THE PRESS. PUBLISHED DAILY, (SUNDAYS EXCEPTED,) BY JOHN W. FORNEY, OFFICE No. 41* OinWTNUT STREET. THE DAILY PRESS, #lr*LT» Ousts Pbr W?ek, payable to tbe Carrier. Hailed to subscribers oat of tbe City at Sis Dollars git Amroxt Four Dollars roa Etonr Months, Dollars for Sis Months —invariably in ad vance for the time ordered. THE TRI-WEEKLY PRESS, Hailed to Subscribers out of the City at Turks DOL LARS Tmm Annum, in advance. COMMISSION HOUSES* COFFIN, & CO., 220 CHESTNUT STREET, Agents for the following makes of goods: PRINTS. DUNNELL MFC. CO GREENE MFC. 00. LAWNS. DUNNELL MFC, GO. BLEACHED”BOTTONSa Forestdale, Auburn, Slatersvillo, nentredalo, Jamestown, Blackstone, Hope, Red Bank, Dorchester, Newbury port, N&umeag, Zouave, Burtou, Greene 'Hfg. <O/8 A. A., B. A., C. A., and other styles. BROWN COTTONS. Sum side, Trent, Groton, Ashland, Chestnut, GlenYille, Mechanics’ and Farmers’. COSSET JEANS —Glasgow, Manchester. SZDENIMS AND STRIPES.—Grafton, Jewett City, •Sladieon, SUtersyille, Agawam, Keystone, Cheetaw, CANTON FLANNELS.—SlatersTlllo, Agawam. BILESIAS.—Smith’s, Social Go., Lonsdale Co. WOOLENS. ABUT BLUE CLOTHS, KERSEYS, and FLAN NELS. BROAD CLOTHS.—Plunketts’, Glenbam Co., &0. CASSIMEBES.—Gay A Son, Saxton’s Biver, Ac. BATINE'TS.—Baas River, Couveraville. Lower Val ley, Hope, StatTordrille, Converse and Hyde, Converse Bros. A Co.i Btiaw Hfg, Co. KENTUCKY JEANS.—Rodman, Mystic. Gold Medal. DOMEX FLANNELS.—WILLIAMS’S Angola, Sax *ony, Merino, and other styles: LONSDALE Nankeens and Colored Cambrics. PLAID LINSEYS, COTTONADES, Ac. [fe26-3m •QHIPLEY, HAZARD, & HUTCHINSON, No. 113 CHESTNUT STREET, COMMISSION MERCHANTS FOR THU SALE OF THILADELPHIA-MADE GOODS. seSB-Om MILITARY GOODS* KERSEYS. (27 and 51-INCH.) DARK-BLUE KERSEYS, DARK-BLUE INFANTRY CLOTHS, INDIGO-BLUE CAP CLOTHS, SKY-BLUE CASSIMERE3, (New Regulation, for Officers’ Pants.) WHITE DOMET FLANNELS, CANTON FLANNELS, 10oz„ 120 z., & 16oz. TENT DUCK. ■AH warranted United States Army standard. FOE SALE BY ALFRED SLADE & CO., 40 South FRONT Street, and 39 LETITIA Street, Phil adelphia. fe!B -1 myl PRESCOTT’S NAVY REVOLVERS. ' Large Stock of Prescott’s NAVY 4-inch and 8-inch Revolvers. Superior in every respect to any other PISTOL introduced. •COMPRISING STRENGTH, GENTILITY, ACTION, and ECONOMY ] Or. in other words, containing all thn exanltannios of •COLT’S, SMITH A WESTON’S, and ALL BN A WHEJbLOC’S, concentrated in one instruments thereby •making this PISTOL the most formidable weapon ever offered for sale. The largest assortment of Cartridges ever offered In the city of Washington, adapted te all CARTRIDGE PISTOLS. A very fine assortment of GOLD AND SILVER WATCHES, Imported by Fellows & Co., N«. 17 ftlaiden Laue, New York, expressly for the Bet nil Trade. A very fine assortment of Ladies* and Gents* dressing Oases £, A. 9T4BKWITATHISB, NATIONAL HOTEL, WASHINGTON, D. 0. Tel9-lm* ILLUMINATING OILS QIL! OIL.!! OIL!!! - HULBURT & BRODHEAD, K«. 240 ARCH STREET, Paying opened a General Depot for the Sale of Extra Refined and Lubricating GOAL OILS, would call tho special attention of dealers and consumers to their refined ILLUMINATING OIL, as it possesses merit Qeyond anything heretofore offered in this market, being •entirely free from that gluey substance and bad odor characterize that commonly sold in this market, produces no smoke, and is free from all explosive properties. Orders from City or Gonntry promptly at tmded to. ffe2B-Qhi « T UCIFER” OIL WORKS. JLi 100 Bbla. ** Lucifer” Burning Oil on band. We guarantee this oil to be non-explosive, to barn all the oil in the lamp with a steady, brilliant flame, with-rat crusting the wick, and bat slowly. Bbla. lined with gW enamel. WEIGHT, SMITH, £ PEARSALL. fc2l-tf Office 515 MARKET Street. riARBON AND COAL 01L5.—50,000 \j GALLONS now in store or delivered in Pittsburg. For Bale by WILLIAM M. WILSON, contracts maila with nhiopera for Oils deli« vered at the welts or at any Atlantic pork, in “glass bned ” barrels. fe22- tf CABINET FURNITURE riABINET FURNITURE AND BIL VV LIARD TABLES. MOORE & CAMPION, No. 261 South SECOND Street, In connection with their extensive Cabinet Business are now manufacturing a superior article of BILLIARD TABLES, And have now on hand a fall supply, finished with the UOORR A CAMPION’S IMPROVED CUSHIONS, which are pronounced, by all who have used them, to be ■nperior to all others. For the Quality and finish of these tables the mann« fbcturen refer to their numerowa pniroua Throughout the Union, who are familiar with the character of their work. fe26*6m LOOKING GLASSES. JAMES S. EARLE & SON, MANUFACTURERS AND IMPORTERS o r LOOKING GLASSES, OIL PAINTINGS, FINE ENGBAVINGB, PICTURE AND POBTBaIT FRAMES, PHOTOGRAPH FBAUES, FBOTOGBAPH ALBUMS, CARTE-DE-YIijlTE PORTRAITS, EARLE’S GALLERIES, 816 CHESTNUT STREET. i«l6 PaiLADEI.PHIA. PROGS AND CHEMICALS* ROBERT SHOEMAKER & GO.. Northeast Corner FOURTH and BACK Streets, PHILADELPHIA, WHOLESALE DRUGGISTS, IMPORTERS AND DEALERS in FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC WINDOW AND PLATE GLASS. MANUFACTURERS OF WHITE LEAD AND ZINC PAINTS, PUTTY, Ac. mill FOB til CBLEBRATBD FRENCH ZINC PAINTS. Dealers and consumers .applied at VERY LOW PRICES FOR CASH. f«13~2m >, DRY AND IN LE Bed Load, White Lend, Litharge, Bngar o( Lead, GU^or'vftrfol, White Precipitate, Lunar Caustic, Narco tine, Bulph. Morphine, Morphine, Acetate Morphine, Lao. Sulph.v Ether Sulphuric, Xther Nitric, Bulphate Quinine, Oonro. Sublim., Denarcotized Opium, Ohloiide of Soda, Wetherill’a ext. Gioaha. Tartar Emetic. Chloride of Lime. Crude Borax, Refined Borax, Camphor, Beain Co pa via. LL A BBOTHSB, mfjfeeturing Ohemiats, North SECOND Street, PHTLADETdPHIA. Calomel, Patent Yellow, Chrome Bed, Chrome Fellow, Aqua Forth, Muriatic Acid, Eyeoas Salta, Bochella Salta, Tuiub Acid, Onog. Mineral, Soluble Tart. Sub. Garb. Soda, White Vitriol, Bed Precipitate, WETHBRI Druggist, and Mai Hoe. 47 and 48 laU-tf 'DILL-HEAD PRINTING, BEST -MJ and Cheapest In the dry. tot BING WALT I gBGJP’APIfIoBfiiIBIBDGtmi «*••_, 1862. SI>RINa * 1862. IMPORTERS AND JOBBERS OF SILKS AND JfANOY PRESS GOODS, We invito tho attention ol tho trade to a full line of BLACK AND OTHER STAPLE SILKS, As also a great variety of NEW STYLES OF DRESS GOODS, Bought for caßh, mid which will bo offered on tlio most favorable terms. fe2s-3m SPRING GOODS. M. L. HALLO WELL & Co, 333 MARKET and 27 NORTH FOURTH STS., Wholesale Dealers in SILKS AND YANCY DRY GOODS, Have open a large variety of freshly-imported SPRING DRESS GOODS, To which, with a handsotno assortment of BLACK AND FANCY SILKS, SHAWLS, MANTILLAS, WHITE GOODS. EMBROIDERIES, And other goods in thoir line, they invite the attention of city and country dealers. mh4-tf yARD.GHXMORE, & Co., Nos. 617 CHESTNUT and 614 JATNE Stroota. Have now open their SPRING IMPORTATION OF SILK AND FANOT DRESS GOODS, SHAWLS, WHITE GOODS, LINENS, EMBROIDERIES, &o. Bought in Europe, by one cf the firm. To which the attention of the trade is particularly in vited. fe2l-?m 2Y A N D 5- inc h " GENTS’ FURNISHING GOODS - """ JjTLANNEL OVER-SHIRTS FOR THE ARMY. FINE SHIRTS, collaub, btocks, AND WRAPPERS, Manufactured at W. W. KNIGHT’S. NO. 600 ARCH STREET. %r A full line of TIES, SCARFS. GLOVES, SUSPENDERS, HOSIERY, AND UNDERCLOTHING, Always oh hand. mhs 3mlf Fine shirt manufactory. The subscriber would invite attention to hie IMPBOVKD CUT OF BHIRTB, Which he makes a specialty in hi. business. Also, eon. Itantlr receiving _ ' NOVELTIES FOB GENTLEMEN'S WEAR. J. W. SCOTT, GENTLEMEN’S FURNISHING STOSS, No. 814 CHESTNUT STREET, JeD-tf Four door, below the Oontlnental- QX.EN ECHO MILLS, GERMANTOWN, PA. McCALLUM & Co.. MANUFACTURERS, IMPOBTEEB, AND DEALERS 508 CHESTNUT STREET. (Opposite Independence Hall,) CARPETINGS, OIL CLOTHS, &c. We have now on hand an extensive stock of Carpetings, of our own and other xnakeß, to which we call the atten tion of cash and short-time buyers. mh7-3m 203 MARKET Street. ■pOURTH-STREET CARPET STORE, No. «T ABOVE CHESTNUT, No. 4T. J. T. DELACROIX Invites attention to bis Spring Importation of CARPETINGS. Comprising every style, of the Newest Patterns and Design*, in VELVET, BRUSSELS, TAPESTRY BRUS SELS, IMPERIAL TBhEE-PLY, and INGRAIN CARPETINGS. VENETIAN and DAMASK STAIR CARPETINGS. f;u. SCOTCH BAG and LIST CARPETINGS. FLOOR OIL CLOTHS, in every width. COCOA and CAN lON MATTINGS. DOOB-MATS, RUGS, SHEEP SKINS, DRUGGETS, and CRUMB CLOTHS. AT WHOLESALE AND RETAIL. LOW FOR CASH. J. T. DELACROIX, mhs>4m 47 South FOURTH Street. CARPETINGS. J.F.& E. B. ORNE, NO. 519 CHESTNUT STREET, (OPPOSITE STATE BOUSE,) Have received, per steamer Edinburgh) and other late arrivals, their SPRING IMPORTATION OF NEW CARPETINGS: CROSSLEI’S YARD-AND-A-HALF-wide velvets, 9-4 MEDALLION DO., ENGLISH BRUSSELS, EXTRA-QUALITY TAPESTRY, BRUSSELS CARPETS, WITH BORDERS, (of new designs, for Halls and Stairs). INGRAIN AND THREE-PLY CARPETINGS, of extra Quality. ALSO, 500 PS. J. CROSSLEY & SON’S TAPESTRY BRUSSELS CARPETS, FROM 871 TO Si PR- YD., Together with a complete AeidrtiAehfc of OIL CLOTHS, STAIR AND FLOOR DRUGGETS, BUGS, MATS, AO., All of new, choice selections, and AT MODERATE PRICES. J. P, & E. B. ORNE. mb3-tf OPPOSITE STATE HOUSE. ICCO SPRING STQCK 10£0 AOU/W. COMPLETE. -LOU/W. No. 600 and 602 MARKET Street, B. W. corner of A large and complete stock. The best terms and the lowest prices. Cash and prompt “ time buyers'* ore particularly invited to exßmine our stock. mhl-2m SARD IKES.—3O Cases Half and Quarter boxes Sardines of favorite brands, fresh im portation. in store and for. sale by RHODES A WILLIAMS, mUQ IQ7 South WATER Street. YOL. 5.