Evening star., 1862-04-16
REBEL REASONS FOR THE ABANDON.
MEkT OF MANASSAS.

The Richmond Examiner OF q recent date
gives the following reasons for the abandon.
ment Of Manassas and Centreville by Gen.
Johnston:
We learn that the Government not only cor
daily approves the strategic movement of Gen.
Johnston In changing his line of defence. but
that the question of falling back from the old
line OF the Potomac was confded entirely to
bis own discretion some weeks ago by the
President himself.
1t is now asceftained that soms three or
four weeks before the army. fell back, Gen.
Johnston visited the President and disclosed
TO him the extraordinary plans eompassed by
the enemy, which made It vitality necessary,
N his opinion, to fall back and organize q
new line OF defence. He stated his convic-
tions that the enemy, by movement Of some
forty or hfty thousand troops through Har-
per's Ferry and the Valley, designed to fall
upon his rear, and proposed to defeat this OBJ
Ject BY confronting him On new line of de-
fence. ".. - =
For the space Of three weeks before the army
lett its intrenchments at Manassas preparations
were being made for falling back, by the quiet
and gradual removal of the vast accumulations
OF army stores; and with such consummate ad-
dress was this managed that our own forces mad
no idea OF what was intended until the march
was taken up. The first intimation the enemy
had OF the evacuation of Manassas was the
smoke OF the soldiers huts that had been fired
by our army, and as the last column of our
forces retired, We are assured that the advance
OF the movement, on Gen. Johnston's rear,
was already at Snickersville, a gap in the Blue
Ridge.
That the strategic plans of the enemy were
completely foiled by this masterly movement
oil Gen. Johnston is quite evident in the tone
oil disappointment and vexation in which the
northern newspapers refer to the evacuation of
Manassas, which, unless there had been some
disconcert Of their own strategy by such an
event, they would be likely to regard as con-
siderable advantage on their side in letting
them further into the territory of Virginia.
The most, if not the only, successful Strategic
movement OF last years campaign was eneral
Johnston's evacuation of Hsrper's Ferry and
has movement in the upper portion of The
valley This evacuation Of the extreme line
OF the upper Potomac was extensively misun-
derstood, and brought great deal of popular
and ignorant censure upon General Johnston,
who was Enthusiastically resolved 10 leave
his vindication to the progress Of events. His
movements then threw back the enemy's plans
at least ninety days, and it is confidently
stated that the same extent of disappointment
and disconcert on the enemy's side will be
the result OF the late change of our line Of de-
fenses.
The advantages accomplished in the falling
back OF our army are that it has foiIed the
strategic plan Of the enemy almost at the
instant of its accomplishment, besides bringing
our forces into position to encounter any
demonstrations that the enemy may make in
new directions. The excitement of locomotion
and change Of scene were said to have had the
most happy eject upon the spirit of our troops,
who are, altogether, in better fighting trim
than they have ever been since the battle of
Manassas. Our readers may rely upon it that
the aspect Of affairs in the direction of the
Potomac is in every way cheering and encour.
aging.