Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1861-12-20
THE REBEL ARMY IN VIRGINIA.


ing items concerning the rebel army in Nir-
GINA:
On yesterday morning an intelligent color
ed boy came within the lines, and stated that
he left Centreville on Saturday morning and
succeeded in avoiding the rebel pickets by
keeping in the woods. lie says he is free
boy, born and raised in New Orleans. lie
| has been eight months in the rebel army. as
the servant Of Capt NJ. b. Miller, of the
/ Washington Artillery. He was at the battles
Of Bull Run and Balls Bluff, and gives minute
and correct accounts Of the principal events.
lie has received no pay for his services save
few shinplasters ; and upon being refused
on Saturday his pay, determined to come
within our lines.
He says that on Friday there was grand
review at Centrevile Of seventy five or eighty
thousand troops. lie heard the list read by
Major j. b. Walton, of the Washington Ar
tilery. There we're at the review also one
hundred pieces Of artilory--all light, except
two twenty-four pound howitzers. General
Beauregard commanded, and President Davis
reviewed the troops. Generals Johnston,
Longstreet and Stewart were also there.
About twelve O'Clock, noon, Of that day
they sent two regiments of infantry
Fifth South Carolina, Colonel jenkins, and
the Sixth Georgia, Colonel Colquitt-with
two six pound howitzers and two four pound
howiizers Of the Washington Artillery, I'M
der command Of Captain Rosscr and one
hundred Of S'ewart's cavalry. commanded by
Captain Jones. The Eighth Georgia, Colonel
Mercer, was in reserve. one mile in the rear.
They reached the vicinity Of Hawkeshurt's
mill about two O'Clock p. M. and at first
only the advance guard Of Genera, Hancock
column. They Immediately placed their pieces
in position in the edge of "A wood, aud com
menced masking them with bushes. But soon
'hcir scouts reported the advance of General
Porter at Flint Hill and that Of Gen. Brooks
at Vienna. This so alarmed them that they
commenced rapid retreat, the cavalry taking
the lead, the artillery next, and the infantry
bringing up the rear. A wheel on the lead
ing piece breaking, the gunners unhitched
their horses. The alarm now increased so
much that the traces were cut from the other
three pieces, and the gunners mounting two
on each horse galloped off towards Centre
vile 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 Centrevillc first report
ed to President Davis and General Beaure-
gard that the entire Union army was advanc-
ing. The long roll was at once beaten and
the troops disposed in support Of the several
intrenchments, the artillery being placed in
position. They sent all their sick men, spare
horses and heavy baggage back to Manassas. I
The entire force laid on their arms all Friday I
night and until nine o'clock next morning.
when the cavalry scouts brought back an ac-
count of the true state of the case, and men
and horses were sent and brought back the
guns and the small arms and bl nkets
On the 2Sth of November General Beaure-
gard gave orders to pre- pare for winter quar-
lers, and the 29th they commenced cut
ling logs for houses President Davis came
two or three days after and countermanded ,
he orders, because, he said, the Union forces +
would soon be there, and they might have to f,
lestroy them. Il
They have at Centreville a fort or earth ~
FORK for every letter inthe alphabet, and de- :,
ignated by the letters, also a strong fort +,
allied Beauregard and one called Davis, be- II
DIES another not yet finished. and unnamed. n,
he forts are connected by rifle pits and the h,
nbankments are so prepared that the field lie
tillery can be wheeled into the embrasures, in
e cassions being disposed in the rear. m
here is drill OF the artillery every day in IN
acing the guns and cassions in position. III
here are four guns to each fort, In Fort a.,
'eauregard there are three riaed guns point
ng down the Fairfax road.
Colonel jenkins was in command at Hawk ~,
ursts mill on Friday, and was to be court
narshalled for his conduct az
Colonel Stewart came with his force IN tho u
MILL but had returned to Centreyule before o
he retreat commenced. The retreatipg i'm 7
antry reached Centreville about dark Tho
four pound howitzers were present to the
by President Davis.
There are two regiments Of oolored men at
Centreville, under the command of Jordan.
an old colored veteran Of 1912, having been
drummer boy under Gen. Jackson One of
these numbers eleven hundred, and the other
fourteen hundred. Two other colorcd regi-
nents have been sent to Missouri since the
last battle there. These regiments are com
posed of both free aud slave. They are not
allowed to do picket duty, but are drilled and
encamped separate from the white men.
Their officers are all colored
At Bull Run, he says, the rebels thought
themselves beaten, and were surprised at the
retreat of tn Union forces. They thought
the retreat was leint to draw them out, and
fully expected the battle to be renewed the
next day He says a shot from Capt. Ayres
battery, on the 18th, dismounted one of their
guns and killed six and wounded four men
that the loss of the rebels at Balls Bluff, in
| killed and wounded, was about four hundred
and ffty The Notifications at CenreyillC
have been built by impressed negro labor.
This boy says there ID much dissatisfaction
among the private soldiers of the army tina
great numbers are sick that they have N,
salt or salt meat but live almost entirely OF
fresh beef and hard bread. The officers alont
have salt, but neither tea nor coffee. Tha
the common talk among the officers is that i
they are beaten at Centreville they will cal
back to Manassas, where their TANKS az
well protected, The shoes for the soldier
are made Of oiled cotton cloth, with rawhid,
soles.
This boy has stood a most searching ex
animation for over three hours by competen
persons. His statement of the position o
various regiments and the names of their com
handing officers compares in the main witt
the list published lately in the Herald II
says General Beauregard is in command c
the army Of the Potomac, and has not bee
away any considerable length of time sine
the battle OF Rull Run Gen. g. w. Smit
commands at Occoquan, and Gen. Evans q
Leesburgh that the rebel officers are, man
of them, offering their designations, an
. | that f,auarallv thpra IL nnnch cop,platrt s,r,s