Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-03-19
WASHINGTON. March u.

WAsHNGToN, March IL.
The whole aspect of the war has been changed
since my last letter Two weeks ago. the Union
army of the Potomac was confronted by an arm
ed host OF nearly 300 900 Confederate troops, ex-
tended along a line of hundred miles in extent,
from Winchester on the north To Matthias Point
on the south. They have now been compelled
To relin6 uish their hold on tine two great avenues
to Washington which they have so long block
AIDED, and both the Upper and the Lower Poto
mac freed from their presence Ten
days ago, as it now appears. the Coniederates be
gan the work of removing their heavy guns to-
ward the South. and this was followed by their
baggage and military equipments Strong guards
were then posted at several points where they
would be likely TO encounter the advanced pick
cts of the Union troops, and the main body of
the COntederates moved toward Richmond
This movement occupied a week, from the Sd TO
the 9Th inst; and, being completed the rear
guards were Withdrawn, and followed the main
body. leSterday. when our troops advanced to
Ceaterville and the line of Bull Run, the nests
we're there but the birds had flown
Tive weeks ago the Confederate army Of the
Potomac held the same position that they bad oc
cupied for the last nine months To day forced
TO rehnquish that position, they are compelled TO
retire further South. and 10 seek q new defensive
line 80 long they remained al Manassas il
impossible for the Union army to advance
into Virginia. There Is now no obstacle 20 the
advance OF that army. for distance offfty miles
az least, except those formed by nature.
Thus has the flower of the Confederate army
been compelled 10 abandon their stronghold ut
Manassas, which they bad fortified skilfully,
and 50 cbstinatey held. Thus is vindcated the
superb strategy of General Mcclellan. who. with
out fighting a battle. without the loss of a man
or n single drop of blood. drives before him the
hope and mainstay of the Southern Confederacy
The forced evacuation of Manassas Is one part
Of the same grand plan of which the forced evae-
uttiOn OF Columbus WAS another. and IN no other
events of the war does the sublime strategy of
General Mcclellan appear more evident than
these two achievements Columbus was justly
entitled To the appelation OF the Manassas of the
West. And Manassas itself was 80 strongly tor
uhed. Il i doubtful whether il could have ever
been forced or taken by assault At all events its
reduction would have cost a sacrifice of life on
both sides. ID Il wculd have made it the bloOdest
battle OF modern times. This has been averted
by General Mcclellan
There Is little doubt where the Confederate
army has gone. ~ long sgo a. June when the
army of General Mcdowell was expected 10 adj
vance on Manassas. the Confederate authorities
caused surveys 10 be made by their military en-
giueers for a second defensive line That line
was found on the Rappahannock river Even az
that early day strong earthworks were construct
ed tor the defense Of fredericksburg and before
tie battle of Manassas the vide part of the river
from Tappahannock down 90 Urbanna. was for
tined by the erection OF batteries similar % those
recently evacuated on the Potomac There.
however the work Of defense ceased for the time
The Upper Rappahannock, from Tappahannock