The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1862-02-12
The Rebel Army at CsntrsyIIIs.
FORMIDABLE EyTRENcHnENT


A Washington correspondent OF the Chi
cago Tunes gives an interesting account oi
Beauregard and his operations since TIE
Battle of Bull Run. All The statements we
have had from time TO time, relative 10 the
distress and discomfort existing in the rebel
army, the soldiers impatient TO leave the
service, etc., this correspondent positively
contradicts Instead of this he corroborates
the statement of Beauregard being rein
forced with $4,000 fresh troops, and that the
rebel army is in excellent condition. He
then continues:
And IL will be seen that the task which
Gen Mcclellan has before him IN driving
Beauregard out OF Eastern Virginia, is quite
formidable undertaking.
Why has Beauregard thus fortified Cen
treville? When the Union army of the Po.
tomac moves, the reason will become man
ifest. - Centrevlle is the key to Manassas
Junction is the door 10 Richmond, and il
may be said, 10 the whole of Virginia.
Examine military map of the country
trace The roads, the streams, The ranges OF
hill, and il will be seen that Union army
entering by any other door will be sure 10
operations, and destroyed. II the stroug
lines OF Manassas can be forced, and com
munication with this city keptopen, Union
army can advance southwark, conquering
as it advances, and lay the whole country
under contribution. Hence the importance
of terrifying Centreville.
There are twen.y-six forts which are SO
situated as 10 command every possible ap-
proach 10 Cenireville, from Arcola, ,on Gump
Spring road, on The left, TO the Occoquan
River two miles below Union Mills, on The
right. On the morning of the battle of Bull
Run, the Confederate army was posted on
the right bank of that stream from the Stone
Bridge 10 Union Mills. The reconnoi-
sances made by Gen. Mcdowell on The day
previous enabled him 10 cross a large por-
ton OF his force (Gen. Hunters Column) at
Sndleys Ford, quarter OF a mile below
Stone Bridge. This disarraneed Beaure-
CARDS whole plan oil battle, and came near
defeating him. The hardest fighting OF the
day, and ill o'clock in the afternoon. took
place west Of Sudey's Ford and between il
and the Warrington turnpike road. The
two rts,lhen between Arcoia and Sufley's
Ford, are designed TO prevent the Ford from
being used by the Union troops. The lar
gest and strongest forts are called Fort
Beauregard, Fort Davis and Fort SIideIl.-
They all command roads that must be ta-
ken in approach TO CenteviIle. Al of the
90 forts are mounted with suitable artillery
1t was 10 celebrate the completion of these
works that the great review OF 10, 900 Con-
lederaie troops took place early in Decem-
ber, at which jeff. Davis was present, and
a. which The battle flags" were presented
10 each regiment.
Gen. Beauregard's army has gone into
winter quarters the same way that our army
here has, viz without being ordered 10 do
so, the men have been allowed TO make
themselves comfortable in huts OF their own
construction. Beauregards main army fully
80 900 strong, is posted in and around these
600 strong is posted between the right bank
of the Occoquan River and Acquia Creek
The efl wing is commanded by Gen. Jack.
son at Maninsburg and Gen. Evans al Lees
burg. (The latter officer, believe, has
since been relieved) 1t is said that Lees
burg is strongly fortified, bnt The works
though apparently formidable, are probably
of The Munson Hill style. There are 49,
600 tToops tLere however and II 900 more
strongly intrenched on the right bank oi
Goose Creek. Allow me TO refer TO my lel-
ter OF jar. 9th for an account OF what Gen.
jackson had done up TO that time. Since
that time he has not only remained master
OF the situation, the country between Mar
tinsburg and Hancock, but he has also al
vanced on Romney, driven Gen. Lander
and the Union troops out OF that place, and
pursued them to Cumber riand ,anG now holds
high reyel in all the country between Har
per's Ferry, Hancock, and Romney. Per
haps if he would 90 10 Cumberland, Gen
Lander might give him another fitting re
sponse" Apd what has Gen. Banks beer
doing all this time Really am unable TO
| find out that he has been doing anything at
all, and Gen. Stones men are helping him
| "Pitchy darkness" has been so improved
in after times as to read ''bituminous OBJ
/ scurityn