Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1862-03-14

terville, and that the rebels have evacuated
Manassas
The Intel'igencer adds: This news was
confirmed by intelligence received at head
quarters last night"
Heralds Dispatch.
WASHINGTON, March IL.
Before dark last night COL Averll arrived
with large body of cavalry, entered the ia,
famed rebel works of Ma ,assas, ard bivouaced
for the night amid the RUNS of the rebel
stronghold
The intelligence gathered at Manassas and
in the ne.ghborhood leads to show that the
whole rebel army has retired southwark. 1,
is rot credited that they will attempt to
make stand very near, as the country is
open, level, and unpromising for defensive
warfare.
The opinion is gaining ground that Cor.
louisville was only the rendezvous for what
was lately the rebel army of the Potomac, as
it is the junction of the O,sge and Alexan-
drla with the Virginia Central R. r.
The only point at which they can, with
any degree Of confidence, attempt to make a
stand, IS near the junction of the Frederick
and Potomac with the Central Virginia R. r.,
in which neighborhood the North Anna and
South Anna rivers unite, and upon the Pana-
ma, Ky, river, about 20 miles directly north
of Richmond. At this point the country is
much broken, and admirably fitted for de-
Tense.
1t is reported that in their retreat the rebels
have de troyed the railroad bridge across the
north branch of the Rappahannock. In their
haste they have left behind struggling parties
Of soldiers, who seem very glad to be made
pr soners.
" Wherever they have gone, it is evident
their army is completely dcmoralized and ut.
terly unfit for service. The effect of the re-
treat from Manassas to Richmond will be the
same throughout the South as it is in this
part Of Virginia, and the impr ssion prevails
that the Southern Confede, acy has collapsed
and many Of the people thank God for it.
The forts are abandoned, but log huts, hun.
dreds in number, and ample 10 accommodate
fully 10000 troops, sill remain; also i'm
mcnse numbers of tents, heaps of dead hor-
ses, &c, cover he fields in the vicinity. The
log huts are strewn all along between Center
vile and Manassas The railroad track is
except the bridges The stone
bridge across Bull Run, on the Warrington
is blown up, as is also the bridge
across Cub river.
Between Centcrville and Manassas were in
dicatlons Of precipitate fl ght of the rebels.
me caisons were found but no guns. Pile,
Of bullets and cartridges were left, and an
immense quantity of Quartermaster's stores.
In one place Was discovered about 10000
bushels Of corn which had been set Gre, and
was still smouldering.
Among the trophies are pack saddles, army
orders. muskets, revo vers, bowie-knivcs, let
.ers. Over 1000 pack sad les were found,
III new, and marked sc. S. A."
The people in the vicinity state that prior
20 the evacuation there were 100000 troop
It Manassas and Centerville.
Two Pennsylvania regiments of cavalry
we're the first Union troops entering Center
vile.
At Brentsville, four miles from Manassas.
. home guard had been organized to protect
themselves against the secessonists.
Gen. Mcclellan has taken up his head
quarters at Fairfax Court House.
A despatch has been received here contra.
Letting tie announcement that Winchester
vas occupied by our troops, and stating that
is held by rebel force. 1t is believed
lere by the best informed critics on military
fairs, that the rebels there are simply por
ion Of tn, Virginia militia, left there to GOV.
r the retreat of the main body of the rebels
t is not probable that any considerable force
Vould be main,a ned in that part of Virginia
hands the only railroad avenue thence to
WASHINGTON, March II.
The following orders, by the President,
'ere published by authority in the Iateili
encer this morning. Their importance and
caring are manifest:
War G ,zErrE-PuBLrs ED sr AUTHORITY.
Executtve Observation-Disclosures, Jan. q, 1867 \
HE PRESIDENTS GENERAL WAR ORDER NO. /.
1t is Ordered, That on the 22d day Of Feb
lary, 1852, there tie general movement OF
he land and naval forces of the United
tates aga nst the insurgent forces. that es-
ecially the army at and about Fortress Mon
We, the army cf the Potomac, of Western
rgin,a, the army near Munfordsvlllc, Ken
lcky, the army and flotila at Cairo and ma
Il force in the Gulf of Mexico, be ready for
movement on that day. That all the other
rces both land and naval, with their respec-
We commanders, obey the existing order for
le time, and be ready t. obey additional or
rs when given. That the heads of depart.
ents, and especially the Secretary of War
I'd the Navy, with all the S sbordinates, and
g Genera-in-Chief, with other ,mmanders
ID subordinates Of the land and naval for
s, will severally be held to their strict and !
Il responsibilities for the prompt execution :
this order. Signed,
ABRAHAM LINCOLN. u :
EXECUTIVE MANSION, tr
WASHINGTON, March Sth 1852 !: