The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-03-28

indicate that Manassas was on fire. Our
cavalry had gone there during Monday
night, and found the rear of the enemy still
there; but they were firing the remaining
property. A. captain, by whose side we
rode, told US Of the piles of new secesh
clothes, swords, flags, &c. Galloping
ahead of the rest we reached the Junction.
The sight here cannot be portrayed the
large machine shops, the station houses,
the Commissary and Quartermaster store~
houses, all In ashes. On the track stood
the wreck of locomotive, and not far
down the remains of four freight cars which
had been burned to the right five hundred
barrels of flour had been stove in, and two
hundred barrels of vinegar and molasses
had been allowed to try experiments in
chemical combinations. Some fifty barrels
OF portland beef had been scattered around
in the mud, and few hundred yards down
the track dense cloud of smoke was arts.
ing from the remains of factory which
had been used for rendering up tallow and
boiling bones. About thousand good
hides were stretched in field close by, upon
stakes, and remaining uninjured.
The following is taken from the Wash
ington correspondence of the New York
Herald, under date of Wednesday last:
Much has been said concerning the i'm.
mense strength of the rebel Notifications at
Manassas; but from an examination of the
position recently evacuated it is evident that
Centreville was the great strong hold of the
rebels on the Potomac. Naturally it is
superior to the other, and the works erected
there are more numerous and better built
than those at Manassas Junction. The
heights OF Centreviie command the whole
country round for many miles. The sur
rounding country on every side is clear OF
timber, and an advancing army, in making
| the gradual ascent, would have been swept
| by the guns behind the earthworks. These
consisted of eight or nine separate fortified
tions, pierced Tor four, six and seven to a
dozen guns, each extending in q line and
surrounded by rifle pits.
None of the works had the appearance OF
ever having had guns mounted on them.
They seemed to be intended for field artiIle.
ry. Some of the redoubts are connected by
roadways, so that, bad there not been guns
enough for all, the pieces could be speedily
placed in the most desirable positions; or
should one of the works have to be aban-
doned, in case of another attack, the guns
could be brought into another. Thus they
were prepared to contest the ground inch
by inch had they been attacked in force in
front at Centrevile. Those Notifications
have been constructed with care. Much
scientific skill was displayed in the design,
and considerable taste in their execution
of the plan. Altogether they formed a
complete system of defences, commanding
the approaches for many miles around
large logs were placed In all the embrasures
so as to present the appearance of heavy
cannon mounted. Not gun was found in
any of the Notifications.
Behind the rifle pits near the turnpike
there are number of fresh graves, princi-
palIy of South Carolina and louisiana sold.
iers. Some were buried there only few
days previous. The indications are that
there must have been an immense force
supporting these rebel earthworks. Thou
sands OF log huts, built in the most substan-
tial and careful manner, the roofs made of
boards, demonstrated that the rebels had
comfortable winter quarters at that place
These houses had been fitted up in fine STYLE
with all the conveniences the resources oil
the rebel government and private enterprise
could command. A vast amount of labor
and great quantity of lumber were EN-
ployed in their construction.
On evacuatipg the place, the rebels took
everything portable and valuable with
them, but lett their quarters untouched. A
large numoer OF dead horses are lying OF
the GROUND 10 different places between Cen.
treyllle and Manassas. Twenty-four are tG
be seen in one spot. In other PLACES group;
OF tour and five are to be found tOget her
wolfe at intervals along the road the APP
pearance OF solitary dead horses gives the
impression that they had been worked to
death in the hasty evacuation, and OF course
were leit Ga the road where they TELL
The memorable Bull Run battlefield was
the scene OF universal interest, especially to
those who had participated 10 the engage
ment. Hundreds rode over the battle field
to see again the position they held on that
day, and to mark the spots where theil
brave comrades fell. With swelling hearts
they noticed each point OF interest while
they unused on the fatal result OF the battle
and recalled what has been since made
manifest-namey, how nearly they had won
the fortunes of the day.
OCCUPATION OF THE REBEL BATTERIES on
THE LOWER POTOMAC.
In compliance with the orders of Genera
Hooker, early on Monday morning, the 10th
instant, detachment, under Liect. Col0ne
Miles, First Massachusetts Regiment, tool
possession of the rebel works at Shipping
Point and Evausport, while "a similar body
under Colonel Mott, Fifth New Jersey
Regiment, occupied those at Cockpit Point
It was found that the rebels had attempt
ed to destroy every thing possible by blow
ing up their magazines and bursting theil
guns. The guns were loaded to the muzzle
with solid shot and sand bags, and fire
was built under them, which burned the
carriages and heated the guns sufficiently
to ignite the powder. In this way they
burst three riaed guns and one forty.tw
pound shell gun out of twenty one left ir
their works.
They had in Shipping Point battery q
one hundred and twenty pound English ri.