New-York daily tribune., 1862-04-18
FROM VIRGINIA.
The Deserted Fortifcstions nt Ccnireviiie
Their formidable rhnractcr -:semi"-
isceucss Of July.

The DESERTED Fortifcntions Mt Ccnireviiic
Their formidable character Re cmin-
isccncss Of July.
From Our Special Correspondent.
CEsrREvrLLx April 6 1851,
II is possible that the name of Centreyille no
longer possesses a very vivid interest. Al no time
he's it been considered worthy of particular attention
by the Northern people, and now that the scene Of
probable events is becoming more and more distant
it ia likely to pass entirely from the public mind
Its best title to fame has hitherto been tina. IL formed
the base of our military operations the day Of our
,nQular defeat Last July, and hat its abandonment
was the signal of the CREATES. revene tha, has be-
fallen the Union cause during the war iis local
reputation has been wholly oyeF.hado~ed by that
OF Tho Manassas junction, near at hand. Manassas
having been the point from which we were nenaced
before she Bull Run battle, and the center Of The
Rebel force on the occasion Of their first and only
victory we have associated with il an importance
which did not subsequently, belong to it, Il was iui
possb bic for two points close together 20 receive
sn equal degree of popular respect, and Manassas
having been The frs 10 assort i;set it secured the
preference for all time, in spite of Whatever Centre
vile may have afterward done for its own dis:inc-
tiou.
Visiting this place for II first time since the
unlucky repuise nine mentbs ago, find 30 many
important changes have come over II, 50 much has
leen ell,. ed toward rendering il most imposing
obstacle our advance into Virginia, no great rel-
lnoe b.. evidently ieen SET upon il by the Rebel
general. ,eceuty in power here that II iises to Il
dignity we had never youchsufed il. AID hat It's
claim 10 a place in the history Of this campaign IN
Virginia can hardly be sighted, Notwithstanding that
II was relnquished without struggle, aud that the
unusual preparations made for its deisnse ayailed
.,le to tie purposes OF The Southern generals Ths
great test Of their power had been Anticipated here
I think no reron can dcub, who coniemp.a,os tie
ysine.s Of The deen-es hey had established |, Is
true that these deienses bear comparison 10 the
moro pcriec, works with which our own engineers
have sonounded Washington, but, judged nom the
Echel standard OF excellence, they are ihe
rori elaborate and effective yet produced by them.
Every previous fortiicalion reared by the Southern
troor bad boen ~ weak and worthless that 10 value
could be acud upon them bu, these, 1t seems, are
If Il character which would render them truly for
uidAble. especially when the natural strength Of the
uo.iiion s considered. 90 no; mean 10 ssy mat 4
Rebel r,pud ri Centcvlc need ever have been con-
,de,cd an effective obstacle 10 our sener4's, since
ordinary ,hill would have devised the means o. is
overthrow by the suples, and tie surest strategi,
demonstration. II could have been assailed IN lank
with snch ADVANTAGES ~ 20 render all the defensive
preparations unavsiiag. But is nevertheless srue
that If 1t bad ever been attacked 10y the course which
cur army punued on the lroyiou, advance, u il,
doubtful whether any courage endurance OF resolu-
ton could have wrested the position from tbos. who
occupied IL.
There ARE many who remember the appearance OF
the place when the inst Union army advanced unon
i, last July. From the low valley which lies henoah
il a single breastwork, and limited in extent
was deccrned stretching across the road which con.
Quoted to the nights. Tie exceeding strength Of the
situation was all that tAen caused our leaders TO
Pause. The carhwork was uunpor,ant. Its made
quacy was apparent a. the first glance. But the
position was formidable beyond any that had been
encountered. For nearly mile the land rose stead
ily and gradually almost without break to the sum
NIT ol the bin upon which the village stands There
were few Of the usual irregularities 10 furnish shell
ter to as.sul;mg columns. The fields were open and
generally unobstrucled. \ wi ole army might have
been sacrificed in ans attempt 10 carry that position
provided il had been amply defended. Bat the
neagerness Of the Notifications showed that posi-
tive resistance would he offered, and our army
pr, ssed forward uuopposed. SO il was, nine month,
agc; but row, how different. In place OF a snsi,
feeble breastwork, whole lines and chains of fort
are seem not only in immediate view at the front
but stretching far away on either side to distance
greater than the eye can compass. Bristlng forts
with embrasures through which the sunlight stream
with fierce glare tina, only hints of what nigh
have poured herefrom, lad too rash n venture beei
made agains; them. Long arrays of rifle pits, mad
formidable by their unity, and 10y the nbroken lin
which they establish between each redoubt.
mighty maze of intr,nchments and ield-woIks, bu
not without plan.
II was late in the day when reached Ceutreye
aud the obscurity of the evening hid many of thes
oriications 40 ] rode through them 10 tho village
Enough was evident, however TO manifest thei
abundant strength. ] have said that they fail II
comparison with the more ingenious works nea
Washington, but it should be understood that Wash
ngton enjoys no such typographical advantages
those which encompass Centrevile. In the twlhgh
the magnitude OF these defenses seems IN come re
spects augmented. The lines OF rihe-pts appear u
follow the shadows Of the hills into intermlnaoIe dis
tances, ard the scattered forts multiplied by eae
mound which rises near them. TO me, who nav
hitherto seen the most trivial e1pedients on To
pah A tAA Rebels, the qualify CS Asse WVykp