The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1862-03-14
WARRINGTON ITEMS.
Especial to the N. Y. Tribune.

Washington, March La
The Naval Committee of the Senate to-
day agreed to recommend an appropriation
Of $3.50, 600 for the construction OF fur- |
naces for the manufacture of 2O-inch
Dahlgren guns.
The Washington Star of this evening
says we have positive information that the
rebels have retreated to as far as Gordon
vile. Our scouts have probably pene-
trated the country at an early hour this
morning as far as Culpepper Court Housa
S5 miles In the rear Of Manassas.
Times Dispatch.
The statement published that council
of war in Washington decided six to four
that the army Of the Potomac could not
be moved against the enemy at present,
is entirely untrue. The Generals were
unanimous that an advance was possible
and proper The only difference was a.
to the plan Of the proposed attack. A
correspondent of the Times who accom-
panied the advance upon Centreville and
Manassas has just cuine in. He says last
Friday that the retreat Of the rebels from
Centreviile commenced. Gen. Johnston
left Friday morning; Gen. Smith left Sat
urday D. m, and Col Stewart last Mon
day. the day our army encamped on the
Potomac. The retreat was conducted
very orderly at first Nothing was left at
Centreville that could be useful to US
The forts were we'll planned and very for
midable. They commanded tho roads,
and the fire Of not less than hundred
guns could be consergcd upon any APP
proach to the dcfenccs, but the guns we're
never brought from Manassas to mount
| the Centreville forts. A railroad track
extended from Manassas to Centrcvill(
and telegraph line. The rebel Gene
rails had their headquarters at Ccnteryills
altogether, and more convenient and
comfortable military establishment could
not be found in Washington than they
had through Manassas The enemy con-
tinued their retreat as quickly as it be-
gan. They carried off all their heavy.
guns from Manassas, 40 to 60 in number,
part of their army marching By turnpike
to Warrenton, and part To Gordonsville,
where, it was said, they would make al
stand 1t was on Monday evening that
| the FIRST sign of panic was noticed at Ma
nassas. A part Of Stewards rear column
was preparing a train 70 move southwark
by railroad, when they learned some ex-
cited rebels hal set fire to the bridges
ahead Of them. They Immediately began
to burn and destroy and ran away in gems
sral confusion. Five hundred barrels d
/ H0ur nilNd mn in ranks had their heads
stove, barrels of molasses suffered in the
same way; loo bbls. or kegs of powder
were left, which they did not know how
to destroy in safety to themselves. IL
seems to be confirmed that the enemy had
two weeks since between 56, 600 and SO,
900 troops At Centreville and Manassas
and that they only began their retreat last
Friday. Why they went is mystery, a
that number of men in their forti6cation
would have been equal to three times thei
force assaifing them. They must hav
feared to trust their men whose enlist
ments were expiring, or their powder
which many accounts agree il of a YER
inferior quality.
The strangest news brought by tn
Times correspondent is that Gen. Jack
SON end one-half his army, whom Ger
Banks yesterday supposed he was closet
watching in Winchester, went down tha
railroad to Manassas one week ago an
quietly marched off southwark. The otl
er half are said to be moving southwa al
in the valley Of the Shenandoah.
rnn~ nnUr rmr nrvru III