New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-03-14

chlnks plastered with clay, and the roofs OF sawed
plank. The interiors, however, were filthy and re-
pusive. Old haversacks, holsters, boxes and cook
ing utensils were scattered about in profusion There
was an inhabited house near the occupants of which
informed ne that the troops left about three weeks
ago. Their time Of service bad expired, and they
avowed their intention of returning, but with an ar
which sgnihed the reverse. The character of tie
barracks shows that tie Rebels did not anticipate
being disturbed in their wiIer-quarters. They were
altogether superior TO the make-shft hsbtatons of
our own troops.
AT Centreville we left the turnpike, and thence
forth to Manassas enjoyed the advantages Of Vir-
gnia "dirt-road." The numbers Of dead horses and
mules, lying on all rides, told what these roads must
have been in the muddy season. Even now, after a
week OF fine weather. and with bright sky and
drying wind. they severely taxed the powers Of our
animals. The timbered bottom along Bull Run was
succession of quasmires, through which we plunged
and loundered, amid showers Of liquid mud. AS the
regular line of march stopped by the narrowness
Of the ford, plunged in and through the stream,
which is here abou. twenty yards wide and three or
four feet deep. On the left two Rebel batteries,
no longer masked by the trees. The opposite bank
is not more than City feet high, aud broken by gull
lies or holows, through one Of which the road
passes. An undulaiing, slightly rising tract. less
than bali mile in extent, follows, aud We find our.
selves On tho PLAIN OF Manassas.
MANASSAS.
The timber rapidly became more aeanty much Of
II, in fact having been ieed since list Summer, and
broad level fields extended before u.s. seemingly TO the
foot q the distant mouniaDs. Over the arlhes woods
IN be ives rose the Acsof newer contagrations-
Tokens VI rayage aud spolaton. There was scarcely
u half hour during the day when We did not notice
he lmdlipg OF new Gree, many Of them, apparently,
uct more than ten miles distant. Over tie broad
hin lay the sweet Spring suushiuei frogs crosked
IN the swamps, and bue-birds rang from the trees
tho msplc.i,ecs weTo busted with crimson bloom,
and the IOplai-bnds were beginning to burs;. Be-
bind Tie lower wooded ranges, lose The long purple
line Of The Blue Ridge, giving pure, peaceful back
ground 10 the silent landscape. But how uuraiuIaly
siill. II was not the quiet Of pastoral region,
such as it appeared to the eye, but the unnatural
hush and vacancy Of land depopulted by tie pes
tenre. Ga our tight, seated On a wooden knoll,
uas Il Enc old Llck mansion; we could sea The
clunps ot box and holly ~ III former garden, bat all
IT, irel, snres had been removed, tie windows aId
d,oys were conc, and j: stood more melancholy dian
any r4'n Cd the oJon time.
Afler we had ridden two Or three miles oves tbs
plain, ;o'lovng a Temporary Iailosd track, which
the Rebels lad bull, los the transportation Of sup-
Ile. 80 tie camps rear Cen,reyii'e began TO look
i. .,t Ina I
inble-land approached by successive terraces, Win
iAc.I lgipe lincG o. cnibankmcns, the btst0ns "i
Deaure,ar ard tie -Ixty miles OF rifle pis-iho
=. Gibraltar" Of the Southern newsPapers-bui the
level open fields continued, with NJ sign Of foit-
fed rec Of land in irout. We had not riaen moro
AN hundred and iiy feet, above the level OF Bun
Run ard thai after III" INIT lew hundred yurds, by
an almost impeicep'ible risc Finally, fort np-
reared on tie right and Lien another on tie LETT,
about miles apart each ad.sntageously placed on
The summit Of n gentle swell ia The place. They
were pierced foe eight or ten guns, rs nearly as
could see and I'm informed that there are traces Of
heavy sego guns having been in posiion. soil fur
Their 10 the loi toward the els' was "A third work,
bu, 80 distant that could make out iis character
Thee, thought /. are the outworka-now we shall
see the Gibraltar
HALT a nile further, through the mud, spashed by
he eager cavalry. Scattered sinoaco are guiding op
around blaskonei chimnoys, there are trenches,
long line # low mud rulnart, and little redan,
looking IKE "a broken barrel. Now we see q loco
motive, sleds, remains of cars, tents, honsc or
Two, aud-hesi of ull-,ho Stars and sripes flying
from the highest part Of tie camp. can scarcely be-
love ny eyes, but see two lines Of railroad striking
AWAY from the rsisIn end 81 tbe works, and must
admit that tbs is-Mauassns Junction
4 lideous scene Tho main buildings, some OF
which appear 10 have been workshops, are h-ans oil
s,he.. 4 .caeuing stencil OF burning wool, AID
corn and nobody knows what other substances nus
.he ar. TIE Truck is Uttered with naas heiero-
reneors atioics-0d unicr.shir'r and packages OF
com starch w.iiing-lesk.. bowieknyes, TN CANDLE
mods. India. Rubber Blankets carridge-boNet, bags
OF eAuu-. love letters quilts, lard, bos-esiocr, with
boxe- and packages Of every description, but AL
more or lees sina.cd. Squads OF ;oaiers are ,arn
ing over these disgusting piles IN tie hope oil hnd'
ine booty worth taking. Here comes man Win
tweniy-iour packages oi tobacco, ued together with
toac, here another with great iin-Aeile full OF
=. anuis; q ,ird, braudiohng bowie-kniio in each
hard; while, BY I'm the greater portion are EN-
Moved in searching trunks for dagaereo'ypes and
love letters.
have never before in my life bebeld such mess
with TIC exception Of a Chinese p"wnnroAerS
shop in Sbaughne. In ore place, several tents are
q led wirh ruiers stores and franks belonging {"
Officers. which have apparently been left, in the
h,.,e If eyaepai.on. There is something 70 mex
.r,, bly, nasty IN this ruin, that hesitated Tor
.,,., lie 10 touch an article; bat finally selected
l,ne bowie-knifc, muie II q ei n u. 5. cartridges
box from Bull Run, aud a Germnu-siher soup-spoop.
There are books Of all descriptions medical, r,li'
a., I, lima,