The national Republican., 1862-03-12
The Rebels Evaouate their
stronshold a at Manassas!
THEY BLsW UP BRIDGES, LeCe.
MOTIVES, &C.
Vest Quantities Of Commissary
Stores Destroyed. &
THE MANASSAS DEPOT BURNT.
FuB REBELS SUPPOSED 70 HAVE RETREAT.
BD 10 RAPPlHlNNoCK RIVER,
GREAT INFLUX OF CONTRA.
BANDS.

GREAT lNFLUX OF CONTRA
BANDS. 80
On Monday morning, the advance Of General
kcDowslls division, consisting Of Colonel Aver.
Ills Third and Colonel Gregg's Eighth Penn
sylvania cavalry, with battalion Of Colonel
Davies Second New York cavalry, altogether
about two thousand men, advanced on Centre.
vile, which place they occupied, about four
O'Clock In the afternoon.
They found the village and the Notifications
completely deserted, not human being to be
seen.
At halEpast five, The advance marched on 70
Manassas, where they arrived at about seven
O'Clock. . .. .-.- ..s ..a
They found the place entirely deserted, and
the railroad depot and oil the other buildings
10 The place In flames. Not single human bs-
ing wss found in the place.
Upon closer examination, II was discovered
that the rebels, before evscuatng their much
boosted stronghold, had set fire TO such Of their
commisesry ttores - they could not conve'
piently carry OF. The place presented scene
of the utmost desolation-a mass Of charred
and blackened ruins.
The rebels also blew up the bridges, along
tho liue Of the Orange and Alexandra railroad
for some miles below Manassas. Such Of the
locomotives % were out Of repair wepe
also destroyed, It Is supposed, BY being blown
up, and the vicinity Of the depot is covered
with fragments Of machinery belonging to the
destroyed locomotives.
The rebels left Centrevlle on Sunday morn
ing, and Manassas on Sunday afternoon about
4 O'Clock.
One regiment Of infantry, attached 70 Gen.
Wadsworth's brigade, also accompanied the
advance, which was led by Lieut. Colonel Kill
patrick, with battalion Of the Second New
York cavalry.
Large numbers Of contrabands have reached
our lines, (which now extend beyond Manassas
Junotion,) and are still coming In by drovee.
On our way from Centreville yesterday morn.
ing, We passed at least one hundred who were
making their way TO Washington. Some Of the
refugees claim TO have come twenty miles west
Of Manassas. They oil agree In saying that
The rebels left the latter place In great precip
itation, and that the destruction Of their com
missary stores was commenced at ON early
hour on Sunday. The contrabands state that
portion Of the force which left Aanassa,
passed northwardly, but this Is considered i'm.
probable. But II they did, 1t was for the pur'
pose Of reinforcing jackson at Winchester
They also state that all the bridges along the
route which they came, had been blown up BY
the rebels In their retreat, and that the greater
portion of the track Is also torn up.
Most Of the contrabands were we'll dressed
doubtless having replenished their scanty stocl
of clothing from the wardrobes Of their mas
ters and mattresses before leaving their home,
for the land Of freedom. They all appeared t.
be greatly rejoiced in having effected their es
cspe from slavery, and evinced ev,ry disposi
ton to communicate information.
FAIRFAX COURT HOUSE.
The Union troops, upon their arrival there
found the once Aourishing village Of Fairfa,
almost entirely deserted-scarcely adozen fam
lilies remaining In the place. All Of the unoc
cupied dwellings were quickly taken posses
sion Of by our troops - quarters for the night
But few deprcdations were committed b,
our troops upon private property, but some o
them broke into the building In which th
records Of Fairfax county we're deposited, and
before they were discovered BY their ofi,er,
carried of some of the ancient document,
books, e., % trophies Of their advance Int,
Dixie" The greater part Of the abstrscte,
property, however, was recovered, and guar,
placed about the building to prevent further
depredatlons. a.,
| GRAVES OF SECESSION SOLDIERS.
About mile aud half this side of Cent, q
vile, few rods from the main road, are th
graves of eighteen secession soldiers, formeri
belonging to the Fifteenth Alabama regiment
The graves are neatly mounded and marke
with wooden head and foot boards, on whic
are recorded the names, age, and place Of resi-
dence Of the deceased. To prevent bein
trsmpled upon, they have been covered owe
With rails and brush by our troops. This grave
yard was visited by thousands Of our troop
anxious to get glimpse Of the last resting plsc
of deceased secesh, The regiment to whic
the dead soldiers belonged evidently had thei
eneampmsnt In this saue field, the remains o
which could be distinctly traced.
A number of graves were also to be see
near Centreville, principally Of the Virgini
rebels
the BATTLE FIELD OF BULL BUN.
Situated about half way between Centrevlll
and Manassas Junction, is the famous battle