Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1862-03-25
How Manassas was Conquered by One
Yankee.

WA.nINeroN, ThursdaY, March l3. lSG2.

YANKEE.
From the Tribune's Correspondent.
WASHINGTON, Thursday, March l3. 1862
1he true history Of the conquest of the Rebel
strongh0lds in Virginia has not yet been written
Journals which make conflicting statements as
TO whether Col Ayerill s Pennsylvania cavalry.
or New Jersey regiment Of infantry, is ent-
lied to the honor OF beng the first to enter the
works at Centreyllle are apparently ignorant
that both were preceded some hours by an ad-
vance corps, haling from New Eng gand State
Llst Saturday night or Sunday morning
citizen OF Massachusetts, a Yankee pcdder, some
say, whose name is unfortunately not vet in our
possession, OF rowing propensites, and believed
TO be laboring under the Z" On to Richmond
halluclnatlon, 50 odious to all persons 10 their
right mind, was crazy enough to make for
ward movement. Our pckes, probably CON
siderng it impossible that monomanmc could
convey information to the enemy, or in any wav
prejudice the success Of the Union army, or rob
Gen. Mcclellan Of his wcll.earned aurels. did
not prevent him from pushing beyond our lines.
lie ilanked the Fairfax Court House works, ind
ing that they had bat a single front, took pos
session Of the Court House and village, where
be was welcomed by the strong Union feeling Of
the remaining inhabitants as deiverer and
RECALLED with bacon and wreched whisky On
Sunday be marched on toward Ccntreyie, and
after a thorough reconnaissance, stermed the
rebel works there, and although there were can
non to the left OF bm ana cannon 70 the right
Of him, as well as cannon in front, made a
breach large enough TO admit the whole body
under bis command and took possession and oc-
cupied the place on Sunday night, in the name
Of Iankeedom, hosting Il rag-hag Here, too
the people assured him that they had suffered
for The Unon, and desired 10 be paid damages
After receiving the congratulations of those op
pressed and suffering patriots, the Massachu-
setts leader turned TO contemplate the intrench-
ments, which he had won by strategy aud with
out the shedding OF blood The enemy had. Il
appeared, hed IN complete panic, carrying their
tie pieces with them. but abandoning the heavy
artillery, which there was no time to remove
These black cannon were also Union now. and
" HaHedhim with feverish lips"
lie contemplated in mute astonishment these
sh~ep ia iionS skins black .muzzled but wooden
+" quakers, forced into the service of slavery.
But aware that the war was to be " short but
Desperate, determined to make that general
movement upon the lnsurgent forces IN con-
lormity with the Presidents first war order,
which, although fixed for February 22l, he wa
the first on the Potomac to carry into effect, on
Monday morning he pushed on, Crossing Bull
run, pursuing the Tying foe across the historic
fields OF the 2lst Of July, he approached Ma
nass,ls, and without firing shot, took possess
ION and halted for the night. Satisfied with his
achievements, he determined to make no further
pursuit at present, but to rest upon his aures
IN Washington rs commanders higher in rank,
il not superior in capacity, had done.
Meantime the Grand Army Of the Potomac, OF
which this advance corps was not part, having
learned from some fugitive slaves, who knew no
better than to tell the truth to their enemies, VINO,
in the absence OF white testimony, Eesitated TO
believe them, had cautiously moved forward At
midnight on Sunday several divisions took up
their march toward Manassas. Light cavalry
secured the roads, skirmShcrs felt the woods.
columns OF infantry, supported by artillery,
marched steadily forward. In the course Of
Monday, detachmcnts OF the Army ct the Po-
tom1c reached Fairlix and Centrevll,e At two
O'Clock of that day ten. Mcclellan parted with
his wife, according to the approved Hector and
AndrumhChe fashion, and, amid the waving ol
handkerehles from the most highly born ladies
OF Washington. attended by more OF fewer OF
his lGr,y-nlue aids, and followed by his twenty
SIX sumptuous baggage wagons which hlge, a,
two Of our oldest, soberest, and most distip-
gushed aud influential Senator's agree cost ths
country 5000 600 ,0O0, took the field. On luesdav
he reached Ceutreyille Then and there the Mass.
achusetts civilian turned over the Rebel strong
holds to the four corps armee. Should a
change be made in the command OF the Army
OF the Potomac, we trust that the unknown
Massachusetts, man who conquered Manassas,
will receive the promotion he deserves. IL Is
not true, MS rumored, that his pass has been re-
voked by Gen. Mcclellan