The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-05-08
TOPOGRAPHY OF THE FIELD OF OPERA
TlONS IN VIRGINIA,

TUfOUnhEnI Or IhE FIELD OF OfHth-
TlONs IN VIRGINIA.
The news from Virginia would sssn TO show thai not
than ak points have been selected BY the State
thorties at which secession troops V 10 concen
trated, independent Of Richmond and Norfolk. These
places Alexandra cupeper Oourt House Dumfries,
Lynchburg Fredericksburg and Harpsrs Ferry. The
contiguy Of these places Warrington and Baltimore is
so close TO render each Ard every Of them Of the ut
most interest TO the distant reader Below viii be found
such Typographical and geographical descriptions as viii
enable the reader ia judge OF The importance Of
each point
Alexandria is Of the three corporate towns that
make up the total OF the District Of Coiumba-Washg
ton and Georgetown forming by far the most mportan
part Of the hundred square niles OF the federal do
main the Potomac. The city is located the south
west Virginia bank Of the Potomac, mies below
the Capitol a. Washington. II is the county seat Of Al
exandria county and contains population Of about 1900
or I0O00. The town .s widely scattered over extent
Of territory, which, built up after the manner Of North
crn cities, would afford a residence for 1T least
60 600 people The land upon which the town
is built undulasng, not 10 say hiy presenting many
eminences, upon which batteries and forbcatons could
be speedily erected, which would tell severely upon
attacking force. Above the city, and nearly opposite
Washing ton, the unduat ons o bold, pre-
cipitous form and altitude and are denominated "Ar-
hngton Heights" where, We read few days ago, the
batteries for the purpose Of oombardng the Capitol and
White House. distant respectively ~ northeast direc-
tion. three andsa quarter and Two and three quarter
miles Reliable reports inform us, however, that no
fortifcatons Of kind have been instituted oy The V
gniaps, and it % probable that General Soott viii shortly
proceed TO take and occupy the city with federal troops,
as its occupancy by sufficient force would efectnay
prevent attack upon the capital from the South.
The town is connected with Washington By a bridge
Of mile IN length, N which are Lwo draws OF
sufficient capacity TO afford passage for such yeses as
make the haroor. II g connected with Georgetown
by branch OF The Chesapeake and ONO Canal, and
10 the south and west il has land communication
via Orange and Alexandria, and Manassas gap railways
with the interior Of Virginia and the South, BY the re
cent blockade e water communication with Norfolk and
other Potomac and CheapeaKe pcrs by which s busness
is mostly furnished, s ehectnally stepped.
CuIPEPPKR COURT HOUSE There seems to be much mis-
understanding with regard 10 this locality as the proper
name Of the place is Fairfax, there another locality
on the same rarosd-a railroad stationalso called
Fairfax, which IS only twenty-five miles west OF Wash
ington. Culpepper Court House (Fairfax) the county
Of Culpepper county located on the Orange and
Alexandra railroad, sixty two niles southwest from
Alexandria eighty three miles northwest Of Richmond
and tweDty-sx miles northeast OF GordoDsville where
the Orange and Aexandris road connects with the Rich
mond, FTedericksoITgh and Potomac railway, and the
Virginia and Tennessee railway for the south and West
The county Of Culpepper contains only population Of
about 10 000-the village perhaps S00 or this popua
ton over onehaf are slaves me section of country
which Culpepper Court House may be called the center,
is the finest part Of the SAFE for agricultural purposes,
cereals and live stock berg raised there IN great
abundance. Its. productiyeness IN these respects
the probable cause of this place being Be-
within three hours ride, by rail- Of Washington,
route not easily interrupted near the Capital by
opposing forces the foresight Of The military authorities
who planning the campaign on the part Of the seces
sionists becomes apparent. However must be remem
bered that twelve miles nor.heast Of Cuipepper to
wards Aexandra), at Rappananrock the road has to
cross the York river On lorg wooden bridge, the de.
structon OF which By fire (Which % neither impossible
mprobaole), would prevent troops from advancing
from the South for days by that route IL will be
remembered that about 600 Tennessee and Kentucky
troops were reported 70 be at cupepper on Saturday
last, and more were expected.
Lynchburg where another large force Is now reported
TO be concentrating B situated or the south bank Of the
burs. and the virginia and tennessee railroads 1t il
l25 miles weet Of Richmond oy the chmopd and Dan
vile, and Petersburg and lynchnarg railroads, ant
Culpeper Court House The great kanawha canal rum
through direct to Richmond Zone hundred
means OF supplying Richmond from the south and west
The population OF the place IS about twelve thousand.
The country about Lynchbmg IS mountainous, but ike
that in the vicinity Of Cupeper, is very productive in
agricultural produce though tobacco has taken the place
Of grains great degree among the products OF the
soil AS is not proosoe tns place will oe fortified IN
any manner, IT 10 unnecessa7 70 give more than It's gene
raj topography.
military consideration ot no mean dimensions The nevs
reaches that heavy ordnance and small arms are being
carried there in large amounts ard II s sad tnat earth
works are berg rasef with al pcssbe despatch These
may be only rumcrs-proosbiy are nothing more-stiL
from the locality would seem 20 be highly important that
the Vrgnians should possible, be prevented from
cupyng In strong force. IL s situated 81 miles south
Of Alexandra, and sixty miles north OF Richmond on the
Richmond Fredericksburg ard Potomac Railroad, s the
principal town Of old sposyvana county, at the head
of navigation the Rsppahannock river and In the
very heart Of Of the finest valleys the eastern
slope North OF the town fine bridge the river,
above which and back Of the town there s rise of
land, Notifications upon which would command the
bridge and protect the town without snbectng troops
TO danger, except from assaung parties, which might
approach from the westward rise Of the canal and river
Fifteen miles north OF Frederic s Aqua creek the pre-
termination Of the road norhward, at which point
il thought troops readily be anded from ashng-
sufficient force 10 dsodge al the forces at present
at Fredericksburg. fredericksburg has population Of
about 5000. The telegraph Tuesday brought the
port that in consequence OF the large number OF troops
there the price Of prov isons had than doubled II
ouch the fact with direct and uninterrupted railroad and
canal communication with the most productive part Of
the grain and stock growing sections Of the saveboldng
sates, evident that the troops Will be compel
led to either evacuate the locality des.
perate attempt open an avenue through which they
may receive euatenarce from other sources.