“a skillful retrograde movement.” — John B. Jones

MARCH 2d.—Gen. Jos. E. Johnston has certainly made a skillful retrograde movement in the face of the enemy at Manassas. He has been keeping McClellan and his 210,000 men at bay for a long time with about 40,000. After the abandonment of his works it was a long time before the enemy knew he had retrograded. They approached very cautiously, and found that they had been awed by a few Quaker guns–logs of wood in position, and so painted as to resemble cannon. Lord, how the Yankee press will quiz McClellan!