Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1862-03-20
OUR POTOMAC ADVANCE.
Reports from Manassas--Evideaces of
Precipitafe Retreat--M Clellan's Head
quarters at Fairfar.


Precipitafe Retreat--M C1ellan's Head
quarters at Fairfar.
New York. March 12-The Herald's
Washington. dispach says: Before dark
last night. Col. Averill. with large body
of cavalry. entered the far-famed rebel
works at Manassas. and bivouacked for
the hight amidst the ruins Of the rebel
stronghold. The intelligence gathered at
Mapa>sas and in the neighborhood tends
to show that the whole rebel army has re-
tired southwark 1t is not credited that
they will attempt to make stand near.
as the country is open. level and unprom-
Using for defensive warfare.
The opinion is gaining ground that
Gordonsville was simply the rendezvous
for what was lately the rebel army Of the
Potomac as it is the junction of the Orange
and Alexandra with the Virginia Central
Railroad. The only point at which they
can. with any sort of confidence, attempt
to make stand is near the junction Of the
Frederick and Potomac with the Central
Va. r. r.. which neighborhood the North
Anna and South Anna Rivers unite and
form the Panaka River, about 90 miles
directly north of Richmond. At this point
the country is much broken and admirably
fitted for defense.
1t is reported that. in their retreat. the
rebels have destroyed the railroad. bridge
across the north fork Of the Rappahannock.
In their haste they have left behind strag-
CLING parties Of soldiers. who seem to be
very glad to be made prisoners. Wher-
ever they have gone, it is evident that
their army is completely demoralized and
utterly unfit for service.
The moral effect of the retreat from
Manassas to Richmond will be the same
throughout the South as it is in this part
of Virginia. The impression prevails that
the Southern Confederacy has collapsed,
and many of the people thank God for
j..
The forts are all abandoned, but log
huts. hundreds in number and ample to
accommodate fully so. 900 troops, still re-
main: also. an immense number of tents.
Heaps Of dead horses cover the fields in
the vicinity The log huts are strewn all
along between Cen:erville and Manassas.
The railroad track is undisturbed, except
the bridges. The stone bridge across
Bull Run, on the Warrenton turnpike, is
blown mp, as also the bridge across Cub
Run, between Centervillc end Manas-
sas.
Everything at Manassas indicated pre-
cipitate flight of the rebels. Some Gals
sons were found, but no guns. Piles of
bullets and cartridges were left, and an
immense quantity fquartermaster's stores.
In one place were discovered about 3d.
900 bushels Of corn. which had been set
on FIRE and was still smouldering. Among
the trophies are pack saddles, army orlers.
muskets, rcvolvers. bowie knives. let
tiers. etc. Over 1000 pack saddles were
1found-~ all new and marked &C. s. A."
rsople in the vicinity state that prior
to the evacuation there were LOG. 900 troops
at Manassas and Centerville. Crossing
the breastwsrks were what appeared to
be cannon. bu, on examination they pro-
we'd to be wooden affairs, got up for ef-
feet.
Two Pennsylvania cavalry regiments
were the first Union troops entering Cen.
terviIle. BrentviIe, four miles from Ma
lnassas. a Home Guard had been organized
to protect themselves against the secession
lists
i Gen. Mcclellan has taken up his quar-
( tiers at Fairfax Court House.
A dispatch has been received here con
tradicting the announcement that Winches