Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1862-03-20
Washington. March ID, 1862.

Washington, March IL, 1852.
The great agony il over. Manassas,
Winchester, an! the whole line are evac-
usted. The army Of the aliens is COM
pletely demoralized the rebellion is
dead the Union il triumphant Amen !
Glory, AIleluia las we go marching
onr
From Camp Griffin we FASTENED on to
find our Regiments, passing the fresh
graves of near 100 Vermont Boys in the
road at Townsville. At Vienna we saw
the footprints of desolation really begun,
but the restoring hand of freemen at
work.
A train had just come up with forage
from Alexandria on the LeeSburgh road
Two miles further we found our Smiths
Division eucamped on Flint Hill, where
the rebels were last fall. The Vermont
ers are on the right, and the Veteran I'd
on the right of all. The boys we're in
jovial spirits, anxious only from the ru-
NOR that the enemy had fed. They long
ed for another trial. They are doomed
to disappointment, They are proud even
of their rout at Bull Run, for they secur-
ed the approval of their commander, who
said when asked on that fatal day what
he would do--"Give myself into the
hands of the I'd Vermont"
Leaving Flint Hill yesterday morning,
we rode down to Fairfax c. H., wher.
the whole region is completely flle' with
Brigades Of soldiers. This j. ,ha haoa
quarters of Gen. McCiep on T, was co. :
beautiful morning, swe ct as June With.
in the range Of vi.ss,on more than 10000
troops could be sesn, from Flint Hill
nor'n' al around. The roa. ;vas crowd
cd with train wagonsiG.,, ,,:las and arovs.
az n...i u'ot HUGS ssHu uFOVSs
~,.,.le, and other divisions were arriving
Or passing on. The stir and hustle of the
troops-the rumble of wagons--the music
OF bugles, drums and flies in all directions
the evolutions Of regiments under drill ;
the genteel houses and recent ruins
gentees houses occupied by soldiers--eve-
rything but the clear sunshine lent an air
OF pewilderment which no language can
described will not attempt it.
Here my party thought they had seen
enough, and much wearied, resolved to re-
turn. I told them / must go to Manassas,
and started. They followed, and what
was our astonishment to find the roads,
hills and fields covered with our troops of
infantry. cavalry and artillery, and the
whole pike covered with trains Of wa
gons. We rode on, and at 10 o'clock
reached Centreville, passing the well
chosen Notifications on the ridge, and en-
tering the desolate village. Here the de-
serted works of months of hard labor
were all about US The forts and bar
racks were abandoned, except some logs
of wood which were shaped like cannon.
The fires were burning in their fire places
and wreck and ruin of all sorts of camp
equipage were strewn all around. Their
barracks of log houses were quite COM
Portable and spacious. In many of them
were evidences of their robberies. Win
dow blinds from the churches and farm
houses, doors &C., were arranged for bed
stead4, mantel-pieces for shelves, tables,
windows and seats, stolen from the houses
they had ruined. Some 10000 men must
have been stationed here, who left in
great trepidation when informed that our
army was about to move. We saw divers
threats which the "chivalry' left behind
them. On an old oaken slab or single
| split, but not shaved. such as barns were
sometimes covered with, and such as they
covered their cabins with. was written
with charcoal: death to the Invaders Y
On slate chimney piece was roughly
cut-tGo to He'll On anoi her in hall
finished le!ters-"We will have ven
geance yet T. and many others. These
were freshly done, and evidently in grea,
haste, as the dying shrieks of chivalry.
We resolved TO 90 on miles 10 Ma
nassas but my friends, unused to horse
back, were too far gone to attempt it, and
as there was no forage for my horse, and
no where TO rest, | was compelled al
that time, most reluctantly to abandon it
and 10 return after snack furnished by
good DR.. Alexander, who has been undis.
turbed, and has some ham and meal left
The people who remlin along the line o
the road, and in all that region, have no
thing lefl--no corn, hay, oats or anything
Few men are anywhere TO be found. Sc
esSion has done terrible work.
| had gathered up divers relcts of tbs
rebellion, most of which then threw