-NO. 187. DRY-GOODS JOBBERS. W. S. STEWART & CO., NO. 30.7 MARKET STREET. WHOLESALE HOUSES. SKY-BLUE KERSEYS, 6UPERFINK INDIGO-BLUE SATINETS, BLACK CADET AND OXFORD Do. PRINTED Do, in variety. BLACK AND FANCY MIXED DOESKINS. FANCY CASSIMERES AND MELTONS. IK STORE, AND FOR SALE BT JOSEPH LEA, Te2o-lf 198 AND 130 CHESTNUT STREET CARPETS AND OIL CLOTHS. HATS AND CAPS, C. H. GARDEN & Co., Manufacturers of and wholesale Dealers in HATS, CAPS, AND FURS; STRAW GOODS, FANCY SILK AND STRAW BONNETS, Artificial Flowers, Baches, Feathers, Ac., SIXTH Street. Jims. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 1862. Forever float that standard Hhect ! Where breathes the foe but falls before ua ‘1 With Freedom's soil beneath our foot, And Freedom's bauuer streaming o'er us 2 OUR LATE VICTORIES! GREAT BATTLE AT PEA RIDGE, ARK. THREE DAYS HARD FIGHTING ! OFFICIAL REPORT OF GEN. CURTIS. The Rebels Commence the Attack. ABLE STRATEGY OF THE U. S. FORCES. THE ENEMY COMPLETELY ROUTED BY A CHARGE OF INFANTRY. Heavy Losses on Both Sides. The Rebel Stronghold Abandoned. MANASSAS JUNCTION EVACUATED, ITS OCCUPATION BY OUR FORCES. Strength and Strategic Value of the Position. HISTORY OF ITS FORTIFICATION AND FIRST DEFENCE. &c., &c., &c. Official Report of General Curtis of the Victory in Arkansas. St. Louis, March 11.— Tho following is the offi cial report of G en. Curtis, of the battle of Pea ltidge, in the mountains of Arkansas : IfK&I.qvAIITKRS OF TTIF -\t.MV OF TQO SOOTUWK3T, ) Tba Biogs, Aikansas, March 9. 1 General : On Thursday, tho 6th inat., tho enemy commenced an attack on my right, assailing and following tho rear guard of the detachments under General Sigel to my main lines, on Sugar Crook Hollow, but sensed firing when he mot my rein forcements, about four o’olock P. M. Duiing the night I became convinced that he had moved on, so as to attack my right or rear. There fore, early on the 7th, I ordered a chance of front to the right on my right, which thus becoming my left, still rested on Sugar Creek Hallow. This brought my line aoross Pea Ridge, with my new right resting on the head of Cross Timber Hollow, -which is iLo Load of Dig Sugar Creek. I also or dered an advance of cavalry and light artillery, under Col. Osterhnns, with orders to attack and breuk what we supposed would be the reinforced line of the enemy. This movement was in progress when the enemy, at 11 o’clock A. M., commenced an attack on my right. The fight continued wwmly at these points during tho day, the enemy having gained the point held in command by Col. Carr, on Cross Timber Hallow, bub were entirely repulsed with the fall of the rebel commander, McCulloch, in the centre, by the forces under Col. Jeff C. Davis, of Missouri. The plan of attack on tho centre wad gallantly carried forward by Col. Osterhaus, who was imme diately sustained and superseded by Col. Davis’ entire division, supported also by Gen. Sigel’s com mand, which had remained till near the close of the day, on the left. Col. Carr’a division held tho right under a gal ling and continuous fire all day. Iu ihe evening, the firing having entirely ceased in the centre, and the right being now on the left, I reinforced the right by a portion of the second di vision, under General Asboth. Before the day closed, I was convinced that the enemy had con centrated his main force on the right; therefore I commenced another change of front forward, so as to face the enemy where he had deployed on my right flank in strong position. The chaoge had been partially effcoted, but was fully in progress, at sunrise on the Bth. my right and centre renewed firiDg, which was immediately answered by the ene my, with renewed energy, along the whole extent of his line. My Mf, under General gigel, moved close to the hills occupied by the enemy, driving Mm from the heights, and advancing steadily toward the head of the Hollows. I immediately ordered the centre and right wing forward, the right wing turning the left of the enemy and cross firing in his centre. This final position placed the enemy in the arc of a circle. A ebarge of infantry, extending throughout the whole line, completely routed the entire rebel -force, which retired in complete confusion, but rather Eafely, through the deep, impassable-defiles of Cross Timbers. Our less was heavy. That of the enemy «au never be ascertained, for the dead are scattered over a large field. Their wounded, too, may, many of them, perish. The foe is scattered in all directions, but I think his main fores has returned to the Boston Moun tains. General Sigel follows the enemy toward Keithsville, while my cavalry is pursuing him to wards the mountains, scouring the oountry, bring ing in prisoners, and trying to find the rebel Major General -Van Born, who had command of the en tire force of the enemy at this battle at Pea Ridge, I have not, as yet, statements of the dead and wounded, so as to justify a report; but I will refer you to a despatch which I will forward very soon. The officers and soldiers under my command have displayed such unusual gallantry, that I hardly daro to make a distinction. I must, however, name the oommanders of the divisions: General Sigel, who gallantly carried ihe right and drove back the left wing of the enemy, and General Asboth, who was wounded in the arm in his gallant effort to re inforce ihe right; Colonel and acting Brigadier General Davis, who commanded the centre, when McCulloch fell, on the 7th, and pressed forward the centre ~on the Bih; Colonel and noting Briga dier General Carr, who is also wounded in the arm, and was under the continuous fire of the enemy during the two hardest days of the struggle. Illinois, Indiana, lowa, Ohio, and Missouri may proudly share the honor of the victory whioh their gallant heroes won over the oombined force of Yan born, Price, and McCulloch, at Pea Ridge, in the mountains of Arkansas. I have the honor to be, General, your servant, Samuel R. Curtis, Brigadier General Commanding. THE OCCUPATION OP MANASSAS BY OUR FORCES. Washington, March 11.—Manassas has been evacuated by the rebels, and our forces have taken peaceful possession. There are bb yet no details concerning the occu pation of Manassas by our troops. The rebels had all Bed, precipitately, before our forces took i>os session, abandoning their fortifications at Centre ville, as well as those on the Lower Potomac. It is believed that they are in full retreat, and will not stop short of Richmond, if they even do there. Washington, March 11—12 o’clock. —The fol lowing details have just boen made public : Quite a number of the enemy’s pickets, who did not join in the panic, have just been brought in to headquarters. They confirm the report that the rebels fled in great fright and oonfueion, leaving arms, oannon, provisions, etc. The Pennsylvania Cavalry, probably Colonel Awrill’s regiment, were the first Federal troops to enter Manassas last night. They are of opinion that their troops will not Btop short of Richmond. The prisoners are an ignorant-looking set of men, clothed in negro clothing. There was little or no picket-firing as our army advanced, the rebel pickets falling back before them. As our troops entered Manassas, straggling squads of the enemy could he eeeain full retreat. PHILADELPHIA, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 1862. The Rebel Exodus* The advance of the Potomac army and Ks sue coFsfnl occupation of Manassaa—the Gibraltar of the rebellion —has occasioned us little surprise. Wo were prepared for such a movement by the recent bulletin of Secretary Stanton to the newspapers. We had not expected, however, that such a splen did success would have been achieved without the Bring of a gun, or the taking of a single lifo, That the magnitude of this bloodless victory may be right y appreciated, we have prepared tho annexed history of tbe geographical position, fortification, defence, and final abandonment of the post. Position anil Strategic Value of Manassas. If the reader will take a good map of Virginia, ho will find that this semi-circular shape of the Po tomac continues down nearly to Aoquia Greek, and as far up as Harper's Ferry, the greatest curve, however, being between Occoquan river (into which Bull Run empties), sumo 15 or 18 miles bolow Wash* ingtoD, to Leesburg, about 25 above it. Within this space it approaches a half circle, on the out side of which is Washington, and on the inside, somewhat south of the centre, and respectively IS, 25, and 32 miles out. are Fairfax. Ceptreyi!ie f and Manama* A line drawn from the mouth of tho Occoquan river to Leesburg would pass between Fairfax and Centreville. while Manassas is not much farther from Leesburg than it is from Wash ington, and is still nearer the mouth of the Occo quan, as well as Dumfries, another point still fur ther down. Thus with Manassas, Centreville, and Fairfax, as a base of operations, bodies of men cau be thrown out with about equal facility from any poiut from Occoquan river to Leesburg, between which their main lines extend, or cun be concentrated as easily at any point within the semi-circle; or the wings of the wrwy con revolve to meet an attack from any portion of it as far west as the Blue Ridge, and north to its junction with the Potomac. The face of the country, after leaving tho Poto mac bottoms, as you advance into the iaterior, is hilly, and covered for the most part with a dense growth of either hard timber or old field pines. These pines, which form a dense thicket, impene trable by