Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-03-14
WAsHINarnr. Narch ID

W WAhhlN6IOAg MdtICA AAs
The advance Of portion Of the grand
army of the Potomac on Msndsy produced
in the city and throughout the camps Scene
of indescribable excitement. At 2 o'clock
A. n. the reveille was sounded and prepa-
Fations for the march begun. The morning
was rainy, but the prospect Of active life i'm
psrted q cheerf1lnass = -4isls- sololery thAt
ssoesS fne gloom Of the weather. Few, even
among the officers, knew whittier they were
going, fer what purpose, or for how long a
time. But the fact that they were to 60 for
ward was sufficient TO excite the hTeliest
emotions In the ranks Of soldiers who had
been for months anxious to have an oppoF-
tunity to meet the enemy and prove their
proWess in defence of the Constitution and
the Union with their blood, and, if need be,
with their lives. There was no shrinking,
no hesitation, no skulkng. Many who
were on the sick report sprang from their
beds and took their places in the ranks, al
though some of them were unable to sustain
the fatigue of the march and were subse-
quently placed in the baggage wagons. The
movement wss not attended with the noisy
demonstrations which characterized the ad-
vance TO OentreTilie last summer, but It was
marked with an expression of cool determi-
nation and confidence which we're manifest
ed quietly; but fore'bly, in the step and bear
ing and perfect discipline of the men who
were marching to the battle field.
The position in the advance has been as
signed to Gen. Mcdowell, as an act of JUS
tice, to afford him an opportunity to retrieve
the errors and misfortunes Of the battle Of
the 21st of July. he bore himself proudly
on re-entering the place whence the retreat
Of his army on a previous occasion had been
ordered after the disasters at Bull Run
During the whole day, every road leading
from the vicinity Of Washington towards the
rebel stronghold, was thronged with masses
Of well-tTsined soldiers moving silently, but
firmly forward to field Of glorious triumph
or Of death. tWas grand sight as the long
and seemingly endless lines Of glittering
bsyonets glesmed like jewelled serpent
gliding among the bills, followed by the
heavy tramping cavalry, and the loud rumb-
ling artillery and countless trains of wagons,
WAaHDaToE, March IL, 1852.
The whole rebel fortifcations at Manassas
were abandoned, and everything possible
burned. Our troops occupy the place.
Before dark last night, Col. ATerill, with
q large body of cavalry, entered the far-famed
rebel works at Manassas Junction, and bivou-
acked for the night amidst the ruins of the
rebel stronghold, with the Stars and Stripes
glittering in the brilliant moonlight.
In their march from Oentrevills no signs of
the rebels were discovered. The fields that
were q few months ago ensangined with the
blood Of eontending armies, and resonant
with the sound of booming cannon and rolling
musketFy, the shouts Of marshalled hosts and
the groans of the dying, was silent and de-
serted. The fortihcations which 80 lately
bristled with the threatening artillery and
cleaning bayonets of the rebel force, were
bare and blacksned The retresting rebels
had swept it with the bosom of destruction
that had everywhere marked their departure.
They we're all gone-horse, footani dragons.
They had slit their tents with their swords,
and set are 20 all that was infamable.--
Nothing was left except the bare and black
ened wall and the smOuldering ashes of the
bon-fres made Of their tents, baggage, equip
ments and stores, for which they could find
no transportation.
THn Pmors or OUR WAR VEsszLs.-Here
Is class Of man deserving Of the notice
~ the government and the notice of the