Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1862-03-19

ces in this quarter on Thursday last. when
they plobaly commenced falling back from
Winchester and Leesburg the latter having
long been untenably by them, unless they
were willing IT, risk decisive battle there.
They made 10 contest at Leesburgh with
the two or three companies of our troops
that came down from Lovets gap on the day
before yesterday. In retiring from there
they doubtless struck direct for their Ma
nassas works.
We find many incredulous relative to the
fact that they are abandoning them also
That. however is military necessity, since
they have abandoned their defences on both
the right and left flank. The fact that they
are doing so is confirmed by ten or fifteen
refugees and contrabauds who, availing
themselves of the withdrawal of the Rebel
| picket guards, have come within our lines
lately.
The cannot nave spiked their guns and
| fed from their Potomac batteries aid their
camps and batteries from the mouth Of tie
| Occoquan up to Wolfrun Shoals-burning
and destroying everything they could not
carry off in hurry, as they certainly have
done-without thus leaving their right flank
wholly at our mercy, as well as their Win
! ch ester slefences-their left fiank-with any
! intention Of remaining a moment longer at
! Manassas than may be necessary to enable
them to run their main force away from
| that position.
4 portion Of the refugees and cOntrabands
from whom the information received comes
believe that they intend 10 make stand at
the Rappahannock river. twenty four miles
III the rear Of Manassas.
That is simply impossible. because the
line of that river for ten miles North ant
South Of the Orange and Alexandria Rail
road is utterly untenable, even with prop
eriy constructed earthworks-which they
are without there.
The first range Of country which the!
might make temporarily defensIble, is a
and around Cuilpepper Court House, ,thougI
its frequent enninences afford quite as ZOO
attacking IS defending positions. and thcr
are plenty of them too. So, we do not lie
lieve they will stop running until with
, sight If ;ho smoke from the chimneys i
p Richmond.
D We deem it prudent TO say whatever {
e the movements Of our army that has thu
fairly elbowed them out of their only 4,
! fensibe position this side of their nomin.
, capital, further than that its operation hav
brought about their anticipated effort
n steal away from Manassas. The countI
e may rely upon it that it is nobly carryiU
d out its glorious work thus 50 admirably co
e menced.
/. The President and the Secretary Of W
N and the Geueral Chief of course are
ID busy as bees, with the matter in hand,
IT well a: every officer and man in the arm
re of the Potomac.
We have further TO add, that we do u
e believe that the Rebel army will attempt
hold Richmond for week longer, judgi
ii tneiI purpose to be to get back into the c,
OF ton States as soon as possible: Richmo
being less defensible position than Nam
5e, sas was three days ago.
of At Richmond, if they dare fight the
sr' they must fight under the influence IF
he tense panic occasioned by their Peil nell
he treat from their line of the Potomac, a
IN, without such sturdy works in their front
those they are so precipitately abandoni
ks We sincerely believe that they will HI
IS; entirely evacuated Virginia a fortnight he
1rt Washington Erening Star March 10h.