The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1860-1863, 1862-03-20

Additional from sIanaSsns--Wha
Our, Troops FOund There--Their
Disappointment .it Discovering
the Departure Of the Rebels. a..
/ aWAsHINGToN, March .ll.--Before dark
last night Col. Averill, with large body
of cavalry, entered the far-famed rebeI
works at Manassas, and bivouaoked for
the night amid the ruins Of the rebel
stronghold. The intelligence gathered al
Manassas and in the neighborhood tends
70 show that the Whole retel army has
retired southwark. 1t is not credited
they will attempt to make a stand near
here. as the country is open, level, and
unprohisipg for defensivce warfafe. The
opinion is gaming ground that Gordons.
Vile was simply The rendezvous for what
was lately the rebel army OF the Potomac,
as it is the junction of the Orange and
Alexandria with the Virginia Central
road. The only point at which they can.
with any sort Of confidence, attempt Ia
make "a stand, is near the junction Of the
Frederick and Potomac with the Central
Virginia Railroad, in which neighborhood
the North Anna ard South Anna rivers
unite and form the Panamsky river, about
twenty miles directly north of Richmond
AT this point the country is much broken
and admirably fitted for defense. .s
1t is reported that in their retreat the
rebels have Destroyed the Rail Road
bridge across the north fork of the
Rappahannock. In their haste they have
left behind struggling parties of soldiers.
who seem very glad to be made prisoners.
Whersver they have gone It is evident
their army is completely demoralizsd aad
unfit for service. The moral effect of the
retreat from Manassas to Richmond will
be the same throughout the South, as il
is in this part Of Virginia. and the iu
preston prevails that the Southern Con
iedera"y has collapsed, and many of th,
people thank God for it. The forts are
all abandoned, but log huts. hundreds il
number and ample TO accommodate fully
$4,000 troops, still remain. Also i'm
mense numbers Of tents; heaps Of deaC
hors {, cover the fields in the vicinity
The log buts are strewed all along between
Centreyille aud Manassas 81. er.a.,
The track is undistu,bcd, except tn
bridges. The stone bridge across Bul
Run, on the Warrenton turnpike, is Blow
mp, and also the bridge across Club Run
between Centreville and Manassas
Everything at Manassas indicated the PIE
cipitate fight of the rebels. Some calls
sons were found, but no guns. Files o
bullets and cartridges were lett, and al
immense quantity Of Quar,ermastar'
stores, In one place were discovered q
bout 10000 bushels OF corn. which ba,
been set on fire and was still smoldering
Among the trophies are pack saddles, ar
my orders, muskets, revolvsrs, bowie
knives, letters. etc, Over 900 pack
! saddles were found, all new, and msrke
tC. s, A. People in the vitinity state tha
prior 10 the evacuation there were 100,
900 troops at Manassas and Centreville.-
Covering the breastworks were what aE
pearod TO be cannon, but on examinatio
they proved TO be wooden affairs got u
fol effect. 4. lf d.. .Tla -"
;; Two Pennsylvania cavalry regimen,
! we're the first Union troops entering Cen
. treville. At Brentyille, four miles frol
Manassas. a home guard had been organ
lied 10 protect themselves against the 81
: cessionists. ''. ''i
! Gen. Mcclellan has taken up bis qnaI
tets at Faiifax Court. House. 's '
r. A dispatch has been received here cor
tradicting the announcement that Wit
); chester was occupied yesterday by OF
y : troops and stating that it is hell by & reb
force. 1t is believed here by the best il
J formed critics on military affairs that ii
: rebels there are simply a portion Of Il
9 |, Virginia militia, left there to coverlbe p
treat of the main body OF rebels. II
y not probable any considerable force wou
y re maintained in that part Of Yirgia
after the evacuation of Manassas. whic
! commands the only railroad avenue then,
- 10 Richmond A-1a.h' o '
= WAshINeroN, March ll.--Large nuu
'e bers Or contrabands have reached o,
Hines. which now extend beyond Manass
'ss sshJnuction, aud are still coming in |
!" drovcs. ssH "t.a t1t.0As. ," p.
L. The earthworks at Centreville we
'e greatly misrepresented. They were n
Etf the fnfmlaable character suppose
% The emmy, before evacualing, had som
o. wha, injured Them by bfeaking the el
u brasures and casemates. fe ~
'c On our troops arriving al Fairfax Cot
House they fund no more than q doE
. families. The soldiers rushed into /
8; Court.houes and brought away some
= the records, but this being discovered, I
o. officers directed their return. ' ''tFai
p When our troops learned that Manass
had been evacuated their spirits sudden
became depressed, as they had anticipst
'r' a spirited conflict with the enemy. fe
a. Repairs have already been comnhehc
on at Bull Run, and the probability is Il
he the railroad to Manassas will be in ru
er ming order this week. g0g
he There is evidence that the main bo
% of the rebel army left Manassas neal
1.-Two weeks ago. .s. t..