New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1862-03-25
Letter from Virginia, (

Special to the NeW Orleans Crescent Y. s VA II
ests ia RIcHMosD, March ID 1866,
When Manassas was left am mass Of .charred and
blackened timbers, it followed, as matter of
course, that the thanking positions should be aban-
doned. The batteries at Eyansport and Acquia
Creek were deserted, the gnnsat the former thrown
into the water, while those at the latter being near
to- the railroad, were brought to Fredericksburg,
and placed in position on the banks Of the Kappa
hannock river. Holmes, withhis brigade or rather
division, came up to the town just named, com
pletely mystifed By the moyement,,ef which he
had no. intimation until the order was received,
aAd ofthe meaning Of which he has since received
Elimination. Wigfal's brigade, in Whitney,s d.
vision also came up to Fredericksburg where the
rest vent, mo one knows. Thus our right flank was
drawn in, and the blockade Of the Potomac, which
has been, at best, but an expensive farce given up
On the left flank, Hill fell back from Leesbprg
to point called The Plains, and was there at last
accounts. Jackson held our extreme left at Win.
chester until day before yesterday in the vain hope
that he WoMd be reinforced, and enabled to give
the enemy ~ telling blow. But, for some reason
best known to himself Johnston refussdto send re-
Inducements, and thus compelled lin, when the
enemy advanced insthree columns, each eight
thousand strong, to evacuate Winchester and re-
tire to Mount jackson, forty miles downthe valley.
81 Meantime, thescentre, under Johnston himself.
has fallen hack the of the Orange and Alex.
andriR road, 70 the town Of Warrenton, where Ii
was several days ago since then nothing Mas
been heard 1T, and even the passengers who
have been up sas far as Gordonsville have been
unali TIL ascertain its Whereabouts Johnston ,n
Game here month ago, and unfolded the whole
plan to the President, who approved ity and au.
thorized himto carry it into execution at,orce. II
wish had Iaors faith in ,Johnstonis strategy,
Of hldh III HI said to be- Ii maste But, believer
as Am IN hard fighting, cant b feeling apre-
sentiment that his aeep.laid plan viii tmisearry;
that cautions cielIan, the quickest Of men tos
find an antagonists weak point, will ,elude The
trap and the whole thing come to naught. Ny
own opinion is that the fate Of Richmond, and in
deed Of the whole State, viii be decided IN great
hattie at on near the Rapidan river, which will.
take place aboutlt the 10th or 25th Of April ~ q i
WhenI heard last night that Z. OBJ. Branch was
IN command at Newbern, predicted 4 disaster,
for.I well remember the objections urged against
him lat the time he was sappointedfa Brigadier.
He knew nothing about military matters, nor was
ID ever noted for ability Of any sort. 4 great
deal of labor had been expended IN the defencas
sof NeEberp, making it impregnable, as was sup
posed; but twenty gunboats soon drove our men.
from the batteries. The atrocity Of Smelling the
town without q moments notice, and firing into
ateamhaats filed with women and children Is In
keeping with the shooting Of our men on board
tae eartured Congress- and other peffdious acts !.
bat n y Y Idle to call names. Shall we let these
prases become our masters i M 5Sgjs s 81 ST 4
We nave noiate nsws from abroad. The,weather
isexcsedingls gloomy And well salcn,sss .sl. -
deepen the impression produced NJ m asfsa.s
The tide has been againat "a for long Tine anI
may Keep sgainst us for long Tine "a CONS M
~ tides have their food. and then comes the abs M
a patience let ns posseas our souls and van III
tnasL epp: ......3 MALou. II