Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1862-03-14
Pc . Il $ CRIPT


CENrREvILLE, March IL.
Yesterday morning our forces, amounting
to upwards Of 1000, proceeded TO Centre
Vile and occupied the village about 4 o'clock
IN the afternoon. 1t was altogether deserted
The entire command thence proceeded to
Manassas, arriving there in the evening. The
rebels had destroyed as much Of their proper
ty as they could not carry away by FIRE and
otherwise The bridges, railroad track and
depot in that vicinity were extensively dam
aged, and nothing but wreck and desolation
was apparent
Upon close examination it was discovered
that the rebels before evacuating their much
boosted stronghold, had set fire to such Of
their commissary stores as they could not con-
veniontly carry off. The place presents
scene Of the utmost desolation; mass Of
charred aud blackened ruins The rebels al
so have torn up the bridges along the line OF
the Orange and Alexandria railroad for some
miles below Manassas.
NEW York, March II.
The Herald's Washington dispatch says
that Gen. Mcclellan has taken up his head
quarters at Fairfax Court House. Before
dark night before last Col. Averill, with
large body of cavalry, entered the rebel works
at Manassas junction, and bivouecked for the
night amidst the ruin o? the rebel stronghold.
Opinion is gaining ground that Gordons-
vile was simply rendezvous for the late reb-
ell army of the Potomac, as it is the junction
Of the Orange and Alexandria Railroad with
the Virginia Central Tho only point at
which they can with any sort Of confidence
attempt to make a stand, is near the junction
Of the Frederick and Potomac with the Cen
trail Virginia Railroad in which neighborhood
the North Anna and South Anna rivers unite
and form the Pamankey river about twenty
miles North Richmond. At this point the
country is much broken, and admirably fitted
for defense
II is reported that in theirretreat the rebels
destroyed the railroad bridge across the north
fork of the Rappahannock. In their haste
they left behind struggling parties of soldiers
who seemed very glad to be made prisoners.
Company huts ample to accommodate 80 900
troops remain Heaps Of dead horses cover
the field in the vicinity The railroad track
is undisturbed, except the bridges.
The Tribune publishes a letter from Eliza
beth City, dated the 4ih inst, giving the
runor that Gen. Bragg, with all his forces
numbering 1000, arrived yesterday from
Pensacola which place he evacuated after
destroying Notifications, guns, &c. 1t is
said that all the forces at Newburgh and
other points in North Carolina, numbering
from 10000 to 10000, have been ordered to
Norfolk.
LEEsBURGH, March IL.
Col Geary, acting Brigadier General Of
troops here, made personal reconnaissance
yesterday as far as Carriers Mills The trail
Of the rctreating army was blackened with
the ruins of granares, ashes of bay and grain
stacks, fences &c, He found that the bridge
over Goose Creek had been burned after our
occupation here on Saturday
1t is said that rebels left Contreyille on Sun
day morning.
The command continues to make captures
from rank secessionists. The loyal feeling is
growing and many persons come forward to
take the oath Of allegiance daily.
Col. Geary with some of his officers and a
detachment of the First Michigan Cavalry
rode to Balls Bluff to-day and buried the
whitened bones Of the brave Union soldiers
who fell upon that field in Ocrober last I'm
prossive remarks preceded this humane act,
and monument Of gross rebel neglect was
hidden from human sight.