The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-03-21
FROM WASHINGTON
FROM WASHINGTON
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DAMAGE TO THE MERRIMAC
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THE & REBEL RETREAT
Their Army at 3Gordonsville
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PANIC AT MANASSAS
DESTRUCTION OF STORES
STRENGTH OF MANASSAS
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Observation-Disclosures
THE & EBEL RETREAT
Their Army at 3Gordonsville
PANIC AT MANASSAS
DESTRUCTION OF STORES
STRENGTH OF MANASSAS

~ 4
REBELS ADMIT THE DAMAGE TO THE
..i-F2..~ a MERRIMAC. g 5-5 ,a4 O.
WASHINGTON, March ia despatch
from Fortress Monroe reports all quiet
there. a a.. 500 .sHt H5,l
Parties who accompanied the flag of
truce admit the Monitor severely wounded
the Merrimac.
Information from Winchester tonight
indicates that our forces are in possession
there. 'tt. -- --.
REBEL ARMY AT GORDONSvILLE.
Nothing new at Manassas. The rebels
have retired towards Gordonsville. They
rest with their advance at the Pope Dam
river, their camp extending back to Gor-
louisville, IL miles. -
The Washington Star of this evening
says we have positive information that the
rebels have retreated as far as Gordonsville.
Our scouts have probably penetrated the
country at an early hour this morning, as
far as Culpepper Court House, thirty five
miles in the rear of Manassas.
DAHLGREN GUNS.
The Naval Committee of the Senate
agreed today to recommend the appropria-
ton of S25O,0O0 for the construction of
furnaces for the manufacture of 20 inch
Dahlgren guns.
ABOUT THE REBEL RETREAT.
The statement published that council
Of war in Washington decided, six to four,
that the army of the Potomac could not be
moved against the enemy at present is en-.
tirely untrue. The Generals were unani-
nous that an advance was possible and
proper. The only difference was as to the
plan Of the proposed attack.
A correspondent of the Times, who &C
companied the advance upon Centreville
and Manassas, has just come in.
1t was only last Friday that the retreat
of the rebels from Centreville commenced.
General Johnston left Friday morning :;
General Smith left Saturday afternoon, and
Colonel Stuart last Monday, the day our
army left their camp On the Potomac.
The retreat was conducted very orderly
at first, and nothing was left at Centreville
that could be useful to us.
The forts were well planned and very for
midable. They commanded the roads and
the fire of not less than a hundred guns
could be conveyed upon any approach to
the defences, but the guns were never
brought from Manassas to Mount the Gen.
treYille Forts. .. aa r... ta,:l
A railroad track extended from Manae-
sas to Centreville and telegraph line.
The Rebel Generals had their headquar.
tiers at Centreville.
All together, a more convenient and
complete military establishment could not
be found in Washington than they had.
Through Manassas the enemy continued
their retreat as quickly as it began.
They carried all of their heavy guns to
Manassas, 40 to 60 in number, part of their
army marching by turnpike to Warrenton
and part to Gordonsville, where it is said
they would make stand.
1t was on Monday evening that the first
sign of panic was noticed at Manassas.
A part of Stuart's rear column was pre-
pairing train to move southwark by Rail-
road, when they learned some excited rebels
had set fire to the bridges ahead of them.
They Immediately began to burn and de-
stroy, and run away in general consterna.
ton.
Five hundred barrels of -four piled up in
ranks had their beads stove in. Barrels of
moasses suffered the same way. One hun.
bred and sixty barrels or kegs of powder
were left, which they did not know how to
destroy in safety to themselves.
1t seems to be confirmed that the enemy
had, two weeks since, between $4,000 and
10000 troops at Centrevile and Manassas,
and that they only began their retreat last
Friday.
Why they went is mystery, as that
number of men in their Notifications would
have been equal to three times the force as
sailing them. They must have feared to
trust their men whose enlistments were ex.
piring, or their powder, which many &C.
counts agree is of very inferior quality.
The strangest thing brought by the
Times correspondent is that Gen. Jackson
and one half of his army, whom Gen. Banks
yesterday supposed be was closely watching
in Winchester, went down the railroad to
Manassas one week ago, and quietly march.
ed of southwark. The other half are said