March 10, 1862

March 10, 1862: Brig. Gen. Philip Kearny of the Army of the Potomac moves his brigade of infantry forward into the Confederate works at Manassas and Centreville, without orders, and finds that the Confederates are indeed gone. McClellan orders a general advance, as the 2^nd New York Cavalry regiment, on advance reconnaisance, also reaches Centreville, as well as a Pennsylvania cavalry regiment. Irvin McDowell’s division is ordered to Centreville and Gen. Edwin V. Sumner’s troops, who are ordered to Manassas Junction. Gen. McClellan also rides to Fairfax, and spends the night there.

—Surgeon Alfred L. Castleman, of the Union Army, notes in his journal, with some sarcasm:

March 10th, 1862.—Well, the Army of the Potomac is at last in motion. After having lain still with 150,000 men, comparatively idle, for nearly eight months, our National Capital besieged, its great thoroughfare blockaded by a foe of which we have habitually spoken with contempt, the Van Winkle-ish sleep is apparently broken, and we are at last in motion.
We left Camp Griffin at 4 o’clock this A.M, and now—1 P.M., are bivouacked in sight of Fairfax Court House. . . . We are within ten miles of the famous Bull Run battle field, within fifteen of Manassas. Ho! for Richmond! We have had a most unpleasant march to-day. Rain, rain, mud, mud. The men have suffered much, and many have fallen out of the ranks.

—Horatio Nelson Taft, of Washington, writes in his journal about the news of the battle between the ironclads: "The exploits of the Rebel Iron clad Steamer Merimac [sic] yesterday at Hampton Roads destroying the frigates Cumberland & Congress created a good deal of excitement in the City. But the exploits of the little Iron Boat Monitor (Erricksons Boat) eclipsed all as she fairly drove the Merrimac back to Norfolk. The son of our next door neighbor, Comodore [Joseph] Smith, commanded the Cumberland congress and was killed. They are in great grief."