cavalry, must not be confounded with the pine belonging to the original forests, and which is getting very scarce in those parts. The old field pines have only sprung up within the last seventy years, on fields worn out by cultivation, being en tirely unknown before that period. While our Government was deficient, in cavalry last summer, they afforded an excellent cover for our infantry scouts, which caused the rebel cavalry to give them a wide berth. When they had to be passed, a fa vorite plan was to send some farmer auead on foot and in his shirt sleeves, so as not to excite suspi cion. if no danger lurked in ambush, tho cavalry followed. On the 22d of July the special correspondent of The Press furnished tho following description of Manassas, which is more complete than the above : The great body of the Southern levies have-been centred at Manassas, skirting Bull Run, ville, Butler’s Ford. Centreville, and the Occoquan river. Nature has been lavish in strengthening this district as a defensive position. Immediately before Manassas there is a succession of equi-dis tnnt hills, in front of which there is said to be a ra vine so deep and so thickly wooded that it i§ paya ble to an army only at two points, and those two gorges which a company of men could almost de fend against a whole army. Months of preparation have enabled General Beauregard to add to these natural defences others of a more ioiportantnature. These defences were said, by Southern journal?, to be a line of forts, two miles in extent, zig-zag in form, with angles, salients, bastions, casemates, and everything properly belonging to the art of fortifi cations. In addition to this, the country is admira bly adapted to the subsistence and entrenchment of troops in numbers as large as they can easily be manoeuvred on the battle-field. To drive the rebels from this position has been tbe intention of the Government in all its opera' tioDS along the Potomac shore. Such a course has been a necessity, as at Manassas the commanding officer holds the key to the surrounding country, aud 80 lung as the rebel flag is floating over it, tho flag of the Union could never be respected in Western Virginia. The duty of driving these traitors from this position has been assigned to General McDowell ; and, in pursuanoe of this purpose, General McDowell has extended his base* line of operations to Centreville. The assault on Bull Run was a part of his plan, and & prelude to the great engagement of Sunday. Butl Run is nothing more than a small stream which crosses the road from Centrevillo, constituting a kind of ravine, and iB buried between dense masses of forest and shrubbery. Iu this woodland a power ful battery had been constructed, to oppose any attempt of the Government forces to threaten Ma nassas. It was the advanced battery of the great line of rebel batteries extending to the Junction. The action on Friday did not succeed in its capture, and, in order to avoid the great and unnecessary lore of life, which tbe success of such an effort would entail, it was determined, in the operations of Sun day, to aVold it as much as possible—to extend the lino against Manassas by a more northerly route from Centrevillo, and to take it‘by a m*o«-«- jpexit, oi- vouspvi me enemy to abandon his position. This latter result was accomplished, and the battery was abandoned. Description or centreville and Adjacent Country* Upon the day following the battle of Bull Run, the special correspondent of The Press wrote the following graphic description ot Centrerilte and the surrounding country; Centreville is a small village, about four miles from Bull Run, and within seven or eight miles of Manassas Gap Junction, the centre of General Beauregard's position as commander-in-chief of the rebel forces. It commands a magnificent view —one seldom seen in the east part of Virginia. The approach from Fairfax Court House is through a succession of hills, covered in many parts with deme forests of timber, and occasionally showing evidences of civilization in large wheat-fields, small, aristocratic mansions, and ungathered crops of new-mown hay. The plain beyond Centreville is an extensive one, and will be memorable in his tory as the scene of the greatest battle ever fought on the American continent. It is bounded by the Blue Ridge, whose shelving and uneven summit family lines the horizon. It is watered by streams which rise in the mountain and flow into the Poto mac, and is divided into fields of grain, pasture, and meadow. At almost regular iatervats the plain itself into graduajiy-gioping hillocks, most of which aie covered with timber. Towards Occoquan especially the country is densely wooded, and we can but occasionally see a road or a field, even with the aid of the most powerful glass. In this romantic and beautiful district, the rebels bad determined to show their first organized oppo sition to the Federal Government. Fairfax, Alex* abdria, and the intervening points were but mere picket stations, as it were, intended only as a menace and a monitor Their occupation by the Government forces was but weakly contested, and they were illy defended. Strength of Manassas before the Battle. The New Orleans Picayune , of the 14th of July, had a Utter from a special correspondent at Manas sas Junction, dated July 7th. We make the follow ing extract, which will give a complete idea of the strength of the position: This place still continues tbe headquarters of the army of tbe Potomac. There are many indications of an intended forward movement, tbe better to in vite the enemy to an engagement, but the work of fortification still continues. By nature, tbe posi tion is one of tbe strongest that could have been found in the who!s State. About half way between tbe eastern spur of tbe Blue Ridge and tbe Poto mac, below Alexandria, it commands the whole country between so perfectly that there is scarcely a possibility of its being turned. The right wing stretches off towards tbe headwaters of the Occo quan, through a wooded country, whioh is easily made impassable by the felling of trees. The left is a rolling table land, easily commanded from the successive elevations, till yon reach a country so rough and so rugged that it is a defence to itself. The key to tbe whole position, in fact, is precisely that point which General Beauregard chose for ita centre, and which he has fortified so strongly that, in the opinion of military men, 5,000 men could there hold 20,000 at bay. The position, in fact, is fortified in part by Na ture herself. It is a succession of hills, nearly equidistant from each other, in front of which is a ravine so deep and so thickly wooded that it ia only passable at two points, and those through gorges which fifty men can defend against a whole army. ,It was at one of these points that the Washington Artillery were at first encamped, and though only half the battalion was then there, and we had only one company of infantry to support ns, we slept as sonndly nnder the protection of our gnus as if we had been in a fort of the amplest di mensions. Of the fortifications superadded here by General Beauregard to those of nature, it is, of oourse, not proper for me to speak. The general reader, in fact, will have a sufficiently.precise idea of them by conceiving a line of forts some two miles in ex tent, zigzag in form, with angles, salients, bastions, casemates, and everything that properly belongs to works of this kind. The strength and advantages of this position at Manassas are very much Increased by the fact that fourteen miles further on is a position of simitar formation, while the country between is admirably adapted to the subsistence and entrenchment of troops, in numbers as large as they can easily be manoeuvred on the real battle-field. Water is good and abundant; forage such as is everywhere found in the rich farming districts of Virginia, and com* mmiicaiion with all parts of the country easy. Here, overlooking an extensive plain, watered by mountain streams which ultimately find their way to the Potomac, and divided into verdant fields of wheat and oats and corn, pasture and meadow, are the headquarters of the advanced forces of the army of the Potomac. They are South Carolinians, Louisianians, Alabamians, Mis eiarippians, and Virginians, for the most part; the first two, singularly enough, being in front, and that they will keep it. their friends at home may reßt assured. Never have I seen a finer body of men—men who were more obedient to discipline or breathed a more self-sacrificing patriotism. As might be expected from the skill with whioh be bas chosen bis position) and the system with wbich he encamps and moves his men. General Beauregard is very popular here. I doubt if Na poleon himself had more the undivided confidence of his army. By nature, as also from a wise policy, he is very reticent. Not an individual hero knows his plans or a single move of a regiment before it is made, and then only the colonel and his men know where it goes to. Tbero is not a man here who can give anything like a satisfactory answer how many men he has, or where his exact lines are. For the distance of fourteen miles around, you see tents everywhere, nod from them you can make a rough estimate of his men, bnt tow many more are en camped on the by-roads and in the forests none can tell. Tbe new comer, from what he sees at first glance, puts down tbe number at about 30,000 men ; those who have been here longest estimate his force at 40,000, 50,000, and some even at 00,000 strong. And there is the same discrepancy as to the quantity of bis artillery. So close does the General keep his affairs to himself, his left hand hardly knows what his right hand doeth, and so jealous is be of bis prerogative of a commanding officer that I verily believe if he suspected his cent of any acquaintance with the plans revolving with in him, he would oast it from him. Advance or the Union Army. July 16.—The Federal army in Virginia took up tbe line of march for Fairfax and Manassas to-day. The foroe is fully 50,000 strong, the number reach ing by actual count about 53,000. These are about 3,000 regular infantry, cavalry, add artillery, aad 50,000 volunteers. The two Rhode Island, the Seventy-first New York, and the Second New Hampshire, comprising 001. Burnside’s brigade, left Washington at 4 o’olock this afternoon, and struck the road for Fairfax Court House The Twenty seventh New York went over at 5 o’clock, and also took tho Fairfax route. As soon as these regi ments came together and passed the enoampment, the soldiers cheerod lustily, and shouted eongratu* lations to each other that they were fairly on the road to the rebel oapital. The De Kalb Regiment passed over the bridge, and wont into Camp Run yon. July 17.—The advance column of the National army occupied Fairfax Court HousOi Va.* at eleven o’clock to-day, meeting with no opposition from the Confederates either on the march or in taking pos session of the place. Trees had beep fejled fleros? tho road an<| prepaVallons made at one point tor A battery, but Inore were no guns or troops on tho route. Tho Confederates were drawn up beyond the town and a battle waa expected, but aa the Na tionalfofces pressed on they retreated. The cavalry followed them some miles toward Centreville, but the heat of the weather and the previous long march prevented tbe infantry following. The abandon ment of the village by the Confederates was so sud den that they left behind g6me portions of their provisions, entrenching tools, and camp furni ture. The army advances in three coluums, one on the Fairfax road, and tho others to the north and south of the road. The advance will be continued to Centreville. eight miles beyond Fairfax, where tbe Confederates will probably make a stand if they design attempting to bold Mantissas Janction. The only casualties reported by General McDowell are an officer and three men slightly wounded. July 18.—The Federal ’army left Fairfax Court House, Virginia, this morning, and took up its line of march in the direction of Centrevillo. General McDowell, in a despatch to headquarters at Wash ington, gives the position of the several divisions of his army to day. The Battle of Bull Run. July 21— This day the battle of Bull Run, Vir ginia, was fought, between tne national forces un der General McDowell and tbe rebels under Beau regard.l Shortly after 5 A. M, three hours later than ordered, the national army moved from Cen treville. in three divisions, commanded respectively by Gens. Richardson, Tyler, ADd Hunter. Richard son's (one brigade) moved on tbe road from. Centre* ville to Manassas, to where that road crosses Bull Run, at Blackburn’s Ford, and there opened fire upon the enemy with artillery. This movement, the extreme loft of all the operations of the day, was in tended as & feint, and to hold the enemyin check in case of disaster to the national forceson tbe right, as the enemy’s movement forward here would imperil tbe retreat. Tyler’s division (three brigades and tWQ United States batteries) moved on the Warrenton turnpike to the Stone Bridge that crosses Bifll Ruu. Beyond this bridge the enemy was in position with artillery, and bad impeded the road by a heavy abatis. Hunter’s division, (five brigades, four bat teries and cavalry,) which was tbe main body, moved along the SBiae roud with Tyler’g division until they had crossed a* small stream called Cub Run, and then between Cub Run and Bull Run, turn ed off to tbe right, and made its way through the woods to a position on Ball Run, three miles above the Stone Bridge. At this point, Sad ley’s Springs, there was an undefended ford, and here the men began to cross the stream. They got over very slowly, as many stopped to drink. Clouds of dust in the air indicated that the enemy was moving in force from Manassas toward the right, and it became possible that he would reach the point of passage and attack before the Union force was all serosa the stream; therefore the regiments were or dered to break from the line of march and cross separately, and a division under Col. Heintzelman moved forward, cnttiDg a road through the woods as it went toward a point on Bull Run, half way between the undefended fort at Sudley’a Springs ahd the St oh 6 Bridge. Gen. Tyler also was order ed to press his feint at Stone Bridge, in hope to divert some portion of the heavy force .that tne enemy was sending across the front toward the right. When the first brigade of Hunter’s com mand (Burnside’s) reached and formed in the open space beyond Bull Run, the rebels at once opened fire with artillery, and soon after with infantry* The national foroes received the enemy’s fire very steadily, and supported by a battalion of regular in fantry, and the first regiment that had crossed from Hemtzelman’s command, drove tbe enemy before it, and forced his position at the Scone Bridge. Thus two brigades (Sherman’s and Keyes’) of Gen. Tyler’s Division stationed on the Warren ton road, were enabled to cross, and to drive tbe right of the enemy, commanded by General Beaure gard in person, from the front of tbe field. The contest then became severe for a position in front and to the right of Stone Bridge, but to the left of the ford at Sad ley’s Springs. Here was a bill with a farm house on it; from behind this hill the enemy’s batteries annoyed the Union foroes. Upon it, therefore, the attaok was pressed very warmly by the brigades of Wilcox. Howard, Franklin, and Sherman, a part of Porter’s brigade, and the ca valry under Palmer, and by the Rhode Island, -Rickett’s. andGriffio's batteries. RicKettfs battery became an objeot of tbe enemy’s special attention, and he made strenuous attempts to oarry it. Three times he was repulsed, and the third time was even driven from his own position, and entirely from the hill. From the Stone Bridge west ward) the Warrenton road was now entirely in the possession of the national troops, and the en gineers were completing the removal of the abatis, that the remainder of Tyler’s Division (Schenck’s brigade and the batteries) might pass the bridge. The enemy was broken and disheartened. But it was now nearly 4 o’clock in the afternoon, and the Union men had been ia battle since ten o’clock in the morning, bod previously marched nine miles, and had made no regular meal. Some of the regiments also bad become shaken in the severe work that had been done, and were unsteady; and at this time the enemy received reinforcements from Winchester, being that portion of General Johnston’s command which had previously come up. These forces im zuedi&teiy attacked “on the right, and towards the rear of the right,” and opened a fire of musketry, which threw the Union men into disorder. From this disorder they never recovered. Though every effort was made to rally them, it was in vain with the bulk of the force; the battalion of regulars alone formed, and moved to the attack. They held the rebels in check for & short time, when, as it was evident that no more could be done, the order to retreAt was given. The retreat became a rout, and the rout a panic. Colonel Porter’s force of regulars still maintained their order, however, and covered the passage of tbe stream, beyond whioh it was covered by Richardson’s division, and a brigade (Blonker’s) of Miles’ division. The whole Union force, men of all arms, iu the main action, and exclusive of Richardson’s and Miles’ divisions, the actual force with which we crossed Bull Run, was 18,000 men. Those two di visions, if included, would swell the force to 35,000 men. One division of the army (Runyon’s) was left at Vienna, its foremost regiment being seven miles back of Centreville. Southern accounts of the battle make it appear that the rebels had 40,000 men upon the field, and 25,000 in reserve at Manassas, and on the road be yond. The national loss, in killed and wounded, was 1)090; Killed aloes, 470. Many of tbe wounds were very slight. The enemy reports his own loss at 1,593; killed alone, 393. F. G. T. Beauregard was promoted to the rank of general in the rebel army to-day. The New Or leans Delta in noting the fact says : “ We have been furnished with a copy of the letter of President Davis, written on the field of battle after the glo rious victory at Manassas, acquainting Brigadier General Beauregard of his promotion to the rank of general, the highest grade in tbe army of tbe Con federate States. This most richly deserved promo tion and honer could not be conveyed in more just, tasteful, and appropriate terms. The generals of the army of the Confederate States are Samuel Cooper, Robert E. Lee, Joseph E. Johnston, and P. G. T. Beauregard ” LETTER OF PRESIDENT DAVIS, Manassas, Va , July 21,1561. Sir : Appreciating your services in the battle of tfanas* sae, and on several other occasions during the existing war* as affording the highest evidence or yotir skill as a commands!, your gallantry as a soldier, and your zeal as a patriot, you are promoted to he geueral In the army of the Confederate States of America, and with tho con sent of Congress will be duly cominiisiened