Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-09-13
"a rn1rlrnro OF TIE sEAT or EAR.

m pOGrIpHr or TIE SEAT or VAR.
DESCRIPTION OF TIE POSITIONS OF THE COME
DrsATE FORCES IN VIRGINIA.
The Washington correspondent of the New
York "postn thus describes the position u
the Confederate forces at Munson'S Hill aau
other points in that vicinity:
MUSsoS's ulLL.
Muuson's Hill is naturally q strong position,
and is espccially so for the rebels, who are at
that point only four miles distant rom !ns
railway leading straight to Manassas Junction
and Richmond. Munson's Hill is about tnsee
and a half miles, as the crow flies, from fo.s
Corcoran and Arlington House. II is l9ul
and q half miles from the Long Bridge-aue
west-and not more than three from Fort Al
bany. So far as an attack upon our tortihca-
tons is concerned, the occupation Of Munsoh )
Hill is of no Importance. 1t is utterly lmpos-
sible for them to lombard Forts Corcoran or
Albany from Munson's Hill with any elect
So far but two guns are mounted on The NIL,
and the Notifications are simple breastworks
thrown IN on the top Of the hill. The guns
are not heavy, and the works upon the hill 40
not yet indicate anything more serious tha'i
the entertainments which were dug at Fairfax
Court House and Centreville previous to the
advance of the Federal army at Stone Bridge
Future movements may quickly change the
the aspect of affairs, but at present there Is
certainly good evidence that Beauregaro IN
tends to attack our line OF iortihcatlons. Two
rebel regiments occupied Hunters chapel nlshl
before last, and are still along the creek OF tha'
name, but this of itself is not a threatening
movement
THE CHAIN gRInGk AND THE UPPER POTOMAC
The country along the Potomac from Alex
andria to the Chain Bridge is not near so ia
yorable for the rebels rs that around Centre
Vile. Bull Run and Manassas. The Chalr
Bridge is about Ave miles northwest OF Wash
jngton, and the Virginia shore of the river
there is billy, forming a kind Of rocky blulf all
the way down to Washington and for Il dis
lance above the bridge. The hills can be east
" held BIZ good troops against an approaching
enemy. The same is trsle all the way do~n 10,
and below Arlington. The ground !; high
and the chain Of hills forms Il natural line OF
defence. As lne forests have been cut down,
our artillery can have 3 full sweep Of any at
lacking columns. The country is full Of IA
vines just back Of the river; but there are nc
places Of The kind no! commanded by our
guns. On the other hand, there is d deep "a
vine back Of Munson's Hill by which OIL
troops, If they ever See l:., might attact; It III
the rear.
THE corSrRr BEYOND ARLINGTON.
Such is the topography ofthc country back
Of Arlington, that il the entire rebel army
should entrenqh itself in front Of our lines, II
would he much easier 10 take them by storm
to conquer thcm--here than at Bull Kun OF
Manassas. We have nothing to fear, then, al
this moment, from the rebels, if it be true,
which is very doubtful, that they are entr:nch
ing themselves permanently and With their
whole force within j few miles Of Washing
ington. They are by no means in.so strong q
position here IS they would be further AWAY
THE POSITION OF ALEXANDRIA.
The position of Alexandria is such that the
rebels can have little hope of taking it. Hunt
ing Creek protects the lower part Of the town
SO that no flank movemeat can be made upon
il. The hills back Of Alexandria are high, ant
can easily be held in protection Of the town,
and even if they were not held, our vessels @
war in the river could ut once mako AlcXan
dria untenlble.
OTHER PLACES IN VIRGINIA.
Arlington Heights are directly opposite
Georgetown, nearly two miles back from TIT
Potomac. Roacl'S Spring is about two mile!
distant, southwest Of the Long Bridge, a llttl'
off FROM the road to Fairfax Court House
Arlington House is about live miles north o.
northeast Of Alexandria. Falls Church is
little village six miles straight west Of George
town. Bailey's Gross Roads is a point iiy'
miles due west Of the Long Bridge, and III
road from the bridge which leads directly pas
Bailey's is the road 70 Fairfax Court House
The last named place is eighteen miles iroIt
Washington an. fourteen from Alexandria.
TIE WEST SIDE or THE UroNAC.
This side Of the river we haze the height.
of Georgctown, which command Arlington il
self, and which, in the event Of disaster, nigh
be occupied to worry the enemy across tn,
river. North and northeast Of the city therC
are also hills which command all the road!
leading into Washington. These hills are dis
tant two or three miles, some OF them lou
and five miles, and make it comparatively cas-,
to surround the capital with a net work Ut for
tilications. The eastern branch Of the Poto
mac flows down on the east side from B!aden
burg and forms a sort Of protection on tina
side.
The capital is Oil amphitheatre 1t IL SUI
rounded by a chain Of hills which are frou
three to Eve miles distant from the capito
buildings.
Tns ENEMY's FORCES
Very little is known here Of the Confede
rate e~ncampments. The main force at Nun
sons Hill is supposed 10 be behind It, and a
not more than Il regiment, Or at the utmost wv,
regiments, have been seen on parade. Gen
Bonham is at Vienna with Il brigade Of South
Carolina regiments, and sends out a force dai
" to watch the operations of the Federal forces
near Chain Bridge, but 50 far remlins OH the
defensive.
NAVAL. ENGAGEMENT AT HICKMAN.
We find the following letter in the St. I.oui
democrat :"
CAIRO, Sept. ), lsGl.-We had quite ali cx
citing time here yesterday. Late in the after
noon the feet Of sunboats arrived here. bring
ing important news from Hickman, Ky, ART
other points
Yesterday morning the Tyler and Licking
ton, before stationed at Columbus, Ky, wen
down TO Hickman, KY, on a rcconnoiterin!
expedition, but hardly expecting to meet al
enemy. On approaching within Is short dis
lance Of the town, before turning the benz
which brings it into full view, they discovered
a snail stern.boat, which took 10 her HEELS
On turning the bend they discovered, by the
aid Of glasses, Il huge side wheeled gun-boat
the Yankee. Of immense power, formerly use(
a a tug.boat in New Orleans in towing ~
ships from the Balizc. She was plated strong
~ With railroad iron Of the 7 pattern.
Our gun-boats opened fire on her ut u Ills
tance OF about three miles. The balls and
Shells frl! llickly around her. One ~Gl-pount
shell from the Tyler struck her wheel.h ous'
and burst, but the railroad iron threw it OF
without any effect. The Yankee replied, bu'
her shots fell far short. Ga going closer 10
ward the town, a masked battery, also q bat
terry Of four rifled cannon, in a ravinc near tn,
upper part, we're discovered. A large force O
infantry was seen by orr boats near the cen