Litchfield enquirer., 1862-03-27
MANASSAS AND vICINTY.
We make some interesting extracts from Ba ard Taylors letters to the Tribune. sat

fapptOachfng.j The p0Stlon IS Q ilttlo Hke tual of the Russians at Bordodino, but more elevated
 Commencing on the right, at the northern ex tremity of the ridge, from which it gradually lslopes down to Rocky Run, a chain of forts connected by covered ways, extends for Q mile
 along the nearly even crest, and then falls grad. iually southward, for mile and half further, to lthe banks of. Bull Run. These forts, however with one or two exceptions. are small, and ap- lpear to have been very hastily thrown up. A lconsiderable time. evidently, has elapsed since they were occupied. The escarpments have
 been washed down by the winter rains. so filling up the narrow ditches, that one could jump across them anywhere. In those visited could detect no trace of guns having been noun. ted. From some of the embtasures projected
 maple logs, the ends painted black. This was part of the artillery which was withdrawn from
 Munson's Hill, when that place was evacuated. l The ridge is narrow-almost sharp-the will
 lage of Centreville lying on its western slope.-- that there were no defences in the rear-that the circle of forts, investing Centreville, of which
 we heard so much, resolved itself into a single line-a long line and strong line, to be sure
 but protecting a very limited extent of territory
 To the south, the ridge broadens little, and
 here the principal winter encampment appears to have been. Below Centreville, on the west
 ern side, the fields are dotted with square clay stumps, the remains of chimneys belonging tt
 camps deserted months ago. -..,-+. | MANASSAS. a. '..
 The timber rapidly became more scanty, mucl of it, in fact, having been felled since last sum
 mer, and broad. level fields extended before us seemingly to the foot of the distant mountains | Over the farthest woods in the west rose"t the l smokes of newer confagrations tokens of ray. l age and spoilation. There was scarcely half hour during the day, when we did not notice the kindling of new fires, many of them, apparently, not more than ten miles distant. Over the broad plain lay the sweet spring sunshine frogs crooked in the swamps, and blue birds sang from the trees the maple trees were dusted with crimson bloom, and the poplar buds beginning to burst. Behind the lower wooded ranges, rose the long purple line of the Blue Ridge. giving a pure, peaceful background to the silent land. scape But how unnaturally still! It was not the quiet of pastoral region, such as it appear ed to the eye, but the unnatural hush and vacan- cy of land depopulated by the pestilence. On our right, seated on wooden knoll, was a fine old brick mansion we could see the clumps of box and holly in it's former garden, but all it's inclosures had been removed, the windows and doors were gone, and it stood more melancholy than any ruin of the olden time. After we had ridden two or three miles orer this plain, following temporary railroad track. which the rebels had built for the transportation of supplies to the camps near Centreville. I be. gan to look out for the famous defences of the nIace-the high table land, approached bv s,,c. cessive terraces with their triple lines of em- bankments. the bastions" of Beauregard, and the sixty miles of rife pits-the '" Gibralter" of the southern newspapers-but the level, open c I x,,;fb m cir of f --I.a
 of land in front. We had not risen more than n hundred and fifty feet above the level of. Bull Run, and that, after the first few hundred yards. by aa almost imperceptible rise. Finally, fort appeared on the right, and then another on the left, about U miles apart, each advantageously placed on the summit of gentle swell in the place. They were pierced for eight or ten guns, as nearly as could see, and am informed that there are traces of heavy siege guns having been in position. Still further to the left, toward .he east. was third work, but go distant that could not make out it's character These thought I, are the emthworks-now We shall see the Gi- bralteri t'.r Eh9-a4 s1 .t,L
 Half mile further through the mud. splashed by the eager cavalry. Scattered smokes are curling up around blackened chimneys there are trenches, a long line of low mud ramparts, and a little redan, looking like broken barrel. Now we see locomotive, sheds, remains of cars, tents house or two, aEd-best of all-the stars and. stripes flying from the highest part of the camp. can scarcely believe my eyes. but see two lines of railroad striking away from the western end of the works, and must admit that this is-- Manassas Junction. -.ta.,-.5;.sr
 A hideous scene! The main buildings, some of which appear to have been workshops, are heaps of ashes. A sickening stench of wool, and burning cotton, and nobody knows what other substances fills the air. The track is lit- tered with mass of heterogeneous articles-old under shirts. packages of corn starch. writing desks bowie knives, tin candle moulds, india rubber blankets, cartridge boxes. bags of pea. nuts, love letters, quilts, lard horseshoes, with boxes and packages of every description. but all more or less smashed. Squads of soldiers are turning over these disgusting piles in the hope of finding booty worth taking. Here comes man with twenty-four packages of tobacco, tied together with rope: here another with great tin kittle full of peanuts third. brandishing a bowie knife in each hand {; while, by far the greater portion are employed in searching trunks for daguerreotypes and love letters.
 a I have never before in my life. beheld such a mess-with the exception of a Chinese pawn brokers shop in Shanghae. In one place, sew eral tents are filled with sutler's stores and trunks belonging to officers, which apparently have been left in the haste of the evacuation.-- There is something so inexpressibly nasty in this ruin that hesitated far awhile to touch an ar ticIe; but ! finally selected large bowie knife
 made of a file; U. s. cartridge bek from Bull Run. and German silver soup spoon. There are books of all descriptions medical. religious. and military. The letters are mostly loving, and badly spelled, giving evidence of illiterate afec- ton. Some are passes from Beauregard, militia Try documents, or applications from office seekers. I am told that a soldier has found copy of the order of evacuation. dated since the lstof March, but cannot get sight of it. ,g
 Col. Yates has just discovered written pla- card, framed and hung up, to await our arrival. Itis something in this wise :: ,a asaq9 To the Northern Gentlemen (?) Friends of Freedom. We go for little while, but in leav-
 ing our present quarters, it is for the purpose of enabling you to fulfill the words of Scripture-- Z" Occupy till cofne." Yours retreating. but not cowed. CRESCENT BLUES
 THE OLD BATTLE FIELD. The Stone Bridge over Bull Run, was blown up, and the creek was impossible at that point The man, however, directed us to go to Chinn's House" tall wooden structure, with heavy brick chimneys on the outside, which stood upon hill about a mile to the northward. Here, he said. we should find . field road leading toa ford below the bridge. Galloping over the dry swells and wading throngn the muddy hollows, we soon reached Chinns House. It was utterly oeser- ted. The glass was out of the windows, ana tns wind whistled dreary through. Inside we touno a few benches, the remains ot rougn pihe tagle and mantel-clock, from which all tne Works
 had been taken. The white washed walls were s,C Chor m en-