The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1862-03-19
NEWS ITEMS.
Manassas Evacuated
WASHINGTON, March ]


movement began. The earliest trains of
retreat carried arms for the men, who
were mustered to check Gen. Burnsides
nlrance into the interior. Arms and nlu-
,ions having been at first removed,
soldiers followed, Withdrawing by rail, aud
with the deliberate slowuess Characters
tic of Southern road.
Residents, white aud black, at Centre
vile and Manassas set the strength of the
whole army there during the last month
/, less than 10000, and most of them at
lr>s than 100000
One visitor made thorough examina-
tion of the headboards which uniformly
mark the graves of the numerous Rebel
soldiers who died in camp. Our Govern
lnent is now for the first time advertising
for headboards. Each slab at Manassas
and Centreville tells the name of the de-
ceased, his State, his regiment, and the
day of his death But six States were
represented in these extensive cemeter-
les.
The highest numbered regiment from
Virginia was the forty-seyeEth The
highest from Georgia, which came next,
va, the tweuty-sixth. The other Gulf
rnd Atlantic States appeared to have no
i.siment numbering above twenty. The
VI astern and South Western States, eX-
rspt Mississippi, were not represented
On the whole, according to the data of
these grave yards, there were at no time
$50 regiments at Manassas and Centre
vile. Giving to each, as the returns all
il. .ficate, 500 men, we have a grand total
cf less than 100000 on the most liberal
c.!culatlon, as the strength of the Rebel
army before any portion of it was sent
away. Plenty of other evidence also goes
10 show that the army was under l00,-
o''0, and such is the opinion Of most Of
'.e visitors to the abandoned quarters,
s:l the statement of the neighbors.
A visitor to Manassas examined the
provision returns of seven companies of
lhe 21st North Carolina Regiment, which
- found 10 heap of papers The high
.>t number of men in any one of these
companies was thus officially shown to be
IL, others showed less than 10 men. If
there were no more in the ether three
companies, the regiment was between 400
aud 800 strong. The retnrns of other
companies belonging to different regl-
ments averaged DO more men. Irish de-
sertcrs, said that with furoughs, desert
"rs, &c, several regiments had dwindled
down to 200.
The deputation of the joint Iuvestigat-
ing Committee on the Conduct of the
War, returned in wrathful mood from the
bloodless field of Manassas. Their con-
tempt of the military obstructions before
which we have been made to falter for
half year is outspoken. Their estimate
Of the forces which has held at bay the
power of the Republic. is so small as to
make brave meu hang their heads.
They counted SO ombrasures at Cen
trevillc, in 50 of which wooden guns were
mounted. An African resident said.
"Why. Sar, them used to say jest as good
to scare with as any" So deliberate vas
the retreat of the Rebels that on Satur-
day night 10000 cf them, disliklng the
crowded state of the roads, marched back
10 Ceatrevills, slept soundiy and the next
day started anew for Gordonsyille
By what bugbear has the Capital of
the Nation been beleagured and the
Treasury bankrupted
The news from New-AIadrid Mo, is
still meager, but highly satisfactory
The place is ours though the South
boasted that it was imPregnable, we took
il with little trouble. No Rebel flag now
waves in Missouri. After several days
fighting, aud a number of Intellectual at
tempts on the part of the gunboats Of
the enemy to dislodge Gen. Pope, the
Rebels evacuated the place in panic on
Thursday night, leaving their tents, arms,
ammunition, everything. The spoils are
valued at over Sl,000,000. Our heavy
battery was established during the night
of the 18th instant within eight hundred
yards of the eneuy's works, aud we opea-
ed fire at daylight on the 18TH instant,
just thirty-four hours after the guns were
delived from Cairo. During the whole
of Thursday our lines were drawn closer
around the works of the enemy, under
furious fire of sixty pieces of artillery
The fear of an assault upon their works
at daylight induced them to fee precipi-
lately during the night. Many prison
ers were takea. Our loss is about 90
killed and wounded.
From Winchester, we loaru that an
other skirmish had taken place between
our troops and Ashby's Cavalry, without
loss on our side, the enemy being beyond
Newtown,
Latest adyices from the battle of Pea
Ridge, Arkansas, that as near as could be