Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1862-03-26


-Fortifcations-Retr of the Enc
my Their Observation-Disclosures
of Bridges, Houses and ,Stock-Feel-
ing Of Our Troops Wisconsin Sec
odd-Sad Effects Of the Var upon
Virginia Union Sentiment Contra
bands.
ARMY OF THE PoToMAC,)
FAIRFAX Co, VIRGINIA, :
March 18th, 1892
We may now truly say that "the world
does move" and all is not quiet on the
Potomac, as the onward movement of the
army after seven months inactive CAMPAIGN
plainly indicates. The order to issue "a
tons for two days and 'strike tents" pre-
paratory to taking up our line Of march FOR
the enemy's stronghold (Manassas) re-
| ioiced the hearts Of our brave soldiers,
who, for seven months, had been leading
life Of monotony in the camp. For this
change in the programme of military af-
fairs the army is undoubtedly under last
ing obligations to ''Uncle Abe" and Secre
tary Stanton, who declared that the order
for the army on the Potomac was "March
and Fight" The opposition to this poll
cy had to cave and submit to a grand
march to Richmond via Manassas.
FIRST DAYS MARCH.
Monday morning, a. IN, the main
/ body Of the center Of our army took up
It's line of march for Centeryille and Ma
nassas, where it was expected an opportu-
nifty would be afforded to our soldiers to
give the rebe,s receipt in full for the bat
tie of Bull Run on the memorable 21st OF
July, '61. Shortly after bidding adieu to
the tented field the various lands struck up
''In Dixie's land wen take our stand"
which was responded to along the lines OF
The gallant sons of the North and West,
who, to use a common phrase, ..felt their
oats" When The Queen of Moon appear
ed in the east and shed her rays of light
upon the earth, we beheld the grand and
imposing spectacle Of some fifty thousand
freemen marching forward to the Gibraltar
of Rebeldom. Through rain and mud
we marched distance Of twenty miles to
Fairfax Court House, which place we
reached by p. m. We found this anti
quated looking specimen Of Virginia vii
lage, once the headquarters Of the rebel
chieftain, deserted by its inhabitants and
every house occupied by number Of troops
who formed the advance of the center col
umn of the union forces which advanced
on Sunday morning. The division Me
Dowelrs) to which your correspondent is
attached camped about two miles west Of
the Court House, six from CenterviIle and
thirteen from Manassas.
APPEARANCE OF THE COUNTRY.
The country lying between the Potomac
and Fairfax Court House presented to the
eve strong evidences of the evils arising
from civil war: Houses burnt down, Others
unoccupied, their late inhabitants having
fled TO the rebel kingdom of King Davis
with the hope that once under the protect
ting arm Of Jeff. they would be safe from
the "tyranny of the Yankees" 1t was
painful to behold the sad destruction Of
property, all of which was the work Of the
rebels. who appear to be influenced by de-
moniac spirits, which lead them to destroy
everything which they cannot convert to
their own use. During the entire march
we met with but two white residents, the
balance of them having gone to he wars
to fight for the overthrow of the govern
ment which affords them protection.
EVACUATION OF cENTERvILLE.
Upon our arrival at Fairfax we learned
of the cowardly evacuation of Centeryilie
by the rebels This was great disap-
pointment to our troops, especially the gal
liant Wisconsin Second, which had been
anticipating .sgoCd time in getting salts
faction for their Bell Run disaster. The
same night we received the astounding in
tellicence of the abandonment of Manas-
sas by the rebels and its occupation by a
detachment of regular cavalry and a regi-
ment Of New York infantry. ssNo fight
for us" was the general exclamation Of the
boys on the receipt Of this news. Had
our forces been rested about two hours and
then pushed forward, we might ere the ris-
ING of the next days sun have attacked
the rear Of their retreating column; but,
for reasons best known to the generals in
command, our soldiers were quietly allow
ed to reyel in state Of blissful quietude
around their camp fires while the enemy
were retreating with all their stores and
ammunition. Your correspondent does
moi pretend to charge the General-in-C Chief
of the Army Of the Potomac with want
Of military skill; but when we contrast
the inactive policy in this case with that
which would heve been practiced by Ma
poIeon or other modern warriors under
similar circumstances, it does appear that
there was a lack of military skill and en-
ergy of character.
RETREAT OF THE ENEMY.
From the reports which continue to
reach out camp we learn that the rebels
are burning houses, blowing up bridges,
killing cattle, capturing union prisoners
and desolating the country which they are
passing through.
THEIR DESTINATION.
Various rumors are afioal as to where
the rebels intend to make stand, some to
the effect that GordonsviIle will be the
point where they win erect Notifications
and Dispute the right of way to Richmond
with our Union forces; others thay they
will cross the Rappahannock and fortify