accordingly. Touts, Ac., Jrit. Davis. Gen. P. G. T. Beauregard, &o , Ac., Ac. General McDowell’s Official Report of the Bull Run Battle. Headquarters Dept. N. E. Virginia, Arlington, Va., August 4,1581. Lieut. Col. F'. D. Townsend, Assistant Adjutant Gooorai, llcod.juurtcis of (he Army, Washington, D. O. Colonel : I have the honor to submit the fol lowing report of the battle of the 21st of July, near Manassas, Virginia. It has been delayed till this time from the inability of the subordinate com manders to get earlier a true account of the state of their aommands. In my oommunioation to you of the 29th ult., f stated it as my intention to move that afternoon, and drive (he enemy from the east side of Bull Run, so as to enable the engineers to make a suffi ciently accurate reeonnolssAbeo to justify our fu ture movements. Later in the day they had ob tained enough information of the passage across the stream to dispense with this reconnoissanoe, and it was decided to move withont delay. It had been my intention to move the several oolumns out on the road a few miles on the evening of the 20th, so that they would have a shorter march in the morn ing ; but I deferred ta those who hid the greatest distance to go, and who preferred starting early in the morning, and making but one move. On the evening of the 20th ult., my command was nioßtly at or near Centreville. The enemy was at or near Manassas, distant from Centreville about seven miles to the southwest. Centreville is a vil lage of a few houses, mostly on the west side of a ridge running nearly north and south. The road from Centreville to Manassas Junction was along this ridge, and crosses Bull Run about three miles from the former place. Tbe VVarreuton turnpike, which runs nearly east and we9t, gees over this ridge, through the village, and orosses Bull Run about four miles from it. Bull Run having a course between the crossing from northwest to southeast. The First division (Tyler’s) was stationed on the north side of the Warrentou turnpike, and on the eastern slope of the Centreville ridge, two brigades on the same road, and a mile and anaif in advance, to the west of the ridge, and one brigade on the road from Centreville to Manassas where it crosses Bull Run, at Blaokburn’s ford, where General Tyler bad the engagement on the 18th ultimo. The Second division (Hunter’s) was on the Warrenton turnpike, one mile east of Centreville. The Third division (Heintzelman’s) was on a road known as tbe Old Braddock road, whioh comes into Centre yjlle from the spptheist, flbOUt a mile and a hajf from the village. The Fifth division (Miles’) was on the same road with the Third division, and be tween it and Centreville. A map whioh is herewith, marked A, will show these positions better than I can describe them. - On Friday night a train of subsistence arrived, and on Saturday its contents were ordered to be issued to tbe oommand, and the men required to have three days’ rations in their haversaoks. On Saturday orders were issued for the available foroe, to march. As reported to you in my letter of the’ I9th ult., my personal rooennoissance of the read to the south had shown that it was not practicable to carry out the original plan of turning the enemy’s position on their right. The affair of the 18th, at Blackburn’s Ford, showed he was too strong at that point for us to force a passage there without great loss, and, if we did, that it would bring us in ront of his strong position at Manassas, which was not desired. Our information was, that the stone bridge, over whioh the Warrenton road crossed Bull Run, to the west of Centreville, was defonded by a battery in position, and the road op h?a side of the stream impeded by a heavy abattis. The alter native was, therefore, to turn the extreme loft of his position. Reliable Information was obtained of an undefended ford about three miles above tbo bridge, there being another ford between it and the bridge, which was defended. It w&9, therefore, determined to take the road to the upper ford, and, after crossing, to get behind the forces guarding tbe lower ford and the bridge, and after occupying the Warrenton road, east of the bridge, to send out a force to destroy the railroad at or near Gainesville, and thus break up the communication between the enemy’s foroes at Manassas and thoso in the valley of Virginia, before Winchester, which had been held in check by Major General Patterson. Brigadier General Tyler was directed to move With three of his brigades on the Warrenton road, and commence eauoGH& l U ri S the enemy’s batteries, - while Hunter’s division, moving after him, should, after passing a little stream called Cub ruu, turn to the right and north, and move around to tho upper ford, and there turn south and get behind the enemy. Colonel Heintzelman’s division was to follow Hunter’s as far as the turning-off placo to tbe lower ford, where he was to cross after tho ene my should Lavs boon driven out by Hu&tofU divi sion, the Filth division (Milos’) to be in reserve on the Centreville ridge. General Tyler commenced with his artillery at half past bix A. M., but the enemy did not reply. After firing several times and obtaining no responso, I held one of Heintzelman’s brigades in reserve in case we should have te send any* troops back to re* inforce Miles’ division. The other brigades moved forward as directed in the general orders On reaching the ford, at Sudloy’s Spring, I found part of the leading brigade of Hunter’s division (Burn ride’s) had crossed, but the men were slow ia get ting over, stopping to drink. As at this time the clouds of dust from the direction of Manassas in dicated the immediate approach of a largo force; and fearing it might come down on the head of the column before the division could all get over and sustain it, orders were sent back to the heads of regiments to break from the column and come for? ward separately as fast as possible. Orders were sent by an officer to the reserve brigade of Heintzel xnsn’s division to come by a nearer road across the fields, and an aid-de-camp was sent to Brigadier General Tyler to direct him to press forward his attack, as large bodies of the enemy were passing ifi ffdfii 6f hlfii t 6 attack the division which had crossed over. Tbe ground between tbe stream aad the road leading from Sudley’s Spring south, and over which Burnside’s brigade marched, was for about a mile from the ford thickly wooded, whilst on the right of the road for about tho same distance the country was divided between fields and woods. Shortly after the leading regiment of the first brigade reached this open space, and whilst others and the second brigade were crossing to the front and right, the enemy opened his fire, beginning with artillery, and following it up with infantry. The leading brigade (Burnside’s) had to sustain this shock for a short time without support, and did it well. The b&ttall6fi 6f regular iuiaatry was sent to sustain it, and shortly afterwards the other corps of Porter’s brigade, and a regiment detached from Heintzelman’s division to tho left, forced the enemy back far enough to allow Sherman’s and Keyes’ brigades, of Tyler’s division, to cross from their position on the Warrentoh road. Those drove the right of the enemy, understood to have been commanded by Beauregard, from the front of the field, and out of the detached woods, and down to the road, and across it up the slopes on the other side. Whilst this was going on. Helntzalman’s di vision was moving down the field to the stream and up the road beyond. Beyond the Warrenton road, and to the loft of the road, down which our troops had marched from Sudley’s Spring, is a hill with a farmhouse on it. Behind this hill, tbe enemy had, early in the day, some of his most annoying batte ries planted. Across the road from this hill was another hill, or rather elevated ridge, or table of land. The hottest part of the contest was for the possession of this hill, with a house on it. The force engaged here was Heintzelman’s di vision, Wilcox’s and Ho ward’s brigades on the right, supported by part of Porter’s brigade and the ca valry under Palmer, and PriwfcJifl’B brigade of Heintzclman’B divUion, Sherman's brigade of Ty ler’s division in the centre and up the road, whilst Keyes’ brigade of Tyler’s division was on the loft, attacking the batteries near the stone bridge. The Rhode Island battery of Burnside’s brigade also participated in this attack by its fire from the north of the turnpike. The enemy was understood to have been commanded by J. £• Johnston. Rickett’s battery, which did such good service, was, together with Griffin’s battery, on the side of the hill, and became the object of the Bpecial attention of the enemy, who succeeded in disabling the battery, and then attempted to take it. Three times was he repulsed by different corps in succession, and driven back, and the guns taken by band, the horses being killed, and pulled away. The third timeic was supposed by ua all that the repulse wus final, for he was driven entirely from tbe hill, and so for beyond it as not to befin sight, and all were certain the day was ours. He had before this been driven nearly a mile and a half, and was beyond the Warrenton road, which was entirely in our possession, from the stone bridge, westward, and our engineers were just completing the removal of the abattis across the road to allow eur reinforcement (Shenck’s bri gade and Ayres’ battery) to join us. It was at this time that the enemy’s feloforee menis came to his aid from the railroad train, un