Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1862-03-18
The Evacuation of Manassa6

stand IN Virginia seems just now to be mainly
matter Of speculation II is evident that Ma
nassas has been evacuated, or been II the pro
cess Of eyacuton for several weeks, and that
the rebel force at Centreylle and in front Of our
lines opposite Washington, has been for that
time more to deceive US than iJT any porpo'c
Of Offering any resistance to oar advance. The
main army, which has kept for 80 many tedious
III. nths the hundreds Of thousands OF Union
troops close On the line Of the Potomac, has
most certainly escaped this time with all its ar
mamcnt, leaving or our forces as the first tro-
plies Of their advance smouldern5 ruins, de-
serted log huts, and few rickety and useless
wagons. 1t is quite certain that Manassas has
served the rebcsa very good purpose. 1t has
been Just az good position hitherto for them as
though it had been impregnabe Ever since
last July, it has apparently been regarded by
the officers Of the Army Of the Potomac as a
position that could not be carried For the
last .our months it has kept two hundred and
htty Thousand men a. bay, and out Of reach Of
it, but just as soon as an advance in earncs. IS
made, }, IS found to be teuantIess.
There is no doubt taar t9i. evacuation Is tie
result Of strategy, but taac strategy isn't con-
fined wholly to cur Generals Tile main body
Of the rebels didn't leave Manassas in disorder
whatever may have been true Of the rear guard
They took their heavy guns with them. Gen
Burnside bad news ol Tie evacuation Il early as
the 81 INST. There have been hints u it, COM
ms from various sources for weeks And Dow,
on looking at the map, military Hcn tell US that
there is another inc Ut defence nearer Richmoud,
that can be better protected FROM any thanking
movements than Manassas could be, with Gen.
Banks ut Winchester, and Gen, Ilookerat Aqua
Greek Gord9nsylle where the rebels are re-
ported to be, is one end Of rhis line, and guards
the approaches from Western Virginia, or Els-
tern Tennessee. Frcdrcksburgh, on the Rap
pahannock, where tile railroad from Aqua
Creek u Richmond crosses thai river is the other
end Of this rumctcd line Of defence. The yir-
gna Central Railroad connects Gordou.y.lIe
win the Richmond, Ereierieksburgl and Poto-
mae Railroad at Eaton junction, about once
.had of the way from Richmond to FradericS,-
blrgh Both GordonsyIIlc ana Fredaricksburgh
can thus be reinforced by ran from Richmond,
and tae former also from any troops that could
be St arel from the rebel army Of the West r.
These point. also guard the immediate ap-
pr9aeaOs 10 Richmond except from the South
and prevent either Banks or Hooker from get
| ting between the main army Of the rebels and
Richmond There seems to be Il great ptoba-
6iltg, Mt least, in this theory OF the evacuation
OF what has been regarded as the rebel strong
hold in Virginia, aaa the Richmond Examiner
give. It's readers assurance that such is the iact,
aud tha. Gen. Johnston has determined on Il
new line Of defence, reaching from Stanton in
the mountain region to Gordonsyle and Fred.
encksburgh, or some other point on the Rich
mond and Aqua Creek Railroad, is undoubtelly
included in this new base Of operations
But we are now gmtidcl with the assurance
that Gen Mcclellan having been released honl
the necessity Of sitting in his office at Washing
ton and directing by telegraph every movement
Of the Western armies, and thus getting 30 him.
self all the glory of tae achievements which
have captured, defeated, and scattered SO many
thousands OF rebes west Of the Alleghanies
can now give his undivided attention to captur-
ing, defeating, and routing a rebel army nearer
Washington. lie has already compelled them
to fall back from position they had held ioi
nine months, and that is something gained
, lie will soon unquestionably prove his fight
my qualities, as well as his strategic genius
and show that what possible at Fort Henry
, Fort Donelson, and Pea Ridge, is also possibl,
: on the Potomac. Wchope to herald within
, week the announcement that Mcclellan is a
Richmond, raising over that rebellious Capita
the Stars and Stripes, while the boosted rebe
"ihH W 80 2 III" 80 V't,lcT "a iNNANH' va NJ''9
2 a routed, defeated, scattered and broken army
lRoNoLD ENGINES Of Wharf.-The recent ap
paaranco Of the Nleu.mac in Hampton Roads
furnishes theme for great deal Of newspape
comment, respecting 0e ac eycnents OF such
craft. 1t is now t.aaght that she can oo'sA
the Monitor, and i, ,ho cannot it is by n
means certain that hl latter eau prevent he
from going to sea. Il is also rumored that tn
rebels have other similar engines Of naval WA
fare ready to be tried 4, other points along ii
!, coast, and although these stories may be withou
foundation, they naturally excite great uneas
ness. Our wooden vessels, composing orr bloch
aiding squadrons, could offer no serious resistant
to the attempts of such iron clad vessels as tn
Menmac 20 get to saa and once AT lerse, lhci
Is no limit to the damage they mightaccomplsl
:. There is much complaint against the Navy d.
partmcnt for neglectn, to build similar or moi