The New York herald., 1862-03-14
OUR ARMY AT MANASSAS.
A Masked Battery Found
Near Bull Run.
THE WELLS POISONED BY THE REBELS.
The Old Wells Shut Up and
New Ones Dug.
AFFAIRS AT WINCHESTER.
UNION SENTIMENT OF TIE CITIZENS.
The Retreat Of the Rebels to
Strasburg.
>oo--~-o,->o~.>~,>So>-.
OPERATIONS ON THE LOWER POTOMAC,
AFFAIRS AT WINCHESTER.
UNION SENTIMENT OF TIE CITIZENS.
The Retreat Of the Rebels tO
Strasburg.
OPERATIONS ON THE LOWER POTOMAC,
60, &c., Sc.
AFFAIRS IN GEN. M'clElLAN's DEPARTMENT.

~~<>~.~>>~~~~~~~~~>~~
SPLENDID CONDITION AMI ENTHUSIASM OF
HIS GRAND ARMY-INCIDENTS OF THE
OCCUPATION BY OUR ARMY.
WARRINGTON March 1S, 1852.
Everything continues quiet in the vicinity Of Fairfax
with no change in tho position Of the troops Multi
farious rumors, Of course, prevail to future move
ments.
leading and exciting topic Of conversation is the now
order Of the President, relieving Gen. Mcclellan of all
command Of the army, except the Department OF tho
Potomac Although many, In their high estimation Of
him military loader and assurance Of his ability
take charge Of the entire army regret this dimnuton Of
his command most OF the troops elated at having
him their sole and exclusive leader. With General
Mcclellan at their head, the way to victory believed
to be and swift, and brilliant future to await tho
progress OF the Potomac army.
Colonel McQuade came very near being shot to-day,
who inspecting his regiment. One of the pieces which
proved to be loaded discharged in his hand Tho ball
passed through the visor Of his cap.
VIM Tyler, private in company c. Fourth Michigan
regiment, Colonel Woodbury., accidentally shot this
morning. Mimic musket ball passed through enc leg
and lodged in the knee Of the other causing compound
fracture Of the bone.
Two men attached to Wisconsin regiment in Genera
Smiths division poisoned to-day by drinking water
from well that had been poisoned by the rebels. II is
thought that neither will survive The names OF the
poisoned men Sergeant Cults. company f. and pri
vate williams, company K. Cults served through the
Mexican war.
All tho men have been prohibited drinking from old
wells, and new ones are being dug
Major Larabee and Captain Nanevek with escort OF
twenty men, the first of troops who visited the
Bull run battle field state this fact to at rest the
various claims sct up for this honor Among tho
phies they secured rebel flag, sheets OF
Confederate postage stamps, and schrapne shell that
had failed 10 explode.
Brigade and rsgmental drills continue oday as here
tofore.
It is said that division drill and reviow will take
| place to morrow.
The desire Of ofcors and to visit Centrevils Bull
and Manassas More visited those places
| to-day than any day heretofore.
Several companies from Col Averolls and Col Greggs
cavalry regiments Of Gen. Ftzjohn Por.cr's division
were . reconnaissance this afternoon beyond Ma
nassas
The bost judges who have inspected tho quarters at
| and noar Manassas declare that they would accom-
| modate hundred and forty thousend mon.
Tho barracks have all bcen recently occupied and
| that the army not lacking for subsistence is
| proved by plenty Of empty champagne and por-
| ter bottles and pickle jars left behind in the
decampmcnt. Many circumstances show conclusivoly
| every knows
| of camp life, that the evacuation was made hastily
Hundreds Of articles have been brought away trophies
which would have been left behind by the SOL
ders they had boon marched away upon short
tics. Cooked victuas found upon OF the ta-
bles aud all the quarters Manassas had the appear
of having been recently occupied and hastily aban
| doned
| To-day large number Of soldiers went down to Ma.
foot to supply themselves with articles loft by
the rebels when thoy fed from their stronghold.
Last night eight contrabands into the camp OF tho
Sixth cavalry who state that the rebel host great
haste and confusion whom they reached the vicinity
| Rappahannock station. Their transport wagons were
mircd the wet ground and many of their were
disabled. One of the contrabands said, Massa. you
might find Of dem horses alive and dying de mud
| now IL you 60 down dar."
Thousands persons visited Centreve and Manassas
to-day to satisfy their curiosity respecting those famous
| localities. Tho warronton turnpike lined with peo
pc foot and horseback officers privates and VILLAINS
Military invariably struck reaching Centre
vile with the great natural strength of the position and
the scientific in which prepared for at
1 tack.
Upon the ridge commanding the slope toward Fairfax,
and that toward Bull rum line of rcdoubts, connected
almost continuously by breastworks for infantry,
mand every point Of approach and extend miles or
more. The fortincations lettered from to 1nns
In number. An attack upon them, when they well
| defended, must have resulted in great slaughter
These works were Hsvor provided with heavy guns,
and the evidently tho mpossbty Of traus-
| porting them across Bull run, Cub run. &c
Tho rodoubts are provided with platforms for seigo
gums commanding every point and railroad track to
| the fortincations.
II Is evident that the work upon this track has been
abandoned within ten days Slcepers freshly laid and
timber freshly hewn show that the work was In pro-
| gress quito recently.
dant evidence Of having been occupied by largo force
The barracks snugly built and provided with hugo
hrepaces s well other arrangements for the comfort
OF the occupants Their interior shows that they have
oil been occupied and good judges say that the Centre
willie quarters would accommodate about forty thousand
men, Even the citizens Of the place were never allowed
to inspect the fortncatons showing the strict military
| surveillance Of the rebel officers.
All along tho fields between Centrevilc Heights and
Manassas there are evidences Of camps Tents have
boon pitched in almost every nsld and immense
ber OF permanent log dwellings are standing In by.
place near Bull rum below the warrsnton Pike hun.
dred and ty log dwellings had been occupied by caval.
rv. Anegro who lives the spot, and ono OF whose
children was stolen by the troops whcn they retreaed
says they went away last Sunday afternoon.
II has been stated that Manassas was evacuated on
Friday but there plenty Of proofs that they did not
cave until Sunday.
Letters found in Manassas dated on Friday,
March 7, ono Of which contains the foowing-"we took
our guns and carried all ammunition to-day TO Bull
run, and pitched the balls and powder into the water
and tell Andrew Lambert that Colemans company--one
Of the ten batteries thereis ordered away; and they
carried their ammunition to Bull rum and threw II into
the water, too. We don't know whore shall 60; but
you must keep writing to this place until send word
where we have gono to-"
large number Of shells have been found W the rebe
magazines. They were neatly packed in fine seaweed
which ia sad 70 be an excellent plan TO keep tho powder
ry ana prevent premature explosions. ~ /.