Evening star., 1862-03-11
OUR MILITARY BUDGET.
MANASSAS Is OURS!
THE REBELS DESTROY ALL THERE
THEY COULD NOT CARRY OFF!

Ere nightfaIl last night, Col. Ayerill, with a
large body Of Union cavalry entered the rebel
works at Manassas, and hoisted the Stars and
Stripes over what remains of them. They BIZ
vouacted in them throughout the night.
No rebel forces were in sight, and from the
best information at hand II was clear that they
had entirely fed from that immediate portion Of
Virgins.
II Is to be presumed that In the course Of to-
day our military authorities viii learn through
refugees and others from beyond Manassas,
whether they have essayed to make any pretence
Of stand whatever at the Rappahanock river,
to which point (and indeed nine miles beyond it)
the territory bordering the railroad is almost
continuous in indefensible plain, interspersed with
hut few patches Of woods, none Of which will
furnish available cover for troops.
Ere leaving their works at Manassas, the enemy
destroyed everything they were unable to carry
OF that might be likely to prove serviceable to
our army
The country, therefore, from Manassas to
Washington, at least, has been cleared Of rebels
In arms, and think for at least thirty or forty
miles back Of Msnassas. That, however, In but
our opinion, as up to noon to-day II was not
known In this city what information concerning
the state Of affairs Immediately south and west
OF the late rebel stronghold our military leaders
On the field had teen able to obtain. (;
WHAT NOW! F..
Without knowing aught Of the intended move
1sns OF our army, our impression 10 that the re-
construction Of the Orange and Aiexandria rail-
road L. absolutely necessary, to enable 1t to ad.
vance any distance to speak Of. beyond Manassas
The rebels have doubtless destroyed the road be-
hind them In their retreat, 90 that II cannot be
made available for our army's purposes, except
with great labor and trouble-ssy at the rate Of
not more than three or four miles per diem.
Nor Is IL known whether It is proposed to make
The ma, advance towards Richmond upon the
Manassas iinsL We regard that as being exceed
1ngly dozssfsl, In view of the better natural IA
ciiitrs sss s's.-ssssation via York river.
These ers EssEs sseeuiafions of our own, how.
sver, t'zsAsa On psr,onal knowledge OF the
country.
WE'RE aAvE THEY GONE?
Thegenerd impression around US to-day, is that
. aeonsiderable portion Of the flying rebel army Of
Manassas Is now far on Its way to meet Burnside.
We do not share this belief, because very certain
that the manner Of their retreat involved the dis.
organization of their forces to very considerable
sItent. Our fellow-citizens Of the Federal Me.
tropOlis know (from experience after the battle
OF Bun RUM how thoroughly general retrea,
nnfss volunteers for any efacient service for a
considerable time after its occurrence opr theory
10 that from Manassas to Memphis, the whole
country and the whole rebel army are suffering
under condition Of univeral panic and confusion
In which any aggressive movement whatever On
the part Of the latter Is matter Of impossibility
THRIR HASTE.
The haste with which the rebels evacuated
rheir line Of the Potomac Is proved by the fact
OF the capture Of Eve Of rebel infantry as late as
yesterday, In the immediate vicinity of Burke,s
Ststion, only fourteen miles out Of Alexandra.
Unless they were purposely left there to be cap
tured, as Il were, they feu into our hands be-
saase 10 was impossible In the haste of leaving
20 call them In In time to save them
LATEST FROM FORTRESS MONROE.
We have information from Fortress Monroe m
nine a m. to-day, a. which time all was quiet
here, and no sign Of the return of the Merrimsc
10 risk second engagement with the Monitor.
was visible. Nothing had been heard there from
Norfolk up to that hour, since her defeat by that
ahip
That she was too seriously crippled on that oc-
sssion to continue the fght, Is evident from her
abandonment Of II when the splendid steamer
Minnesota lay aground and utterly helpless with.
in reach Of her guns. Nothing but being defeate.
by the Monitor, at that time, would have temn.ed
the Merrimsc to fOrego her evident purpose Of dc.
stroying the Minnesota, which, otherwise, would
nave been wholly at her mercy.
FROM THE LowRR POTOMAC
Ordnance Stores Recovered.
The Stepping Stones, Capt. Van Dervent, went
down TO Quantico Yesterday afternoon, and re
turned TO the Navy Yard last night
A force Of 500 men, from General Hooker,s
division. was landed at Evansport Yesterday.
They acted as picket guard, while a large force
was employed In gathering from the late seces-
sion magazines at Cockpit Point, Quantico, and
chipping Point, the ammunition LEFT nv the
rebels In their hasty retreat. Enough of ordnance
stores, IN good condition, were recovered TO loaa
barge. The Stepping Stones, late YESTERDAY
evening, towed from Qusntico to Budd,s Ferry
barge containing the picke. guard of 500, and
returning towed to the Maryland shore the barge
containing the stores mentioned. =
The rebel steamer Page II lying In Quantico
Creek, burned to the water's edge.
The Baltimore and King Philip Left the Yard
some days since. Their destination IL not known.
THE STEVENS sAffHRY. !
The great events which have Just transpired in
the waters near Fortress Monroe give vast impor
ancs TO the abstract Of Mr.. Stevens memorial
which We published Yesterday The Stevens
battery, a. appears by the letter Of the Meurs
Stevens Of August, ISL, orig mated with them at
that date, and was the frn In snv conn.
try iron vessels, with submerged propelers pro.
sected by iron armor, and especially Of such iron
Olaced NJ anOia a. Ia