, 1862-03-13
OUR POTOMAC ADVANCE.
Reports fronS Srdanasasas.
McClellan.s HeaAqRazters at
FafrfAx.

New YORK, March 12-Thc Hcrald's Wash
ington dispatch says: Before dark last might,
Col. Ayeri!l, With 1arge:eody Of cayalry, en-
and bivouacked for the iEeht anidst the ruins
gathered at Manassas and, in the neighbofhood
tends to chow that the Hlole rebel army hiss
retired sontllward. It isAot credited thatt they
country is open, level ard unprou1ising foEde-
Tic opinion is gaining ground that Gordons-
ys was simply The rsnaezyouS y fh Tor Thst was
as it is the junct:nn Of the Orange
tral Railroad. The :Qqly point at which
they can, with any sort 04 confidence, attampt
to make stand is ncar the junction Of the
Frederick and PotomaoE the Central Va.
3. B., in which ncighboIhood the North Anna
and South Anna Rivera unite aud form the
Panaka River, about ~ miles directly north
Of Richmond At this point the country is
much broken ard admirably fitted for defense
rebels have destroyed the railroad bridge
across tile north fork IT the Rappahannock:
In thejT haste they have left behind struggling
parties Of soldiers, whoeeem to be very glad
to be lnade prisoners. Wherever they have
gone, it is evident that their army is cou1-
Plctcly dcmorlized and utterly unit for ser
vice. d
The moral effect Of the rctreat from Manas-
| sas to Richmond will be the same throughout
/! the South as it is in this part Of Virginia,
| The impression preEai}s that the Southern
! Confedcracy las collapsed, and many Of the
| people thank God tos It.
Tic forts are all abandoned, but log huts,
hundreds in number aud ample to aeeoalmo-
date fully 80 600 troops, still remain; also, an
! meuee number Of tents. Heaps Of dead horses
| cover the fields in the vicinity The log huts
| are strewn all along between CentreEiI1e and
Manassas. The railroad track is undisturbed,
| except the bridges. The stone bridge across
Bull Run, on the Nar1enton turnpike. is blown
up, as also tile bridge across Cub Run, be;
TWEEN Centreyil]c and Manassas.
Eyery thing at Manassas indicated precipl
| tate flight Of the rebels. Some caissons were
found, but no guns. Piles Of bullets aud cart.
ridges were left, and an immense quantity OF
quarler1naster's stotcs: In one place were
discovered about sc, 900 bushels Of corn, which
had been set on fire and WIS still smouldering,
Among the trophies are pack-Eaddles, army
orders, muskets, reyolvt rs, bowie knives, let.
ters, etc. Oyer 1, ,0D pack saddles were found
| ali new ard mark ID ~ G. S. Az
People in the vicinity state that prior to tht
evacuation there w2re 100, GOO troops at Ma
naesas and Centere5Ile. Crossing the breast
works were what appeared to be cannon, bu
Oh examination they proved to be wooden nj
fairs, got up for efEect-
Two Pennsylvania cavalry regiments wcr
the first Union troops entering Centreyine
At Brentyilie, four miles from MANASSAS,
Home Guard had been organized TO protec
themselves agains: the secessionists.
Gen. Mcclellan las taken up his quarters a
| Fairfax Court House.
A dispatch las been received here contrs
dieting the announcement that Winchestc
l was occupied yesterday by our troops, gu
: stating that it is:held By rebel force. 1t
military affairs th=tfhe rebels there are Elmpl
: portion Of the Virginia militia left there t
Z cayer ttH rrs-ca+ *ff the. uain body Of rebel
It is not probable that any considerable ioTe
would be maintained il that part Of Virgin
q after the evacuation of MnuasEas, which cpn
r mands the only railroad avenue thence
+ Richmond.
WASHINGTON, March 12.-Large numbers
!" contrabands hare reached our lines, whlt
now extend beyond Manassas Junction, AZ
d they are still coming in by dIoyes.
y The earthworks at Centre7il1e were great
misrep1escnted. They were not Of the tor.r
n eyacuatipg, had somewhat injured them
t. breaking the enlbrasures and classmates.
On our troops arrfytying at FaiIfax Con
l. House they found no more thon dozen fan
lies there. The soldiers rushed into the Con
re House, and brought away some Of the record
but this being discovered, the officers ords
cd their return. When our troops 1earn
ID that Manassas had been evacuated, tn
u spirits suddenly became depressed, IS Il,
had anticipated spirited conflict with
enemy.
THE ENEMY AT GORDONsvILLE.
WASHINGTON, March 12.-There is nothi
ncW at Manassas. The rebels have rctii
towards GordonsFiIle. They rest with tn
,a advance at the Pape Dam river, their can
extending back to GordonsvI1e, Il miles.