derstood to have juat arrived fromjhe valley with tbe residue of Johnston’s army They threw them selves in the woods on our right, and towards the rear of our right, and opened a fire of musketry on our men, which caused them to break aad retire down the hillside. This soon degenerated into dis order, for which there was no remedy. Every effort was made to rally them, even beyond the reach of the enemy’s fire, but in vain. The bat talion of regular infantry alone moved up the hill opposite the one with the house on ir, and there main tained itself until our men could get down to and across the Warrenton. turnpike, on the way back to the position we occupied in the morning. The plain was covered with the retreating troops, and they seemed to infect those with whom they came in contact. The retreat soon became a rout, and this soon degenerated still further into a panic. Orders had been sent back to Miles' division for a brigade to move forward and protect thid retreat, and Col. Blenker’s brigade was detached for this purpose, and was ordered to go as far forward as tbe point where the road to the right left the main road. By referring to the general order it will be seen that, while the operations were to go on in front, an attack was to be made at Blackburn’s Ford by tbe brigade (Richardson's) stationed there. A refer ence to his report, and to that of Major Hunt, com manding the artillery, will show that this part of the plan was well and effectively carried out. After providing for the protection of the retreat by Porter’s and Blenker’s brigades, I repaired to Richardson's, and found tho whole force ordered to be stationed for the holding of the road from Ma nassas by Blackburn’s Ford to Centreville, on the march, under the orders from the division com mander, for Centreville. I immediately halted it, and ordered it to take up the best line of defence across the ridge that their position admitted of, and subsequently taking in person the oommand of this part of the army, I caused such disposition of the forces which had been added to by the First and Seoond New Jersey and the Do Kalb Regiments, ordered up from Runyon’s reserve, before going forward, as would best serve to check the enemy. The ridge being held in this w try, the retreating current passed slowly through Centreville to the rear. The enemy followed ns from tbe ford as far as Cub Run, and owing to the road becoming blocked np at tbe crossing, caused us muoh damage there. By sundown most of our men had gotten behind Centreville ridge, and it became a question whether we should or not endeavor to make a stand there. The condition of our artillery and its ammunition, and tho want of food for the men, who had gene rally abandoned or thrown away all that had been issued the day before, and the utter disorganisa tion and consequent demoralization of tho mass of the army, seemed to all who were near enough to he consulted—division and brigade commanders and staff—to admit of no alternative but to fall baok; tbe more so, as the position of Blackburn’s Ford was then in the possession of the enemy, and he was already turning our left. At o’clock the rear guard (Blenker’s brigade) moved, covering the retreat, which was effected during tbe sight and next morning, The troops at Fairfax station leaving by the cars took with them the bulk of the supplies whioh had been sent there. My aid-de-camp, Major Wadsworth, staid at Fair fax Court House till late in the morning, to see that the stragglers and weary and worn-out soldiers were not left behind. From the reports of the division and brigade commanders, which were annexed, it appeared that our killed amounted to nineteen offioers and four hundred and sixty-two non-oommissioned officers and privates, and our wounded toßixty four offioers and nine hundred and forty-seven non-commission ed officers and privates. The report then closed as follows: I conclusion, I desire to say, in reference to the events of the 21st ult., that the general order for tho battle to whioh I referred was, with slight modi fications, literally conformed to; that the corps were brought' over Bull Run in the manner proposed, and put into action as before arranged, ana that np to late in the afternoon every movement ordered was carrying us successfully to the objeot wo had proposed before starting—that of getting to the rail road leadingfrom Manassas to the valley of Vir ginia, and going on it far enough to break up and destroy the communication and interviews between the forces under Beauregard and those under Johnston. And oenld we have fought a day or a few hours sooner, there is everything to show how we oould have continued successful, even against the odds with which we contended. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your most obedient servant, Inwis McDowell, Brigadier General Commanding. Our Second Advance upon Ma nassas. The New York Tribune of yeaberd&y contained the following special despatch; Washington, March 10. —The following wag struck out of our despatches last night, by the mili tary supervisor of the telegraph, acting under special order. As there is to-night no doubt of its truth, in even official minds, it is allowed to go for ward to-day* Also, from four other points, brought by those loyal blaok men, each ma king his way to the nearest national camp, an nouncing that tbe rebels were burning their quar ters, removing their artillery, and moving baok to ward Fredericksburg. One came from Centreville, one from Manassas, one from a rebel oamp north, and one from one south of those strongholds. Still another party of four of the dispersed slaves, of whom one said that he was an officer’s servant, came into Gen. Kearney’s lines and told the same story. Light cavalry have beon sent in pursuit to harass and track tbe rebel retreat. It is supposed to be their design to fall baok first upon Fredericksburg and then upon Richmond. This retrograde movement of the rebels has been going on for a week, according to the dispersed flares’ stories. All other information went to show TWO CENTS. that the rebels were strengthening themselves on the Lower Potomac, and were hurrying all their troops to Manassas. Intercepted letters from well-informed quarters in South Carolina and Georgia, state that large bodies of troops, mostly raw levies, aad illy araicd and equipped, are moving North to Virginia, and it is believed here in high quarters that they are falling back to be ready for a spring forward at the wings or on the centre. Cur troops occupy Centreville and Fairfax Court House to-night. Two companies, under Major Hat field, were ordered yesterday morning to go to Fairfax Court House by the old Braaaock road. When within a mile of the plaoe, they met the enemy, who retreated before them At 5 o'clock last evening they entered the Court House, follow ed by a full regiment. The two companies under Major Hatfield wore then ordered back to Far’s Cross Roads, where they met the body of the regiment, and bivouacked for the night. At 12 o’clock noon, te-day, Hatiield’a company were wiihin sight of the village, and found that it fead hoop OVftOUfttod in the night, ieaviDg -tents and other property behind in Urge quantity. Lieut. Alexander, of the Liucoln Cavalry, ar rived soon after with a detachment of men, and pressed on as far as Cub’s Run, three miles above Ctntrevillo, where he discovered a vast number of tchta left standing, Tho OiSOlfly hftd mtmH t? Gordonsville. The Rebel Army of the Potomac, The rebel army of the Potomac woe under the sole command ol Gen. Joseph E- Johnston, and was sub-divided into three oorps d’armee. The first corps, stationed on the upper Potomac, was under the command of Gen. Thomas J. Jackson, of Geor gia ; the second or middle corps, under command of Gen. Gustavus W. Smith, of New York street* cleaning notoriety; and the third, on the lower Potomac, under the command of Gen. Holmes, of North Carolina. These corps were sub-divided into divisions and brigades and placed under com mand of various generals. Sketch of General Johnston Joseph Eceleston Johnston is a native of Vir ginia; graduated at West Point in 1825, and in July, 1849, be was appointed second lieutenant Fourth Artillery. In June, ld50 ? he was made assistant commissary of subsistence, and in the fol* lowing month he was promoted to a first lieutenancy. He resigned on 31st of May, 1837, but re-entered tbe service again as first lieutenant Topographical Engineers on the 7th of July, I£<3B. He was captain dfi 7th July, 1838, fo? g6s<l 6521- duct in war against the Florida Indians, and made a full captain in September, 1816. He was &p. pointed lieutenant colonel of voltigeurs on 16th of February, 1847, and he was brevetted colonel for gallant and meritorious conduct at the battle of Cerro Gordo, where he was severely wounded. He also distinguished himself in the battle of El Molino Del Rey, and he was again wounded at the battle of Chepultepec, but received the brevet of lieu tenant colonel for gallant and meritorious conduct in the battle. At the breaking out of the present rebellion he was in the Adjutant General’s Depart ment in Washington; but basely deserted his post and went over to the rebels. Jeff Davis rewarded him for this by appointing him to the command of the army of the Uppor Potomao, and subsequently tho whole department of Virginia. The rest of his history is already familiar to 6ur readers. General Thomas J. Jackson. General Jackson, although at present a citizen of Georgia, waa bom in Virginia, and graduated at West Point in 