Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-03-12
Special Correspondence Of the Chicago Tribune.
Washington correspondence.
WAsHINGToN, March


Recent movements of the Rebel Troops under
Jackson WiH the Confederate troops abandon
Manassas-T'hey must hold Manassas, or else
abandon Richmond.
learned the following facts TO day in relation
to the opening of the Baltimore and Ohio rail
road. They are OF interest To those branches of
business ut the " est which have suffered for the
last nine months in consequence OF this great
highway being in possession OF the rebels: Da-
ring the last two weeks the railroad company has
succeeded in making complete survey of the
line OF the road from Harper's Ferry to Hancock,
a distance Of some 40 miles They have not
been able to DO this before, because the country
through which this part OF the road runs has been
in the actual possession of the rebel troops until
u few dlySago. About half way between the two
places named is the town of Martinsburg which
where the company had extensive workshops.
machinery, and ever facility for repairing engines
and cars. The results OF the survey would have
been dscouragng To company having less
ergy than the Baltimore aud Ohio. All the iron
OF - miles double track. that is say, "a miles
OF track, had been carried away by the rebes, and
not only the treSte work of the bridges. but the
very cross ties and Seepers. had been burned.
The company however, were prepared with
abundance of material ct all kinds. and the work
OF reconstruction has already commenced and
will be prosecuted vigorously until II Is completed
One bridge. IA feet long requiring great deal
ot high trestle work WIS completed III 40 hours, al
tim when il was OF the greatestmportance in
military point of view that II should be speedily
completed. The three bridges over Sleep Greek.
Cherry Run, and Back Creek, distant respective
ly b. 30. and twenty FIVE miles from Harper'S
Ferry. will be completed respectively TO day, on
the 9Th and oth lust The entire track of the
road single track from Harper's Ferry TO Han
cock, IS reiaid, except space of miles west OF
Mirliusburg This will be completed and the
road opened through from Baltimore 70 Wheel
ins military road, by the end OF this week
and Tor the general purposes ot commerce ami
business by the end OF March The company are
building At their machine shops near Baltimore
large uumbef OF locomotives. passenger cars
and ire ght ears 81 that when the above iesira-
bsc couSummation does take place. they do
business with rush
The rebel troops have apparently abandoned
al thai part OF the country Through which the
road runs The surveyors OF the railroad. how.
ever. saw their scouts small parties ct cavalry.
every day, HOY eFing enough TO them Ia Ob
serve al their motions This indicates that ten.
Jackson j. of every movement on the part
OF ten. Banks Ii Gen. Jackson. however.
makes no opposition % Gen Banks. such conduct
viii be IN pursuance of recent Orders, and those
oriers show that the Confederate policy has an
dergone change. and that change l. indicative
OF ~eakueSS ana inability 20 maintain their for
mcT position.
IL Will he remembered that the Conteierates
Simei NJ cutting oft all communication with
Washington from the North. East and West by
seizing and holding the three great avenues To
that city. namely the Potomac river, the Balti-
more and Ohio Railroad and the railroad from
Baltimore TO Washington; that they came very
near seizing the latter. and did actually succeed
a..
TOT the last nine months they have retained Ils-
session OF the second. and still hold the first II
therefore. the Government succeeds in
wrestling this road from rebel conirol, they will
have done What they have been unable TO DO for
nine months past. OF all the avenues To Wash
ingtOn. the rebels will then hold only one, name
y: the Potomac river
IL = difficult To ascertain the truth about Gen.
Jackson's recent movements. lt u known that