Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1862-03-19

CslanIla aal Mansss il Hsa.s.laa Il gu Irsap.


Washington, March, H.
Our foons have nlkA possession Of
Manassas aud Centerylle tho rebela !esv.
ing eyaouatel.
HE Qualifications at Censaryille are
the most formidable character, stretching
over Chain oflGilh il ths roar of Center
xiile, one bahiad THE other, Ill. proper dis
llsnces, So ii wa toak oaa NO would be at
thamegcy 81 the noxt They are all con-
structea vita great Skill and coflmand the
Surrounding country. The fs1ifcaticqs
az AIanassas arenat 40 fornid&ae, the3 ap-
.poaring to be the Same that were there
a,hsntaa BulEfiaa battle was fought
y5om5 proof easements we've Ga those 50
Ceniesxae. Our csYafy entered tie lat
ter Ps.rs siaiing Gle n.glt ana soon after
reached Manassas eeSaon end hoisted the
Stars and STRIPES oaths rebel tiag stati.
it IS evident that most of the rebels retreat
cl GA cars, the htter pact, however falling
back Oh foot 9 cp'pefpeF Court Honss.
During Sunday night tho rebels troops
Oh the lower Potomac fled in panic Via
tie fredericksburg raFoal % Richmond.
The country, tor thsly miles back Of
hsre, i most perfect picture cf desolation
ana distinction. Il Is the prevailing inn
preston that tic rebels viii not stop this
side Of Richmond
just before dark lastsmgn Col. Ovelliry
with large body Of cavalry entered tho
ilr-famed rebel WORKS at Manassas. The
intelligence gathered at Manassas and in
the neighborhood tosas to show chat the
rebel army has retired southwark. 1t is
not credited that they viii attempt to make
4 stand near bero rs the country is uR-
promising fer Offensive warfare. The
opinion IS that eeedonsyile was simply the
rendezvous for what was lately the rebel
army Of the Potomac, as il is the junction
az tie Orange and Alexandria with the
Virginia Central Italroad The only
point at which they can, with any sort Of
confidence, attempt to mako a stand isnear
the Junction Of the Frederick and Potomac
with the Certra Virginia railroad in which
neighborhool the North Anna aud South
hnna rivers unite and form The Ponomaky
river, about 90 miles directly north Of
Richmond. AT this point the country is
mach broken and admirably fitted for de-
fsace.
tits reported that in heir retreat the
rebels have destroyed tho railroad bridge
across the north fork Of the Rappahanock.
Tn their haste they have leo behind
struggling parties of.soldiers who seem to
be glad e Be made prisoners
Ii Is evident that their asmyis utterly
lemoralizel anes. utterly unfit for seryice.--
The moral effect Y the retreat from Manas-
al Is Richmond WI be tue came through
out the South as itiSia this past 81 Virginia
and the impression prevails that the South
crn Confederacy has collapsed; and many
Of the people thank God deyotey for il.
The forts are all abandoned. The log huts
are ample ia number to accommodate 30,-
600 troops. Quantities Of dead horses
cover the fields in the vicinity. The rail-
road track is torn up anl ~ bridge des-
troyed.
Every thing at Manassas indicates the
precipitate fight Of the rebels. Some ca
isson5 were found, but no guns Piles Of
bullets and cartridges we're left, and an inn
mense quantity Of quaftermaster's stores.
ID ono place was discovered 10000 bush-
us Of corn, which had been set On iiro and
II still smo}Jring
Among tie trophies afo pack saddles,
army orders, musketc, revosefs, bowie
knives, letters, de- They found over
1000 pack saddles, AZ new, and marked
20. S. A." People ii tho vicinity say
that pgior 20 the evacuation there were
100000 troops at Manassas and Center
vile. Covering the breastwofke were
what appeared to Be cannon, tut on exam
nation they proved to be wooden affairs
gotten up for effect. Two Pcnnsylyanig
cavalry regiments were the first Union
troops entering CenterFillc,
AIT Brentsile, four miles from Manassas
4 home gpari,aad been organized g pro-
t4ct themselves aeainst ths scceasionists.
Glen. Mcclellan had taken rp lis quar-
tefs TT Fairfax Court House.
Al dispatch has been received here com
tradieling Tie announcement chat Win-
chester was occupied yesterday by oar
troops, and stating that It Is Lold BY rob
q force, Ills beloved hers 81 Gle hest
Informed critics on military aiiifs, That nc
rebels tlste are simply q portion 81 tho
Niraina militia Tee there o cover the ~
tfe.e d The maia BODY q The rebels. u
is not probable aaa considerable force
would be maintained b that part q Fif-
giaia after The oMcaalion e Manassas,
which commands Tie only rallfoad avenue
thence to Richmond.
Gnv. srosHis casa Ibe cyidace