1842. He was brevetted second lieutenant of first artillery in July, 1346. He served with Magrnder’s battery during the Mexi can war, and was brevetted captain for gallant conduct at the battles of Contreras and Churubus co. He was brevetted major at the of Che pultepec in 1847, and resigned in February, 1852. He was appointed by Jeff Davis a major general, and assigned to the command on the .Upper Po tomac. Gen. Gustavus W. Smith. Gen. G. W Smith i 9 a native of Kentucky, ani graduated at West Point as second lieutenant of Engineers in 1812. He acted as Professor of Engi neering in that institution from August, 1844, to September, 1546, In consequenoe of the illuesa of Cupt. Smith, he acted as captain oi Sappers, Mi ners, &c , from March, 1317, to May, 1343. He was brevetted first lieutenant for gallant conduct in the battle of Cerro Gordo, and subsequently brevetteiLcaptain for gallant condnct in the battles of Ghurubusao and Contreras. At the olosa of tbe war he was made assistant professor of engi neering at West Point, but he afterwards resigned and entered the New York political arena. At the breaking out of the rebellion he waa a street com missioner of New York, but before he oould be arrested he made his way to Richmond and was appointed a rebel major general. General T. H. Holmes, Gen. Theophilua H. Holmes is a native of North Carolina, and graduated at West Point, in 1829, as second lieutenant of Seventh Infantry. He wa9 promoted to be second lieutenant of dragoons in 1833, but declined. He was promoted to first lieu tenant in March, 1835, and subsequently to captain, in 1838. Eor gallant and meritorious conduct at Monterey he wa3 brevetted major. He was ap pointed by Jeff Davia% major general, and assigned to duty on the Lower Potomac. Gen. Pope’s march to New Madrid, Mo. POSITION OF THE REBELS AT ISLAND NO. 10— FORT RANDOLPH THE SECOND REBEL PIBRALTAR, Yesterday we published a telegraphic despatch stating that Gen. Pope’s army had reached New Madrid and were investing the rebels in that place, with a fair prospect of capturing them. As our readers may wish to obtain some information about the preliminary movements of Gen. Pope, we copy the following letter from tho Cairo correspondent of the Chicago Post: Immediately after the fall of Donelson* General Pope's army began to ooocentr&te at Commerce, twenty miles above hero, on the Missouri shore: A ridge of high ground {a little higher, at least* thau the adjacent swamp 3) extends from that place to New Madrid, along which was the best, and, in fact, almost the only, road by which an army could march thither. Tbe country is intersected and covered nearly all over with impassable swamps. The distance fiom Commerce to New Madrid is scarcely more than from Cairo to the same point, by tbe route wbiob would have to bo travelled* General Pope’s baggage train was reduced to the lowest amount practicable by dispensing with all unnecessary camp equipage, and filling its place with ammunition and entrenching From this, it may be inferred that bis "first object was to obtain a suitable position, wbioh he would proceed to fortify and bold for some future purpose. The army reached New Madrid on Monday last, since when very little vague rumor has been heard from it by those who do cot wear stars on their shoulder straps, [Our despatches by telegraph have inform, ed U 9 that New Madrid has been for soma days in vested. — Eds. | To understand the situation of affairs there, it should be borne in mind that the rebel position at Islend No. 10 is above New Madrid some fifteen mites; so that our in order to reaoh that place, must first drive the rebels from their island, the present occupation of whioh enables their gun boats to co operate with their land forces against General Pope. The rebel gunboats are represented to be old New Orleans tugboats, which would be easily sunk, by a siDgle broadside from one of Com modore Foote’s iron olad casemates Where do the Rebels intend to Make a Stand 1 Whatever the rebels may intend or expect to ac complish by their present menacing occupation of Island No. 10, there is little doubt that they oxpeot, sooner or later, to withdraw to their fortress at Randolph, called, in honor cf that “ tall walker,” Fort Pillow. This fortification is near the town of Randolph, Tipton county, Tennessee, about sixty miles nbove Memphis, one hundred and sixty below Colnmbus, and one hundred and eighty below Cairo. The position is naturally a strong one. The fort is a rough and incomplete earthwork, con structed last full. It is built upon the second Chickasaw Bluffs, (those at Columbus being known as the first,) more than one hundred feot above tbe river, and immediately south of Island No. 34, the lower part of which commands the three mouths of the Hatchie river, a stream navi gable at good stages, that empties into the Mis sissippi, just above the town of Randolph, at the upper edge of the bluffs. Between the main bluff on tho river side, ,is a " bench,” or lower bluff, forming a natural parapet for water batteries, to which purpose it has been devoted. The space be tween the front of this natural parapet and the main bluff is about one hundred yards, and the ground sicks into a hollow sufficient to protect a large num ber of troops from any fire from the river. The po sition commands a view of the river for five or six miles, both above and below. As at Columbus, the river is here contracted into a very narrow channel, and consequently presents tho additional difficulty) in a gunboat attack, of a swift ourrent. Our gun boats, however, by silencing whatever guns may be placed on Island No. 34, might enter the northern mouth of the Hatchie out of the range of Fort Ran dolph. The town of Randolph, near which the fort (Stands, consists of half a dozen or so dilapidated frame houses, and is approaohed in the rear by several good roads; but the country behind it, bo ii g full of ravines and gorges, is capable of being fortified to an almost indefinite extent. It is pro bable (hat Beauregard himself is on the ground, attending to this work. The position, however, is really of no manner of use or benefit, except to dis pute the navigation of the river, It has no railroad communications, and, as an army stationed there would have to depend on the river exclusively for the transportation of supplies, it would not require long to cut it off and starve it out. So, if the rebels concentrate &t Randolph, the capture of Memphis will be so muoh the easier, The Gallant lowa Second’s Colors.— The flag of the gallant lowa Seoond, the first that was planted on tbe enemy’s works at Fort Dnnel son, is to hang over the Speaker’s chair in the lowa Bouse of Representatives, and to be deposited, after the adjaunsnient of the Legislators, in the archives of the Historical Sooiety. The flag has, according to one account, sixteen, acoordtog to an other, twenty-three buliet-holeß through it. Three of the color-bearers were killed, and the other waa wounded. Bowling Green, Ky., has tho appearance very much of one vast cemetery. During its oc cupancy by the rebels, not less than forty-seven or forty-eight hundred new graves were made in its vicinity. Tub War Pbsbs will be sent to subscribers by mail (per annum in advance) at 99*09 Three Copies “ « 6.00 '‘TV “ “ “ ............. 8.00 Tea “ •• 13.00 Larger Clubs will be charged at the some rate, thus 30 copies will cost 824; £0 oopies will cost 080; and 100 copies Sl2O. For a Club cf Twenty-sne or ever, we will fend M Extra Cop, to the getter-np of the Club. •9" Postmasters are requested to act as Agents fee Th* Wab Phkss. 19- Advertisements Inserted at the usual rates. Obi Hues consttWtd A MUM*. KAVAL BATTLE AT HAMPTON ROADS, Statement of the Pilot of the Cumberland. Mr. A. B. Smith, pilot on board of tho United States frigate Cumberland, at tilts limb of ho? bat tle with the Merrimac, has arrived in New York, and given a reporter of the World a full account of tho desperate conflict. Tho pilot says: On Satnrday morning, the United States steamer Cumberland laid off in the roads at Newport Nefjg about throb hundred yards from tho shore, the Con gress being two hundred yards south of us. The morniDg was mild and pleasant, and the day opened without any noteworthy incident. About eleven o’clock, a dark-looking object was descried coming round Craney Island, through - Norfolk channel, and proceeding straight in our dlfSdtloft. It W m instantly recognized as the Merrimac. Wo hnd been on the lookout for her for some time, and were as well prepared then as we could have been at any other time, or as we have been during the last six months. As she came ploughing through tbe water right onwards toward our port bow, she looked like a huge half submerged crocodile. Her sides soemod of solid iron, oxcept where the guns pointed from the narrow ports, and rose slantingly from the water like the roof of a house or the arched back of a tortoise. Probably tho extreme height ef the apiS ffbfii the water’a edge, perpendicularly, woe ten feet. At her prow I could see the iron ram projecting, straight forwards, somowfcat above the water’s edge, and apparently a muss of iron. Small boats were slung or fastened to her sides, and the rebel flag floated from one staff, while a pennant was fistd 19 another at the §(erß, There was a smoke stack or pipe near her middle, and she was proba bly a propeller, no side, wheels or machinery being visible. She is probably covered with railroad iron. Immediately on the appearing of the Merrimaa the comftifibd was given to make ready for instant action. All hands were ordered to their places, and tho Cumberland was sprung across the ohannel, so that her broadside would bear on the Merrimac. The armament wo could bring to boar ou tho Mer rimac was about eleven nine and ten-inch Dahlgren guns, and two pivot guns of the same make. The gunners wore at their posts, and we waited oageriy for ber approach within range. She came up at the rate of lour or fivo knots per hour. "When the JSlerrinwc arrived within about a mile we oponed on her with our pivot guns, and as soon as we eould bear upon her, our whole broadside commenced. Still she came on, the balls bouncing from her mailed sides like India rubber, apparently making sot the least impression, except to cut off her flag-staff, and thus bring down the Confederate colors. None of bor crew ventured at that time on her outside to replace them, and she fought thence forward with only her pennant flying. She seemed to obey her helm and be very readily hantlted, mui'ivg all her movements and evolutions with apparent facility and readiness. We had probably fired six or eight broadsides. When a shot was received from- one of her guns which killed five of ottr marines. It was impounds foe our vessel to get out of her way, and the Merrimac soon crashed her iron horn or ram into the Cum berland., ju.