New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-03-17
cessful retreat from Manassas would have peen
entirely prevented.
TIE LATEST WAY rEWs.


stronger line of defense along the nap I'd" "''
Ranpabannock Rivers. This line Is denneu o.
extending from Cumberland Cap IN 'he eA'
tror,a sou,h.western corner OF the STATE, 10
the Rappahanuock, forming the arc oil circle
If which Richmond is the center, and embracing
within its limits "the Central and the NH-
" einia and Tennessee Railroads, the Chief
" cities of Virginia, and the Valley of the
" James River, with its canal aud railroads"
4 very important portion of this line ID Stat
ford County, extending from tho Potomac,
above Acquia Greek, down to the Rappahan-
mock, opposite Fredericksburg. sparseiy set
tied country, containing about 1900 inhabit-
ants, most Of whom arc OF the class known as
poor whites about one.third being slaves. Its
roads are generally bad, being full OF ruts III
the best season, but almost impossible IN the
wet season. Nearly all the roads are through
dense WOODS, where there would be much OPP
portunty fo- guerrilla assaults. The county If
said to he unanimous for the rebellion, and has
! furnished several important Rebel officers who
are Thoroughly acquainted with the localities.
The Railroad from Acquia Landing cross
es three or four important bridges be-
fore il reaches Fredericksburg, one o.
which, that over The Potomac Greek
leaps q very deep chasm. At this point
thore might be 4 defense OF some power.
The Rappahannoc is crossed at Fredericksburg
by three bridges Gone of which is exclusively
for the rairoadJ and ferry. The city is built
mainly of frame houses, which come close down
to the rivers edge. There are eartlIworks on
both sides Of the river here, which were thrown
up at the beginning of the Rebellion, but have
been much neglected of late Fredericksburg
7 has however, been tho site OF one OF the
largest Rebel encampments. The city is sub
stautislly united against tho Union. The negroes
in this entire region are the only loyalist,, ana
wide-awake, having already furnished the coun-
/ try with much desirable information. Gordons-
Vile, 'the new Rebel Manassas, where the
Rebel army is sad TO have its head
quarters, is in Orange County at the juno.
ton Of the Orange ard Alexandria, and
Virginia Central Railroads, in South Western
Virginia. Between tie Rapidan aud
Gordonsyile, the country il very hilly, and
dereusible. And this description will answer
for the entire region embraced by the Rapdan
and Rappahannock Riyers, both deep aud
. rapid streams, on the North, and the York,
North Anna, and Matapony Rivers on the
South. Willie tho late Manassas Army
is at Gordonsyille, tlat portion of the Rebels
previously stationed on the Lower Potomac
have crossed the Rappohannocs, and are now
intrenched at fredericksburg. If reports can
be credited Johnston has been terrifying his
new defensive line for months, and thousands
OF slaves are now engaged on his worka.
| The news from New Madrid is still mesger,
but highly satisfactory. The place is ours;
though the South boosted that il was iupregna-
! be we took it with little trouble. No Rebel flag
now waves in Missouri. After ,eyeral days ight-
| ing, and o number Of Intellectual attempts Oh
the part Of the gunboats cf the enemy to dis
lodge Gen. Pope, the Rebels evacuated the
place in panic on Tbursday night, Tearing
their tents, arms, ammunition, everything.
The spols are valued at over 81 100000.
Our heavy battery was established during the
night Of the 10Th instant within eight hundred
Yards OF the eueUly's work., and we opened
FIRE at daylight on the 18Th instant, just thirty
four hours after the guns were delivered
from Cairo. During the whole of Thursday our
lines were drawn closer around the works OF
the enemy, under furious fire Of sytysFieees
Of artillery. The fear Of an assault upos their
works at daylight induced them to flee precip-
itately during the night Many p,isooe,s were
taken. Our los. is about 30 killed and wounded.
Hollins, who Was in command Of the Rebel
gunboats, has once more gone down the river.
/ New-Madrid being below Island No 10, should
the Rebels attempt 70 retreat that way before
the expedition Of Com. foOte, they viii be cnt
Off by the forces of Gen. Pope. Com. FoOte
was at Hickman at A o'clock on Saturday
afternoon, with his gunbOats and mortar RATS,
aud probably ere this has made an attack upon
/ the Rebel stronghold below, that is supposing
Should they attempt to reach the Tennessee
shore to escape FOote and Pope, our forces at
Paris may come up in time TO cut Of their
retreat. Thns the Mississippi is practically clear
70 Memphis, as Forts Randolph, Pillow. and
Harris viii probably not long retard the pro-
gess Of our victorious fcta.
From Winchester, We learn that another
skirmish had taken place between our troops
and Ashby's Cavalry, without loss on our
side, the enemy being driven beyond New
town. We have taken large number of
guns, with valuable stores, from the deserted