Special to New York Papers

WASHINGTON, March 11. – Six Southern members voted “aye,” and nine “nay,” in the House to-day on the Presidents emancipation resolution.  The others from the border States were not in their seats.

(Herald’s dispatch.)

WASHINGTON, March 12. -  Before dark last night Col. Averill with a large body of cavalry entered the far famed rebel forts at Manassas and bivouacked for the night amid the ruins of the rebel strongholds.

The intelligence gathered at Manassas and in the night tends to show that the whole rebel army has retired southward.  It is not credited that they will attempt to make a stand near, as the country is open, level, and unpromising for defensive warfare.

The Opinion is gaining ground that Gordonsville was simply the rendezvous for what was lately the rebel army of the Potomac.  It is the junction of the Orange and Alexandria with the Virginia Central Railroad.  The only point at which they can with any sort of confidence attempt to make a stand is near the junction of the Frederick and Potomac with the Central Virginia Railroad, in which neighborhood the North Anna and South Anna river unite and form the Pamunkey river, about 20 miles directly north of Richmond.  At this point the country is much broken and admirably fitted for defense.

It is reported that in their retreat the rebels have destroyed the Railroad bridge across the north fork of the Rappahannock.  In their haste they have left behind straggling parties of soldiers, who seem to be very glad to be made prisoners.

Wherever they have gone it is evident that their army is completely disordered and utterly unfit for service.  The moral effect of the retreat from Manassas to Richmond will be the same throughout the South, as it is in this part of Virginia, and the impression prevails that the Southern Confederacy has collapsed, and many of the people thank God for it.

The forts are all abandoned, but log huts, hundreds in number, and ample to accommodate fully thirty thousand troops still remain – also a great number of tents; heaps of dead horses cover the fields in the vicinity.  The log huts are strewn all along between Centerville and Manassas.  The Railroad track is undisturbed, excepting the stone bridge across Bull Run on the Warren turnpike, is blown up, as also the bridge across Cabin Run, between Centerville and Manassas.

Everything at Manassas indicated the precipitate flight of the rebels.  Some caissons were found, but no guns; piles of bullets were left and an immense quantity of quarter master’s stores.  In one place were discovered about 30,000 bushels of corn, which had been set on fire, and was still smouldering.  Among the trophies are pack saddles, army orders, muskets, revolvers, bowie knives, letters, &c.  Over one thousand back saddles were found, all new and marked C. S. A.

People in the vicinity state that prior to the evacuation there were one hundred thousand troops at Manassas and Centerville.  Mounted on the works there were what appeared to be cannon, but, on examination, they proved to be wooden affairs got up for effect.

Two Pennsylvania cavalry regiments were the first of our troops entering.

At Brentsville, four miles south of Manassas, guards have been organized to protect themselves from the secessionists.

Gen. McClellan has taken up his quarters at Fairfax C. G.

A dispatch has been received here contradicting the announcement that Winchester was occupied by our troops, and stating that it is held by a rebel force.

It is believed here by the best informed critics on military affairs, that the rebels there are simply a portion of the force left there to cover the retreat of the main body of the rebels.  It is not probable any considerable force would be maintained in that part of Virginia, after the evacuation of Manassas, which commands the only Railroad avenue thence to Richmond.

(Post’s Dispatch.)

The Naval Committee of the Senate this morning agreed to report a bill at once for the appropriation of $15,000,000 for iron clad vessels of war.

Senator Grimes had just received a dispatch from Assistant Secretary of War, Fox, at Fortress Monroe, declaring his confident belief that the Monitor in her recent engagement with the Merrimac was entirely uninjured in the fight.  He expresses the opinion that another combat between the two vessels is certain and that the conflict will be terrific.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, March 15, 1862, p. 3