, 1862-03-15
THE MANASSAS EVACUATION.
Additional PaFticuloss . OF The Panic
and Flight Of the R06elB.
Washington Correspondence Of the Philadelphia
- lsrre6. 18th.

Washington Correspondence Of the Philadelphia
Press, 1ethl
sThc news Of The occupation Of the famed
Manassas Junction reached the city at IN carly
hour this morning, by ap ofIicil telegram,
which set at rest the idle rumor5 Of night,
retreat, ETC. The intelligence which has been
coming in ever siuc; Saturday from eontra-
bands ard refugees, has all ecntcrrd to. the fact
that the rebels were falling b1ck from Ceutre-
vile, with the intention q not only abandon
ing their works there, but at Manassas, few
miles in The rear. The evacuation Of the bat
tories OH the Lower Potomac, and the with
drawa1 from Leesburg, all tended to the
confirmation Of these stories, which were
fully realized at late hour last ;n1ght, ny the
advance OF our forces from CentreEllle, to-
wards Manassas, which they entered early
this morning. The forlorn hope Of the rebels
was sccn struggling over the bills, bua
short distance beyond the road to stras-
burg, as our cavalry entered the deserted Gu
trcuChmcnts. 1t WIS evident ttlat no lncon-
Siderable pauic had seized tic rebels, for their
works seemed TO have been as hastily abln-
done5 as On the Lower Potomac The rebel
flag was flying at Fairfax Court House and
Centrevil1e, and was allowed to remain mp,
but With the glorious ang Of the Union wavii;
proudly over it in the clear Light Of tuis
''Sone Of tie rebel pickets thst .wers not
quick enough to follow their pan1c-stricken
companions were captured, and reached the
! set. They were dressed in white WOODEN
| uniform, made from negro cloth, but tile hard
! ships Of tie service had rendered it Of many
| colcrs. In ether respects tue soldiers seemed
FIR inferior to ours, ard displayed III ignorance
and stupidity rarely seen in the human face.
| They were placid in confinement On their
march up Pennsylvania avenue they were the
| objects Of great curiosity, hundreds rushing
on tic streets to get sight at them-'
/ 4 letter from Centervillc in the Press says:
Though it is evident that that the rebels
| have been sending regiments away Within the
last week, the general cracuation did not
| commence until Saturday last, and continued
latter part Of tue movement, it seems that q
fearful panic seized the rebels, they leaving in
| great haste, burning everything that they
could not move away, besides destroying LOGO
| motives, ard immense quantities OF proyis-
Ions, tents, ammunition, DC. Most Of their
ones were spiked and left in The fortiacations
| here, which were formidable, the rebels
placing batteries over the hills, in the rear Of
| Ccnter1ille, for q long distance, while others
followed them in regular lines, so that, If onr
forces drove them out Of one entrenchment,
the rebels could easily fall back within
anotlcr.H
The Washington InfsNiysneer Of Tuesday
says:
l AC AVu Luz OAllC11CS Ou
The Potomac appears, from all the indications
left behind linn, iu the shape Of deserted guns,
| provisions, and ammunition, to have beer
Effected under the Influence Of q apcrvading
| panic. In word, it would seem from present
appearances that the army which the people
Of the South expected to capture the city o
! Washington, and 10 carry the war into the loyal
| States, has confessed itself ranquished with
out waiting to accept the battle about to bt
ofersd it on its own chosen and strongly for
tiiied ground
The Washington Star Of Tuesday evening
says:
"Without knowing ought Of the intended
movements Of our army, our Impression /!
that the reconstruction Of the Orange aud Al
exandt7s raiiroad is absolutely necessary, tt
enable it to advance any distance to speak of
beyond Manassns. The rebels have doubles
destroyed the road behind them in their &c
| treat, SO that 1t cannot be made available 70
our nrmy's purposes. except with great labo
and trouble at the rate of not moro thai
three or four miles per diem.
"Nor Is 1t known whether it ie proposed t.
make the main advance upon Richmond upol
extremely doubtful, in view Of the bette
natural facilities for transportation via for1
River.
: "Thesc are mere speculations Of our owu
. however, founded on personal knowledge {
. | the country.
1.-THE general impression around u
today is that a considerable portion
Of the flying rebel army of Manassas
is now far on its war to naect Burnside. "
do not share this belief, because very &C:
. tain that the manner Of their retreat II
volred the disorganization OF their forces to
! very considerable extant- Our fellow-cit'zeu
" Of the Federal metropolis know from exper
| | ence after the battle OF Bull RUM how tho1
, oughlv general retreat units volunteers fc
anT efficient service for q considerable tim
sitter It's occurrence. Our theory is that, ffol
Manassas to Memphis, the whole country an
the whole rebel army arc suffering under
E condition Of universal panic and confuEio,
= in which any aggressive Increment whsteyc
On the part OF Tie latter, is matter Of lmpo
siGilHy."