The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1862-03-13
Washington, March III

4
Before dark last night Col. Averill, will
large body of cavalry, entered the far.
famed rebel works ut Manassas, and biy
ouacked for the night, amidst the ruin.
of the rebel stronghold. The intelligence
gathered at Manassas and in the neighbor.
hood, tends to show that the whole rebel
army has retired southwark. It is no,
credited that they will attempt to make 4
stand near, as the country is open, level
and unpromising for denfensive warfare.
The opinion is gaining ground that Gar.
louisville was simply the rendezvous for
what Was lately the rebel armies of the
Potomac, as it is the junction Of the Or
Lange 4 Alexandria with the Virginia
Central r. r. The only point at which
they can with any sort of confidence at
tempt to make stand is near the junction
Of the Frederick and Potomac with the
Central Virginia X. r., in which neigh
borhpod the North Anna and South Anna
rivers unite and form the Panawaka river,
about 20 miles directly north of Richmond.
AT this point the country is much broken,
and admirably fitted for defence. 1t is re.
ported that in their retreat the rebels have
destroyed the railroad bridge across the
north fork of the Rappahsnnock. In
their haste they have left behind stray
Cling parties Of soldiers. who seem to be
very glad to be made prisoners. Wher-
ever they have gone it is evident that
their army is completely demoralized and
utterly unfit for service. The moral eff
feet of the retreat from Manassas to Rich.
mond will be the same throughout the
south as it is in this part of Virginia, and
the impression prevails that the Southern
Confederacy has collapsed, and many of
the people thank God for it. The forts
are all abandoned, but log huts, hundreds
in number, and ample to accommodate
fully thirty Thousand troops, still remain
Also an immense number of tents and
heaps of dead horses cover the fields in
the vicinity. The log huts are strewn all
along, between Centreville and Manassas
The railroad track is undisturbed, except
the bridges. The stone bridge across
Bull Run on the Warrentou turnpike is
blown up, as also the bridge across Cob
Run, between Centreville and Manassas
Everything ut MxnassaN indicated a
precipitate flight Of the rebels. Some
caissons we're found, but no guns. Piles
Of bullets and cartridges were left, and an
immense quantity of quarter masters
stores In the place we're discovered
about thirty thousand bushels Of corn,
which had been set on FIRE and was still
smouldering. Among the trophies are
pack saddles, army orders, muskets, re-
volvers. bowie knives, letters, &c. Over
one thousand pack saddles were found, all
new, and marked &C. S A."
People in the vicinity state that prior
10 the evacuation there were 100000
troops at Manassas and Centreville.-I
Covering the breast-works were what APP
peared to be cannon, but on examination
hey proved to be wooden affairs got up
Tor effect
Two Pennsylvania regiments were the
irst Union troops entering Centreville.
At Brentville, four miles from Manas-
'as, home guard had been organized to
protect themselves from the secessionists.
Gen. Mcclellan has taken up his quar-
ers at Fairfax Court House.
A despatch has been received here con-
the announcement that VIM
chester was occupied yesterday by our
roops, and stating that it is held by reb-
i force. 1t is believed here by the best
Informed critics on military affairs that
he rebels there are simply portion of
he Va. militia, left there to cover the re-
reat Of the main body of rebels. II 10
,ot probable that any considerable force
would be maintained in that part Of Vir-
yinia after the evacuation OF Manassas,
Fhich commands the only railroad avenue
hence to Richmond.