Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1862-03-18

Iue HIuEnS LuhL' nave Oeen sounded by men
who, if tue Yankees should get here, would
be the firstto swear allegiance to Lincoln"
ON THE BATTLEFIELD.
a1.- 4l
Correspondence Of the Philadelphia Press.)
aii CENTREvILLE, Va, March II, 1862.
have been rambling this glorious after
noon over tue fatal field of Bull Run, and
roaming through the country hereabouts.
The weather has all the sweetness and
temper of u pleasant summer day, aud the
coy and bracing breeze that comes down.
from the mountains sends new life into the
veins, and bUoyancy into every nerve
Those mountainsI distant, dim and blue!
they trace their rugged and ragged peaks
along the horizon, and seem uaturcs type
of calm sublimity. Who does not love
these cloud-wrapped homes of freedom r.
In all ages of the world, tho mountains and
the mountaineers lave preserved indenen-
dence and civilization and religious liber-
", and wherever, in this Republic, these
majestic peaks exist, liberty and loyalty
exist among them. The heights of Gem
treville are but the commencement of a
series of bills which roll and smell until
they reach the high mountain ridges. The
view is comprehensive and magnificent
until il abruptly terminates in the forests
and fastuesses near Manassas. We pass
down the old road, along which the centre
of McDOwelPs column advanced, and by
which the retreat of the panic stricken
teamsters took place, On the left, Mt the
top of hill, are BeauregRrd's old head
quRrters-deserted and lonely. A little
farther on is a small frame house where Il
negro family resides. The father beckous
smilinglyi from his door as we pass along
Z l. ns,fRS
grass, shouting heedlessly. Most of the
fences have been demolished. The race of
fences in this part of Virginia seems to
have expired--some are in primary state
of decay, some are in q secondary state,
while most of them have passed away and
left no token.
We ride along the ascending and de-
scending road. It is covered with eviden-
ces of the haste aud waste attending the
retreating rebel army. Shattered pots and
kettles, half burned out equipages, torn
cartridge boxes and hayersacks, remnants.
of old clothing, hats, shoes, pipe heads and
stems, bones and biscuit, horse-shoes and
tattered harness, strew. the road in great
protusion. There ore long lines of rebel
encampments. Whatever may. be said of
the rebel soldiers, it must be admitted that
they passed the winter in ~ very comtorta-
Bile manner. Their quarters are commo-
dions and compact, and consist of log
walls aud partitions deusely ,plnstered with
mud and mortar.
Inside berths were erected and furnaces
were buried in the earth. Large chimueys
projected from tue roof, and in most of the
buildings there were one or two windows.
Many of the encampments are in the mid
die Of forest, occupying picturesque po-
sitious. They were left in great haste, but,
with tho exception OF those around Manas-
sas, none were burned. l should think,
from my own hasty observation, that there
are buildings enough now standing, and in
good order, to accommodate fifty thousand
men. Indeed, from CentreviIle to Bull
Run, the line Of encampments was coutin-
uous.. expressed some surprise to Vir-
gintan, with whom L rode part of the way,
at the huts being unframed. He replied
by saying, that when the retreat was srder-
ed, on Saturday, express orders were Civ
en-, by General johnson, not to destroy
anything. as he intended to return again
very soon. 'fBut, guess he changed his
mind when he got to Manassas" said my
companion, very quietly, "for then he COM
menced burning, aud be. keeps it up all the
way, along" 1t was painful to see tue
number of dead horses lying around. Ia
every field they were fostering away.-
/ IleY !, ,uau uleu. IRON. sQVerWOrk-ItOm a
want OF, food and attention, aud from bru-
tality.. The sight was extremely painful,
and it was always present. :. -.
stopped at the hospital. cottage. 1t was
here where the dead and wounded were
brought, during the battle. The former
owner had moved away, and it was now
occupied by family of negroes. A mum!
Der of our soldiers were sitting on the
porch, summing themselves and eating a
lunch of biscuit and bacon. The well
where waters soothed the thirsty agony of
many of our brave soldiers in their dying
hours, was still there but very much dfl
IapidGted. AT Cub Run the bridge had
been destroyed by FIRE. and we were COM
PEELED to ford the water to reach the other
side. Cub Run is o marrow, shallow, in
significant stream, which empties into Bull
Ron. Beyond this the Ohio troops had
held position on the day of the fight. To
the right, Sherman's battery was planted.
When we came to Bull Run, we found the
massive stone bridge, which had been the
scene of q. fierce conflict in the early part
of the contest, blown up: The timbers
we're shattered, broken, and SCARED with
powder. The stream is deep, rapid, and
limpetnous. On the oPposi bank, high
bluff arises, covered with scanty foliage,
and overhung in some SplaCes with trees
and shrnbberyy Crossing aabroad and
opeu field, We came to Blnckburn's ford. -