The New York herald., 1862-03-18

The last few months. He native OF Of North
states and has resided South fewyears where he
was engaged permanent business when the rebellion
broke out The story Of his escape like that Of many
others is full VI exciting incident He says that the rebels
commenced removing their stores from Manassas several
days before the final rerograde march Of their army
giving along the railroad that they had ac
cnmuaied too large quantity Of stuff at Manassas Their
siege guns carried to Richmond aftsrward 30 the
conductor Of the railroad Then the troops began
to come along past the Rappahannock station They
came on Monday in the and by the roads Thirty
sx Trans came the railroad past the Rappahannock
and at each stopping place detachments would leave
the train and tho neighborhoOd for teams and
all means OF transportation. Part OF the artillery won't
10 the cars and roads They took various
routes through the woods and the retreat progressed
they hurried along in utter confusion.
General Johnston took supper at Mr. Mowen's, Kappa.
hammock Station, on Monday night March TO- The army
was completely dispirited They much disap-
pointed at the order retreat from Manassas u
our boodthTsty politicians They said that they
could not fight us at Manassas they could any
This informant says that enlistments for the rebel
army have been very slow, and that bills have been
posted in all places giving notice that all who would vol
unteer before ten days would be allowed hfty dollars
bounty but otherwise they would be drafted into shs
militia. The time expired on the 10th instant.
The first families Of Virginia very bitter in their
hatred Of the Yankees but the middle classes only wait
the advance Of army 10 declare themselves for ha
Union.
The rebels feel indignant that Beauregard taken
from the army Of the Potomac They were talking OF
burning all their property and following the army 70
Richmond.
Preacher Bennett rich BAPTIST clergy Of Farquhar
county great cssionist left Sunday week going
further South to secure his negroes.
Our informant was in Richmond when the death OF
Zolliconer was received They talking then Of rails
ing the black flag and resolving give nor take quar-
ter. The news produced great depression, and the
black flag was dropped.
The recent reconnaissance of General stoneman the
heels Of the guard Of the rebels rctreatng from
Manassas extended up the Orange and Alexandria RAN
road only TO Cedar mile this side OF Warrsnton
Junction. General Stonemans force consisted Of ba'
fifteen hundred cavalry and eight hundred infantry At
that point they close to the rebel pickes, whom
they drove over the run TO force Of about two rcg
ments Of cavalry, infantry and battery Of artillery
No attempt was made to follow General Stoncman
his return towards Manassas.
The rebels had burned the Cedar Run bridge and the
bridge Brstow but otherwise injured the railroad
The travelled by the reconnoter,ng force
found with hats caps, blankets, muskes,
ammunition, knapsacks, broken down and abandoned
loaded wagons &C. &C. showing that the retreat Of the
of the rebels at least made under real and sx-
tepsive panic.
Many OF the regiments the river suffered exceed
ngy from the storm Of Saturday several being exposed
10 il without any shelter whatever member Of tho
New York Twenty first regiment drowned in ording
stream swollen by the rain and Ane team attached 70
OF the baggage wagons was swept OF. Several men
belonging to other regiments also reported drowned
musician, named Joseph shaler, in the band Of the
rade but without fracturing the bone The ball
tracted by the surgeon th, wouncd man is in fair
way TO speedily
The condition Of affairs at Centgevine upon the
trance OF the federal forces last oeay entirely
roborates the statement she HERAsD in De-
eember last, given by negro wuhad been the body
servant OF a rebel artillery officer His description Of
the works accurately correct His estimate Of the
forces time at Manassas and Centrevle was one
hundred and twenty five thousand men one hundred
| and four pieces Of artillery.
From the most reliable information recently obtained
this force was reduced only about fifteen thousand
by furloughs whose enlistmsnts were expired
has already stated that these works intended
for the use Of field artillery with covered ways between
the passage Of artillery rapidly from one 10
the other The natural strength Of the position 10
| passed.
Upon examining the place and ne defsncss the Prince
Ds Jonvie remarked that in Europe, 70 have conpsod
enemy cvacuate such stronghold without the loss
Of man. or without firing gun, would have been
considered the brilliant achievement Of the whole
| campaign.
The story Of the Quaker guns turns out 70 be entirely
| joke Of our own troops.
Among the earliest entering the works At Csnervis
and Manassas were Colonel E. H. Wright and Colonel j.
Astor Of General AcCisans ssa. These officers rode
| all through the works soon after they had been en-
by the advanced guard Of tho federal army and
they positively that there neither Quake
guns painted logs logs Of any kind, in tho en-
brasures at that time.