Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1861-07-25

drawn the enemy towards Centervile and Ma
nassas. We have one officer and three priyatts
slightly wounded The enemy's flight was so
precipitate that he left in our hands n quantity
OF -four fresh beef entrenching tools, hospital
furniture and baggage. | endeavored to pur-
sue the rebels beyond Centerville, but our men
were too much exhausted.
IRWIN MCDOWELL, Brgadier General"
Continued Flight of the Rebels.
A courier from Gen McDowell's headquar-
ters has arrived at Washington. lie reports
that the army marched early Thursday morning
for Centerville. A strong guard was left at
Fairfax. Gen Mcdowell said that he had be-
leved the rebels would fight at Centcrvile.
Others think they will retreat to Manassas.
1t is reported that the rebels under Gen Johns
ton are endeavoring to effect junction with
Beauregard.
The battery which accompanies Mcdowell
consists of eight 32s, the largest field battery
in the service.
Messrs Nixon G. Frank, members of the
House, who entered Fairfax Court House,
wednesday, with the army, report that Union
men near there had been in the woods for days
to avoid impressment. The farmers residing
out a few miles were extravagant in expressions
of JOY at the arrival of our troops. Some had
y
division.
Sangster's station, on the line of the Orange
and Alexandra railroad, lS miles from Alexan-
dria, has been reached By our troops. They
have had the pleasure of seeing the rebels still
flying before them but in consequence of the
roughness Of the march, owing to the heavy
guns which we have, they succeeded in making
their escape without fight. We now have full
possession as far as this station.
The rebels commenced to retreat during
Wednesday, and barely escaped by the old Fair
fax road, which was occupied as tar as Fairfax
station by Col Wilcox, who took / prisoners
Col Miles is in possession of Fairfax Court
House.
On Wednesday morning our troops proceed
ed as far as the cross-road which leads to Sang
sters station, arriving there at noon, when Col
FranklinS command branched off on the road
to SangSter's, to cut off railroad communica-
ton, and Col Wilcox proceeded to Fairfax sta
ton.
Col Heintzemen in the meantime remained
at the corner of Sangsters crossroads, 2 l-2
miles from Fairfax station, with Col Howard's
| brigade Capt loves cavalry.
About l O'Clock despatch was received from
Col Wilcox, stating that he had taken Fairfax
station with eleven prisoners and a secession
! flag A large number of rebel infantry and
some lorsemen had fled toward the left, and
| Franklin could intercept them.
The highways towards Sangstrr's were OBJ
strncted by the telling of trees and other OBJ
structions, otherwise Col Wilcox might have
succeeded in gaining even more successful and
expeditions victory. Several regiments Of rcb-
els are reported to have passed Sangsters sta
ton during Thursday, in retreat before Frank
Inns column.
An Alabama regiment was encamped within
! fun, of fOrl pf
rived at noon their camp fires were still burn
| ing when we passed, Thursday afternoon, and
other evidences of teer hasty retreat. Large
quantities OF fresh beef, corn &C., were left be-
hi4d by the fugitives. Near this camp they
had made az attempt at infantry breastworks,
which could have been walked over by our
troops. Its construction proves the weakness
of the enemy in this art OF war.
Our first division, under Gen Tyler, proceed
ed towards Fairfax Court House by the roads
from Falls Church and Vienna. The second
sion under Col Miles, moved in the same di
rection by Little River turnpike and Braddock
| road.
Messengers from Wilcox bring information
that after taking Fairfax station, he proceeded
towards the Court House. When within mile
of that place he found that Col Burnside's brig
ade had taken possession.
The enemy in all instances retreated without
any show of fight, except by a few pickets.
TRIUMPHAL MARCH OF OUR GRAND ARMY.
On Tuesday afternoon the lines of march
were taken up The third division of the grand
corps dc aimee, under Col Heintzelman COM
prised the brigades of Coils Franklin Wilcox
and Howard. Our troops proceeded withou,
any difficulty whatever over old Fairfax and
Pohick roads, ten miles from Alexandria, when
they hivouaclSad at Pohick creek over night.
At 3 o'clock Wednesday morning. our troops
were stirring At dawn the line was again
formed, and our troops proceeded on the OLD
Fairfrx road in the following order: first brig
ade, under Col Franklin, in advance; secont
brigade, under Col Wilson, AS center; thirt
brigade, Col Howard of Maine commanding.
) OFFICIAL REPORT.
A dispatch from Gen Mcdowell was received
at the war department on Thursday afternoon
| He writes from Fairfax Court House, detail
? the position of the various federal corps a
above stated, and says of their march =
"Each column encountered about the sam,
distractions of trees felled across the road, bu
our men cleared them away in a few minutes
There were extensive breaStworks thrown VI
at this place, and some of them with embra
sures resetted with sand bags. Extensive breast
works were also thrown up at Fairfax railroad
, station and on the road leading to Sangster's
A great deal of work has been done by them
and the number and size of their camps shoN
j that they have been here in great force. Thei
! retreat, therefore, must have damaging effeC
on them. They left in such hast that they die
not draw in their pickets, who came into ou
-. camps, thinking, as it occupied the same place
it was their own.
a "'rhe distractions to the railroad in the vi
cinity of the station, including deep cut file
p in with e. rth &C., can be cleared away in fe'
! hours. The telegraph poles are up with tn
wires on them. | look to having railroad an
+ telegraphic communication with Washington
i a very short time.
"Much flour some arms, forage, tents, cam
:, equipage, &C., were abandoned by the rebels.
h 81 am distressed to have to report some ex
= cesses by our troops. The excitement of tn
/ men found vent in burning and pillaging, which
r however, was soon checked 1t distressed u
= all greatly.
!, 81 go to Ccnterville in few moments.
!. (Signed) IRWIN Mcdowell.
g Numerous trophies were brought to Wash
ingtog Thursday afternoon, includin Z CON
i missary's tent for the Sd regiment Of Sout
" Carolina troops also guns books, coats, hat,
t and palmetto buttons, the latter manufacture
in New York.
< All the masked batteries so much talked o
:. turned out to be nothing more than infantr