Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1861-07-23
n south Side View of Affairs at Manassas
junction.


junction.
| Gen. Beauregard is a Louisianian, and the
son OF sugar planter This undoubtedly is
the reason why some of the Louisiana letter
writers never tire Of singing his praises and
painting him to their readers all respondent
with haloes of glory. Somebody writing at
Manassas junction, July 18th, gives the New
Orleans Picayune rose colored, but well
written and interesting account of Gen. Beau
regard and affairs at that place. Here Is
part of the letter:
MANASSAS JUNCTION, VA, July Z, 1861.
| This place still continues the headquarters
of the army of the Potomac. There are many
| indications of an intended forward movement,
the better 10 invite the enemy to an engage
ment, but the work of fortifcation still contin-
ues. BY nature, the position is one OF the
strongest that could have been found in The
whole stats A Kbout half way between the
eastern Db i,he Blue Ridge and the Poto-
MAJ, below Alexandria, it commands the
whole country between so perfectly that there
is scarcely possibility OF its being turned.
The right wing stretches on towards the
headquarters OF the Occoquan, through IL
wooded country, which is easily made impas
sable by the telling of trees. The left is Il
rolling table land, easily commanded from the
successive elevations, till you reach Il country
so rough and so rugged that it is defence to
itself The key to the whole position, i'll fact,
is precisely that point when Gen. Beauregard
chose for his center, and which lie bias torti-
fed so strongly that, in the opinion OF military
men, 5000 could there hold 10000 at bay.
The position, in face, is fortified in part by
nature herself. 1t is a succession of hills,
nearly equidistant from each other, in front of
which is ravine so deep and so thickly
wooded that it is impossible only at two
points, and those through georges which fifty
men can defend against Il whole army. TWAS
at one of these points that the Washington Ar
tillery were at first encamped, and though only
hall the battalion was then there, and we had
only one company Of infantry to support us,
we slept as soundy under the protection of our
guns as ii we had been i'll fort Of the am.
plest dimensions.
OF the fortifica ions superadded here by
Gen. Beauregard to those Of nature, it is of
course not proper for me to speak. The gen.
eral reader in fact, will have a sufficient pre-
else idea of them by conceiving line of forts
some two miles in extent zig-zag in form, with
angles, salients, bastions, caSemates, and eve
rytbing that properly belongs to works OF this
kind.
The strength and advantages of this posi-
ton at Manassas are very much increased by
the fact that fourteen miles further on is po-
siton of similar formation, whle the country
between is admirably adapted to the subsist-
ence and ENHANCEMENT OF troops IN numbers
as large as they can easily be manRuvred on
the real battle field. Water is good and album
dant forage such as is everywhere found in
the rich farming districts OF Virginia, and the
communication with all parts OF the country
easy.
Here, overlooking an extensive plain, wa
tered by mountain streams which ultimately
find their wa TO the Potomac, and divided
into verdant fields OF wheat and oats and corn,
pasture and meadow, are the headquarters of
the advanced forces of the army OF the Poto-
mac. They are South Caroinians, Louisiana
ans, Aabamians, Mississippans and Virgini-
ans, for the most part the first two, singular
enough, being in front, and that they will keep
it, their friends at home may rest assured.
Never have seen a finer body OF men-men
who were more obedient to discipline, or
breathed a more self sacrificing patriotism.
As might be expected from the skill with
which he has chosen his position and the SIS
TEN with which he encamps and moves his
men, General Beauregard is very popular here.
| doubt if Napoleon himself had more the UNI
divided confidence Of his army. BY nature,
as also from a wise policy, lie is very reticent.
Not an individual here knows his plans or
single move OF regiment before it is ma lie,
and then only the colonel aud his men know
where it goes TO. There is not man here
who can give anything like a satisfactory an
swer how many men lie has or where his exact
lines are. For the distance of IA miles around
you see tents everywhere and from them you
can make an estimate OF his men, but how many
more are encamped on the by roads and in the
forests none can tell The new conner, from
what he sees at the first glance, puts down the
number at about 10000 men those who have
been here longest estimate his force at 10000,
$4,000, and some even at 80 900 strong. And
there is the same discrepancy as to the guam.
tity OF his artillery. So close does the general
keep his affairs to himself, Ills left hand hardly
knows what his right hand doeth, and so jeal
Gus is he of this prerogative of a commanding
officer that verify believe ii he suspected his
coat of any acquaintance with the plans re-
volying within him, he would cast it from
him.
The generals headquarters is little farm
house, about fifteen feet by twenty, fronting
on one OF the roads that lead to Alexandria.
| The ground floor is divided into two rooms.
| The front one is filled with desks, at which
clerks sit writing or engaged in business of
a varied character. The back one appears to
be used as a storeroom or kitchen. Above,
the same division continues, and the front room
is the generals apartment 1t is about fifteen
feet long by ten wide, and hung with maps of
the state and country around. In the center
is plain pine table, on which lie, neatly fold
ed up, what the visitor would naturally take
to be plans, specifications surveys, geometrica
drawings, &C., and by their side military re.
ports. Everything has the air OF neatness,
GOODNESS, and mathematical calculation. or
lu W baf
pertains to the office, and to most eyes it
would appear somewhat bare; but what there
is is arranged with so much taste that the gen
eral impression is by no means nnnleasantn