lines.
lie says thai on Friday there grand review a,
Centrevile Of seventy Ave eighty thousand troops
He heard the list read by Major j. Walton, of the
ono hundred pieces Of artiiery--al light, cxcep. two
twenty fonr pound howitzcrs General Barcgard com
manded, and President Davis reviewed the troops
neras Johnston Iongsrect and stewart also there
About twelve O'Clock, noon, of that day they sent two
regiments Of inantrythe Fifth South Carolina Colonel
Jenkins and the Sixth Georgia. Colonel Cciquitt-with
two six pound howtzers and two fonr pound howit,es
Of the Washington Artillery, under command OF Cap
tain Rosser, and hundred of Stewards cavalry
commanded by Captain Jones The Eighth Geor
gia, Colonel Mercer in reserve one mile in
The They reached the vicinity OF Hawkes..
hurst's mill about two O'Clock p NJ, and saw At
first only the advance guard Of General Hancock s
column. They Immediately placed their pieces in posi-
tion in the edge Of wood and masking them
with bushes. But their scouts reported the ad
OF General Porter a. Flint Hill and that Of General
Brooks at Vienna This so alarmed them that thee COM
menced rapid retreat, The cavalry taking the lead
artillery next, and tho infantry bringing up the
wheel on the leading piece breaking, the gunilers
htched their horses The alarm Increased so much
that the traces cut from the other three pieces
the gunners mounting two each horse galopcd on
towards CcntrevAe at the top OF their speed
The infantry catching the infection threw away
their arms and blankets, and the rout became
general The cavalry reaching Centrevie first reported
to President Davis aud General that the en-
tire Union army WAS advancing Tho long rol WAS AZ
beaten and tho troops disposed support Of the
several ntrenchnens the artillery being placed in posi-
tion. They sent all their sick mon spare horses and
heavy baggage bac, to Manassas The entire force laid
their al Friday night and until nine O'Clock next
morning, when the cavalry scouts brought back
coun, Of the true state OF the case and and horses
were and brought back the guns and the small arns
and blankets.
On the 2sth OF November General Beauregard gave or
ders prepare for winter quarters, and the Goth
they commenced cutting logs for houses President Davis
two three days after and counterandel the
des because, he sad, the Union forces would soon be
there, and they might hnve to destroy them
They have at Cenrevile fort earthwork for every
letter In the alphabet, and designated by the letters
also strong fort called Beauregard aud called Day s
hrsides nnother not vet fnished and unnamed n.
forts connected by rife pits and the en.banSents
are so prepared that the field artillery be wheeled
into the embrasures the caissonsbeing disposed in the
rear. There s dill Of the artillery every day in
placing the guns and cassops il position There four
guns to each fort In Fort Bearegsrd there ere three
ri1ed guns pointing down the Fairfax road
Colonel Jenkins was in command at Havkhurst 8 mill
OH FriSy ard be court marshatIed FOR his con
duct.
Col Stewart came with The force to the mill but had
returned TO Cenreville before the rctrest commenced
The retreatng infantry reached Centrevie about dark
The four pound howitzers present the company
by President Davis
There two regiments OF eolored men a, Centre>c
under he command Of Jordan old coloyed
1872 having been drummer boy under Gen. Jackson
One Of these numbers eleven hundred, and the other
fourteen hundred Two other coIored regiments were
Missouri since the last battle there These regi
composed Of both free and slave. shey not
allowed to do picket duty, but drilled and encamped
separate from the white Their officers are all
colored.
Al Bull run he says, Tie rebels thought themselves
besten and surprised the retreat Of the Union
forces They thought the retreat was ient 10 draw
them oat and fully expected the battle be renewed
the next day, He says shot from Captain Ayres
battery the 18th dismouned one OF their guns and
killed six and wounded -four men that the Toss or the
rebels ut Balls Bluff, in killed and wounded, was about
four hundred ana fifty The fortihcstions at Ceurevlo
have been built by impressed negro labor.
This hoy says there is much dissatisfaction among the
private soldiers Of the army; tbat great numbers
sick ,hs, they have sal, salt meat but live at
entirely fresh beef and hard bread The officers
alone have salt. but neither tea coffee. That the
talk among the officers is hal they ARE beaten
Ccptrcve they win fall back 10 Manassas, where
their aaHks well protected The shoes tor the sol
ders made Of oiled cotton cloth with rawbide oes
This boy has stood most searching examination Cor
three hours by competent persons. His statement
cf the position OF various regiments aud names Of
Their commanding officers