-t starboard tbe main chains, under the bluff of the port bow, knocking a hole in the side, near the water line, us large as the head of a hogshead, and driving the vessel bank upon her anchors with great force. The water came rushing into the hold. Tbe Merrimac then backed out and discharged her gnns at us, the shot passing through the main bay and killing five sick men. The water was all the while rushing in the hole made by the ram, 99 that id five minutes it was up to tbe sick bay on the berth deck. In the meantime ber broadsides swept our men away killed and ma-med, and also sec our vessel on fire in the forward part. That fire was extinguish ed. I cannot telf how many were wounded The eick bay, berth deck, and gun deck were almost literally covered with filth killed and wounded; but the surviving ones still fought well, and every one, ofiicer9 and men, displayed the utmost hero ism. The fight lasted about three-fourths of an hour, the Cumberland firing rapidly, and all the time the water pouring in tbe bold, and by-and-by tbe ports, as tier bow kept sinking deeper and deeper, Near the middle of the fight, when the berth-deck of tho Cumberland had sunk below water, one of tbe crew of the Merrimac came out of a port to the outside of her iron-plated roof, and a ball from one of oar guns instantly out him in two. That was the last and only rebel that ven tured wiibtu sight, the rest remaining in their safe, iron-walled enclosure, We fired constantly, and tho Merrimac occasionally, but every shot told upon our wooden vessel and brave erew. Her guns being without the least elevation, pointed straight at us along the surface of the water, and her nearness, she being much of the time within three hundred yards, made j; gg gg,y matter to send each ball to its exact mark. Probably her guns would be useless at a considerable distauoe, as it appears impossible to elevate them, finally, af ter about three-fourths of an hour of tbe most se vere fighting, our vessel sank, the stars aad stripem still leaving That flag finally submerged, but after the bull grounded on the sands, fifty-four feet below tbe surface of tbe water, our pennant was still flying from the topmast above the waves. None of our men were captured, but many were drowned as tbe vessel went down. We had about four hun dred on board, and I suppose from one.huudred and fifty to two hundred were killed during the engage ment and drowned at tho sinking. Lieutenant George V. Morris was inoommand of the vessel, Cap tain Kadtord being absent on the Roanoke , at a court of inquiry, and though he hurried back te reach bis vessel, he could not arrive till after she had sunk. Very few of our men swam ashore, most of those who were rescued from the water being saved by small boats. The Merrimac Seemed to bo uninjuied, although ber small boats and flagstaff were shot away iu the commencement of the no tion. The Merrimac then turned her attention to the Congress, which lay probably two hundred yards to the south of where the Cumberland was Tha Merrimac came up under her stern, and her crew fired their pistols into the ports of tbo Congress aa she approached. I saw her fire on tho Congress. The sailors of that vessel say that tho Merrimac struck her; but of this lam not sure. The Con gress had a good crew of fifty moo from the Cum berland previously taken en bsird, fifty from tha Minnesota , fifty of tho Naval Brigade, fifty from tho Roanoke, and some others. Lieutenant Joseph Smith, who was in command, was killed by a shot. A great many of the Naval Brigade were alto killed. Tbe entire command seemed to have acted bravely during tbe engagement, whioh probably lasted not oyi-F half ah hour, when tho white flag waa run up. During that night some sailors and men of the Congress returned and set fire to her, and she blew up about twelve o’clock. Neither the shot of the Cumberland nor Congress appeared to have any effect on tbe Merrimac. bounding off harmlessly, with s> loud ringing sound from the Iron plates, Cairo, Maroh 7. The engagement with the Minnesota resnlted-ia the killing of four men on the latter vessel, which was aground. The Merrimac did not seem to like to go near her, perhaps on aacount of her large ar mament of heavy guns, but more probably beeanaa she was afraid of also getting aground, the water being quite shallow in that neighborhood. FIGHT BETWEEN THE MONITOR AND MERRIXAC, The Monitor oame in on Saturday night, and proceeded np post the Minnesota. The rebel ftesffiers fttmfteim &B& Yor/itown were not iron plated, or, at any rate, only partially so. They came down in the daylight, making for the Minne sota. but to their surprise found the MomtorretAj to receive them. On Sunday morning the Monitor moved close up to the Merrimac , and, side by side, engaged her for four hoars anil twenty minutes. Once' the Merrimac dashed her iron prow squarely against the Monitor, but did not in* jure that vessel in the least. The Monitor in turn determined to try hor force in a similar operation, but. in some unaccountable manner, the wheel or other steering apparatus became entangled, it is said, and the Monitor rushed by, just missing her aim, Capt, Warden is confident that he put three shot through the hull of his antagonist— probably through the ports. The Monitor fired 178 pound cast-iron shot. The uirought-iron shot were not used, because their great weight and pe culiar construction renders the guns much more liable to burst. The Merrimac fired about forty shots on the Mwmr, which repllsd rapidly Ml possible, but, so far as it is knowD, neither vessel is damaged. Those on board the Monitor say th* balls rattled and rang upon both vessels, and seem ed to bound off harmless. The Merrimac is pro bably not at least not move than the start ing of a plate or so of her iron covering, and. her machinery being uninjured, she is probably fit to to come out again. It is impassible to Keep the Merimac from coming out. She can sail three inots an hour faster than the Monitor. From her evolutions, I should judge she can go at the rate of eight or nine knois per hour. It is im* possible to board the Merrimac. Should She OoinO ont again, she will be obliged to pass within range of tbe XJnien gun at the Rip Raps, and a shot from it might perhaps crush her sides; but it is very dif ficult to manage so heavy a pieoe of artillery, and the Union gun, in ail probability, might be fired fifty timeß without touohing .her. 1 do not think tbe Merrimac is caloulated to carry much coal, and that might have been a reason for her retiring from the contest. The Monitor, perhaps, might follow np the rebel Bteamers and disable them, but if she gets among the rebel batteries, a heavy fir* toight be OO&veßtfated 08 be? ffeifi different point#, ana she be thus injured, or possibly Bhe might b* grappled to and towed ashore. These and other reasons may suffice to show why the Monitor did not follow amoDg the batteries of Craney Island and Norfolk. General Wool, I understand, hat ordered all the women and^children away from Fortress Monroe, in anticipation of the Merrimac'* reappearance. KILLED ASO WorNDED AS EAR AS ASCERTAINED. Lieutenant Joseph Smith, executive officer of the Congress. Captain J. L. Lenhart, of the Cumberland, gteotd Assistant Eqginte? AfidfW NWWt, of the gunboat Whitehall. Busts wain’s Mato J. Harrington, of the Cum berland. Charles O’Conner, sailor, gunboat Whitehall. Robert Ward, eallor, gunboat Whitehall. Wounded’. Quartermaster Benjamin Hungcrford, of the gunboat Zouave, seriously. Charles Frees, ship’soook, of the Zouave, badly. Wm. McDonald, sailor, of the Zouave, badly scalded. The loss of tbe Cumberland in killed and wounded is about 150# On tbe Minnesota, 6 killed and 25 wounded. On the Congress, 50 killed; all the offioers taken prisoners. The enemy’s shells had Jittio or no effect on the Union cemp at Newport News; one or two men were wounded, and one other eeriously. The Richmond Whig says that Jeff Davis is a email potato. We suppose that’s the reason tha editor gives bin a dig. THE WAR PRESS. GETTING HEADY FORACTION, OPENING TIIE BATTLE, ENGAGEMENT WITH THE CONGRESS HOW MANY KILLED ON THE MINNESOTA.
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