Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1862-03-15
FROM CENTREVILLE.
OUR TROOPS OCCUPY MANAS-
SAS.
WASHINGTON, March IL, 1862.


The news of the occupation of the famed
Manassas junction reached the city at an
enrly hour this morning, by an official tele-
gram, which set at rest the idle rumOrs Of o
fight retreat, etc. The Intelligence which
has been coming in. ever since Saturday from
contraban1s aud refugees, has oil centred to
the fact that the rebels were falling back from
Centrevlle, with the Intention OF not only
abandoning their works there. but at Manas'
sas, u few miles in the rear. The evacuation
Of tue batteries oD the lower Potomac, and
the withdrawal from LeesSurg, oil tended to
the confirmation of these stories, which were
fully realized at o late hour last night, by the
advance Of our forces from Cenlrevile, to-
wards Manassas, which they entered early
this morning The forlorn hope of the rebels
was seen struggling over the hills, but short
distance beyond the road to Strasburg. as
our cavalry entt red the deserted entreuch
ments. 1t was evident that no inconsidera.
ble,paDic had seized The rebels, for their works
seemed TO be as hastily abandoned rs On the
lower Potomac. The rebel flag was flying OF
Fairfax Court House at Centrevie, and wos
| allowed 10 remain mp, but with the glorious
! flag Of the Union waving proudly over it in
the clear light Of this balmy morning. Some
uf the rebol pickets that we're not quick
enough to follow their panic stricken com
pauions were captured. aud reached the city
! to-day. most detected, worn'out looking
set They were dressed in a white woolen
uniform, made from negroclotb, but iha
| hardshlps of the service had rendered it Of
many colors. Ia other respects the soldiers
seemed far Inferior TO ours, and displayed an
| Ignorance and stupidity rarely seen in the
human face. They were placed in copfue'
meut. On their march up Pennsylvania
avenue they were the objects of great curiosi'
ty, hundreds rushing on the streets TO get o
sight Of them.
The Scene AT MASAssAs-DKsTRUcrIo or
PROPERTY.
CEYTREvILLE, March ll.-CpoD a closer
examination, 1t was discovered that the rebels
before eyacusting their much boosted strong
hold, had Sc! fire 10 such Of their commssary
stores us they could not conveniently carry
off The place presented a scene of the NJ
NEST deSOiaiion--a mass OF blacke0ed ruins.
The rebels also blew up the bridges along
the line Of the Orange and Alexandria Rail-
road for some miles below Manassas. Such
Of the locomotives which were out of repair
also destroyed, it is supposed by blowing up,
ono the vicinity Of the depot is covered with
fragments Of machinery belonging to the dc
stroyd locomotives.
1t is said that the rebels left Cen,revillI
on Sunday morning.
Large numbers OF contrabands have reach
ed our lines (which now extend beyond Ma
nasas JunctIon) and are still coming in by
droyes.
On our way from Centreville, yesterday
morning, we passed at least one hundred who
were making their way TO Washington.
Some OF the refugees claim to have come {
distance Of twenty miles west OF Manassas
They all agree in saying that tho rebels ef
the latter place in great precipitation, anI
that the destruction Of their comuissaIl
stores was commenced at al early hour oil
Sunday
The contrabands state that portion OF th,
force which left NJ aDassas passed northwaIdly
This is considered probable; but if the.
did, it wSs for the psrpose Of reinforcing
Jackson Of Winchester.
They also state that oil the bridges alVDl
, the route by which they came had been blow
up by the rebels in their retreat, and that th
greater portion OF :he track is also torn up
The esrthworks at Centreyile had bee
greatly misrepresented. They were not o
! the formidable character supposed. Th
, enemy, before evAcuating, had somewha
: injured them by breaking the embrasures ant
casemates.
The same is probably the case at Manas
sas, the Notifications OF which, however, hay,
not yet been fully examined
Our troops, on arriving at Fairfax Cour
House found not more than dozen famlie
remaining there. The soldiers rushed lott
the court house and brought away come 0
the records, but, on this being discovered, th'
officers directed their return.
When our troops learned that Msnassa
had been evacuated, their spirits suddenl,
became depressed, as they bad anticipated
spirited eouGict With the enemy.