The Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1861-1862, 1862-02-01
The PosItioa and strength OF Beau.
PeaaFdsa Army.

Tho POsItioa and strength Of Beau.
regards Army.
A Washington correspondent Of the Chi
cago Times gives an interesting account Of
Beauregard and his operations since the bat
tie of Bull Run. All thsstatements we have
had from time to time, relative to the dis
tress and discomfort existing in the rebel ar.
my, the soldiers impatient to leave the ser
vice, ETC., this correspondent positively con-
tradicts. Instead of this he corroborates the
statement of Beauregard being reinforced
with $4,000 fresh troops, and that the rebel
army is in excellent condition. He then
continues, and it will be seen that the task
which General Mcclellan has before him, in
driving Beaurcga!d out of eastern Virginia, is
quite formidable undertaking.
Why has Beauregard thus fortified Centre
vile ? When the Union army of the Poto-
mac moves, the reason will become manifest.
Centreville is the Key Of Manassas Junction,
and Manassas Junction is the door to Rich
mond, and indeed, it may be said to the
whole Of Virginia. Examine military map
Of the country, trace the roads, the streams,
the ranges of hills, and it will be seen that
Union army entering by any other door
will be sure to be surrounded, cut off from
their base of operations, and destroyed. If
the strong lines of Manassas can be forced
and the communication be kept open with
this city, a tESoh army can advance SOUTH
ward conquering as it advances, and lay the
whole country under contribution. Hence
the Importance Of fortifying Centerville.
These twenty-six forts, which are so situa-
ted as to command every possible approach
to Centreville, from Arcola, on the Gump
sprng..road, on the left, to the Occoquan Riv-
er two miles below Union Mills, on the right
On the morning of the battle of Bull Run
the Confederate army was posted on the
right bank of that stream, from the Stone
Bridge to Union Mills. The reconnaissance.
made by Genera Mcdowell on the day pre-
vious enabled him to cross a large portion o
his force General Hunters column) at Sud
ey's Ford, a mile and quarter above th
Stone Bridge. This disarranged Beauregard'
whole plan Of battle, and came near defeat
ing him. The hardest fighting of the day
and till 4 O'Clock in the afternoon, took plac
) at Sudley's Ford and between it and tn
Warrington turnpike road. Tho two fortl
then, between Arcola and Sudley's Ford, ar
designed to prevent the ford from being use
by the Union troops. The largest and strong
est forts are called Fort Beauregard, Fort Ds
Wis, and Fort Slidel. They all comman
roads that must be taken in order to approac
Centreville. All of the twenty-six forts ar
mounted with suitable artillery. 1t was t
celebrate the completion of these works ths
the great review of 10000 Confederate troop
took place early in December, at which Je
Davis was present, and at which the "battle
flags" were presented to each regiment.
General BcaureSard's army has gone int
winter quarter the same way that our arm
here has, viz without being ordered to do SC
the mon have been allowed to make them
, selves comfortable in hu!s of their own con
seruction. Gen. Beauregard's main body fu!
: ly $4,000 strong3is is postedin and around thes
forts near Ceptreyille The right wing, As
Geo strong, is posted between the right ban
of the Occoquan River and Acquia Creek
The lef. wing is commanded by Geners
Jackson at Martinsburgh and General Evan
at Leesburgh. (The latter officer, believ,
{ has since been relieved) tits said that Lees
: burgh is strongly fortified, but the work
, though apparently formidable, are probabl
j, of the Muuson Hill style. There are 1900
0 troops there, however, and 1900 MOI
: strongly intrenched on the right bank {
: Goose Creek. Allow me to refer to my lei
a ter Of January 9th for an account of wh'
e General Jackson has done up to this time
Since that time he has not only RENAME
master of that situation, and of all the cour
6 try between Martinsburgh and Hancock, b,
he has also advanced on Romney, drive
General Lander and the Union troops out
that place, and pursued them to Cumborlan
= and now hold high revel in all the countl
between IIarper's Ferry, Hancock and Ron
ney. Perhaps if he would go to Cumberlan
: Gen, Landers might give him another "Gttir
e response" And what has Gen. Banks bee
# doing all this time? Really, I am unable
+ find out that he has been doing anything
J, all; ard General Stones men are helpiI
= him.
- Novel Mode of Carrying the Mail.
$ The rnhels in the lower counties of Mar