Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-10-03

heavy hills, covered with this species Of timber /
comparative small portion Of the lard only being
cleared sna in cultivation. From 5Aleyendria TO |
Georgetown, inclusive, nearly all the roads leading
out terminate at or before reaching the Leesburg
turnpike, which, viii be seen runs parallel with
the river within few miles of il, and all that Is
valuable Of it now held BY the enemy. From thence
on they diminish in number, gradually ccntericg to-
ward Fairfax and Manassas, and enabling the enemy
to concentrate he falls hack, should be be conf
PEELED to do SO. His lines cross all these roads
at no point over five miles from the river with, as
above stated all that is important Of tho Lessburg
turnplketiTe only road of any size or length run
ming parallel with the Tiver-lu't IN the rear and
adordng him the greatest facilities in shifting his
forces frem one point to another TO attempt to
cut other roads through such country would be
work of the greatest difficulty, II not lmPossibility
and could be easily met and thwarted by the enemy
From this description, the reader may torm an idea
Of the obstacles that We have to overcome, If the
my choose to hold their present position, which
seems to be their purpose.
Aud new, us TO our position and deencfS.
Proceeding to the Chain Bridge three miles above
Georgetown, we fad earthwoIk planted imme-
dstely facing end of the bridge On this side and
within twenty feet Of it. lis guns, not yet mount
ed will sweep the bridge. At the entrance of each
fOotpath also stands small bowler, tor throW wing
grape. canister or anything else you have a mind
to put in them, aud one discharge from them would
make quick work with all tue foot passengers that
might attempt that mode of 'erossBg the Potomac"
Va the JUST Dack auOID6E ADu
half mile further UP a9d back on the summit OF
thehIll is another each with several guns mounted
No force could possibly approach the bridge from
the other side without Instantly beng cut 70 pieces
The Virginia side here, sad ia f4cs 81 the way
from GEORGETOWN and ~ far up y0u can see,
consists Of high and rocky bluff and rising slmest
perpandicuar from the waters edge covered with
trees and thiekets and Terminating IN hills Of the
same character almost az steep. The river narrows
very rapidly above Washington, and here l was
surprised to find it only frsm thirty to forty feet
wide, but very deep and rapid.
Crossing ever, ths road winds up to the right
through long, steep hill Ga the top OF this hill
and on another half mile over to the left, forth
cations have been erected, and IN space OF time
marvellOusly short having been commenced only
week ago, and now being in g state Of defence and
nearly flashed The former commands the road
(Which continues on parallel with the riyer,) and
open country adjoining It for, say mils ard half,
or es far as visible. This Is the only road that
comes into the bridge. Back of it AID IN the down
river direction from the forts there is but small
Open space, which ia enclosed by the dense forests
| common to the whole country. Our pickets go out
this road about four miles towards LeTInsylle
South and west of this village few miles, are Falls
| Church and Vienna, one and the other near the
Leesburg turnpike, which, as before alluded to, Is
| all in possession of the enemy excepting only the
southern end from Baily's Cross Roads to Aloxan-
| dFia, which is of no consequence.
| could learn of no road by which the fOrtIi1ca-
| tions below could be reached from Chain Bridge
within our picket lines, TO do this it s necessary
| to re cross, come back TO GeorgetOwR and go over
| on, the Ferry. After lsayiog the Ferry you pass
J by Fort Corcorsn and others, finished and in pro
cess Of erection and two miles straight out on the
| road brings you to Balls Cross Roads, which is
/ within half or three quarters of mile OF our
| outside line Of pickets, aud as far as you are
| allowed to GO. A few rods below this q very good
view of Munson's Hill (hree miles dlstant) can be
| had with glasses
Taking the cross road South from here mile
and half brings you in the road leading to Fairfax
by way of Bailey 5 Cross Roads. this end of which
terminases at Long Bridge. From the roof Of a
| house here you have 4 much better view Ct Nun
sons Hill about the same distance as before This
hill il the highest point Of LAID visible, and the
new rebel fertilization on II commands the country
for miles to the east, south ard west 1t IL about
| equisdistsnt from Georgetown Ferry and Long
Bridge-fve miles With, perhaps one exception,
our nearest fortifcati0ns are about three miles
from it; the exceptional one, which we are now
throwing up with the utmost expedition, being on
a high eminence-GlmCst as high rs tl- hin i;selt-
almost due South Of il and probably two and three
quarter miles OF. 1t IS beng built lCre end mar
| row so that the shell from the hill waalIi1ve to
be thrown with great precision 70 fsit Iat- it. /.
iss flank work On the hu1son's Hill foruGcati9ns
and to be aesigncd for the special benefit OF
the latter.
AZ persons are not allowed to go cat the Fairfax
rosds beyond Arlington Mills. except on foot, and
az the most convenient method of visiting the fort
cations in that direction of Alexandria II take boat
10 that point and out from there. After lsay
ing AlexandriG you ascend long hill n the rear
which brings you to Fort ElGworth, one OF NJ drsi
erected Close by this Is another, a new one, com
handing longer sweep above and on tn opp sta
side of the valley, up which runs The Manassas B4l
road, is another, going up prominent elevation
| thus rend sring the city mpregnsble, and cOmms8d
ing the valley within range Of the guns. Our picket
lines extend only two or three miles up the railroad
| TO Clouds Mills, running thence sOuthwardly to the
| Potomac, few miles below Alexandria and north
wardly to Bailey'S Cross Roads.
| Ascending - the CUPola of the Fairfax Seminary
near here, 4 splendid prospect i afforded Of the
| country in all directions. Here learned for the
irst time, and verified by actual observation, tina
| upon another hill, Immediately in the rear Of Iun
| sons aud commanding the work the latter i
another rebel fertilization. So if we were 70 t2kl
them on Munson's Hill we could not hold 1t "ithou
taking the other also. found, furthermore, tina
about mile further west on the Fairfax road still
another was visible in the edge of the woods com
| manding that road. | have seen 10 reference {;
these works in any Of the papers, and presume thi
| lynx eyed reporters have not yet discovered them
| Do not these Works-and doubtless others ATOMS
their lines which have not been seen-indicSte tina
tbs Confederates are preparing to hold their posi-
ton?
A mile north Of this brings you to our most ele
waited, outermoIt and fink fertilization before al
| ludsd to. 1t il nearly finished, and rs guns vii
soon be FeSdy to ttuEdGr their salute 10 the Union
Other extensive works being thrown up on
| several commanding eminencGs of IN the direction
Of Long Bridge from here.
Two thirds Of the distance bstvesE here and
| Munson's Hill on almost strai ht line, and mos
of the way over les-sn road alo g he summit o.
the ridge. brings you to Bailey Gross Roads. Ehl;
| is exactly one mile from the fortdcstiOns on Nun
sons Hill. The work appears to be extensive and
elaborate and there no n c3tiOn of the thing be
ing sham no guns, however, can be seen noun
ed as yet
, R turning direct to Long Bridge by way of Ar
liugton Mills, l. found entertainments thrO Sn acTos!
the road a. one place, trees feed a. another, anC
breastWorks for rhamen to command the PISS a
of the branch at the foot of the steep hill wher'
, the Loudoun and HAMPSHIRE Railroad. 10 VEN
c!es can of course pass the road, nor did mset
soul on it except picksts. All communication WIKI
the country back IS suspended
1t must not be supposed rom this descr'p ion tha
? | have undertaken to mention all the toruhcanen
which meet the eye Overy hand from Chan
t | Bridge to Alexandria. To do so would Tequir
! twice or thsics the space have devoted to them
> | and would only confuse and bswilder the reader
1t is not using too strong language tosay that va
transfxed with smsZsment at their number an
D extent, (nearly all having been thrown up since
? was last here) ranging frsm the most elab0rat
earthen forts to simple lines of entertainments an
rife pits and constituting chain of defence that
D absolutely impregnsble TO any army that ever mar
shalled int the field. Whole forests have asO bee
cut down to give an unObstructed and wider rang
from the various petitions.
Nor ig this all Ga the Maryland side, with the
exception of South of the East Branch, the city is sur
rounded with works Of an equally formidable char
y aCter the whole begun not over five weeks ago. Il
: one week more nearly all on both sid sides Of tn