Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1862-03-21
KyAcuATloN or MANAssAs.

army OF the Potomac from their camps oppo.
site Washington.
The advance Of portion Of the grand Army Of
the Potomac on Monday produced IN the city and
throughout the camps q scnup Of indescribahie ok
citemcnt. AZ two O'clock A. NJ the irveille was
sounded and preparations for tho march began.
he morning was rainy, but thu prospect OF active
life impaired chcoifulness TO the soldiory that
dched the gloom of the weather. Few, even
an0nr he officers knew whittier they were poing
FOR What purpose or for how long time But
the fact that they to 60 forward was sufficient
TO excite the livcest emotions in the ranks of sol
dicrs who had been for months anxious TO have an
opportunity TO meet the enemy and prove their
proves IN defence OF the constitution and the I'm
ion with their blood, and, II need be. with their
lives. There was no shrinking, no hesitation. no
skulking. Many who were on the sick report
sprang from their beds and took their places in
the ranks, although some Of them were unable TO
sustain the fatigue of the march and were subsc-
quently placed in the baggage wagons.
The movement was not attended with the noisy
demonstrations which characterized the advance
TO Centroyic last summer, but IL was marked with
an expression of cool determination and confidence
which were manifcstcdquetly but forcibly, in the
step and bearing aud perfect discipline of the men
who were marching 10 the battle field
The advance was really began several DAYS apo
The movement Of General Banks the occupation
Of Leesburg by Colonel Geary, and the prepare
lions Tor attack upon the rebel batteries along
the Potomac, were prclimnares of a general adj
vance towards the seat of the bogus government,
set up by the Adventures VINO leading and try
ing TO maintain the death-stricken rebellion. In
front since Es1day last, regular approaches have
been made daily towards Centrcvillc by portions
of Gen. Franklin's and Gen. McDowcls diyis-
ions. On Sunday the Second and Third New Jcr-
soy regiments, squadron of the Lincoln cavalry,
occupied Sangster's Station, the Orange and
Alexandria Railroad. On arriving at this point
detachment of rebel cavalry were surprised. In
the skirnish that occurred. Lieut. Hidden, Of the
Lincoln Cavalry, killed at the first fire of the
rebels, and a sergeant wounded Three OF the
rebels were killed and a lieutenant and eleven
men taken prisoners. On Monday at noon a de-
tachment of the First New Jersey regiment I'M
der Major Hatfield and Capt Nanscklcs entered
Centreyille They were followed by company
OF the Lincoln Cavalry, under Lieut.. Alexander
The encmys pickets had retired before this al
vance Of our forces along the whole route At
Cntrcyille it was asccrained that the rebels had
evacuated the place late on Sunday night, and re-
tired it was said, to Gordonsyille. Extensive
carthworks were found here, but all the guns had
been removed. A large quantity of beef and
flour had been left behind by the rctrcating reb-
els IL was reported at Centrevle by contra
bands who came into our lines, that the rebel army
had been leaving Manassas junction for several
days, and that the forces remaining behind are
only rear guard to cover the retreat.
The position in the advance has been assigned
10 Nith- NibpWtlis rs an act OF JUSTICE 10 NUOfu
him an opportunity to retrieve the errors and mis-
fortunes OF the battle of the 2lst of july lie
bore himself proudly re-entering the place
whence the retreat of his army on previous oc-
cason had been ordered after the disasters at Bull
Run. During the whole day every road leading !
from the vicinity of Washington towards the reb- |
81 stronghold was thronged with masses of well |
trained soldiers moving silently, but firmly for /
ward to a field of glorious triumph or of DEATH
II was grand sight, as the long seemingly end
less lines of glitterng bayonets CLEANED like
lvwelled serpent gliding among the hills, follow
ed by the heavy trampng cavalry, and the loud
rumbling artillery and countless trains Of wagons.
In the city the departure of the reserve brought |
the whole population to the thoroughfares leading
towards the various bridges. From early hour
in the morning the whole population was astir,
and numerous blessings and good wished were
by the watchers regiment after regiment
and battery after battery marched sternly and
steadily towards the bridges About noon Gen
Mcclellan, attended by only a few of his staff,
went across, and from his headquarters to the
long bridge he greeted 10y cheer upon cheer
by the crowds gathered to witness his advance to
Richmond
When General McClelan's staff were getting in
readiness at the headquarters on the avenue the
fact seemed 10 be known intuitivey and instnc-
lively throughout the neighborhood of the quar-
tiers of the Genera-in- Chief, and the manson of
the President and Commander-n-Ch A crowd
collected at General McClean's quarters, grow
ing larger each minute and even the patients in
the wagoner's hospital, contiguous to Riggs q
Co.'S Band, had their heads protruded from the
windows to watch the movements of the officers
and body guard who were to accompany the Gen
eral
The correspondent Of the New York World !
under the same date, describes the occupation |
of Centreville and Manassas by the Union
forces as follows
Your correspondent entered Centreville-fam- |
ed of late the headquarters of the grand army
Of the rebcls-to-day at noon after nights rest
at Fairfax Court House, but found that the rebels
evacuated this place on Saturday and Sunday, as
we learned from refugees and contrabands who |
Aocked in at the Court House last night.
THE EARTHwoRKs AT CENTREvLLE.
The carthworks at Centrevle have been great
Is misrepresented. They are not of that formida-
Bic character supposed The enemy before evac-
uating had somewhat injured them by breaking
the elnbrasures and casemates so at Manassas, |
which, however, have not been fully examined
On our troops arriving at Fairfax Court House !
they found not more than dozen families. The
soldiers rushed into the Court House and brought
away some of the records, but this being discover
cd the officers directed their return
EVIDENCE on A PANIC AMONG THE REBELs--
SCENE OF DEsoIAT1oN.
There is evidence of a terrible panic among the
rebels during the latter part of the evacuation
The cannon first removed, then the ammuni-
ton, and then a speedy embarkation of the troops
commenced. But ere this was completed their
fright increased, and they ordered the destruction
Of all the railroad tracks and bridges, blowing up
the latter from Burke's Station TO Manassas
distance OF nine miles. Some of the encamp-
ments, forage, etc. it was found impossible to
remove, and they were all burned, the charred
ruins adding a vivid picture of destruction and
gloom to the general desolation that could be
seen as far as the eye could reach. On the rail-
road track, just this side of the Junction, at Ma
nassas, were the ruins of locomotive that the
rebels were unable to remove, and which it was
found necessary 10 destroy.
SCENE ALONG THE ROAD.
Upon close examination il was discovered that
the rebels before eYacuating their much boosted
stronghold had set fire to such of their commissa-
ny stores as they could not conveniently carry off,
The place presented a scene of the utmost desc
lation, mass of charred and blackened ruins
The rebels also blew up the bridges along the
Orange and Alexandria Railroad for some miles
below Manassas. Such of the locomotives as
out Of repair were also destroyed; it is sup
posed by being blown up, and the vicinity of the
depot is covered by fragments Of machinery be-
longing to the destroyed locomotives.
THE SCENE AT MANASSAS.
At an early hour this morning our troops enter
ed Manassas Junction, the cavalry heading the
advanced guard Though this place is some four