Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-08-23
Eu.xclDs Inst letter,

July 18th, Mr.. Russell, the correspondent Oh
that paper, thus describes the positions held
by the enemy in Virginia opposite to Wash
ington city:
A VISIT or MILITARY OBSERVATION AND WHAT
WAS SEEN.
WEDNESDAY, July 10, 1861.
This morning 7 proceeded, in company With
Two American gentlemen, to make a small tour
Of observation from the right Of the position
Of the Federal forces in the army of the centre
across the Potomac, in Virginia, to the works
covering the Long Bridge leading from Airing
ton HEIGHTS to the city Of Washington. The
Potomac is spanned by two bridges-one call
ed the Chain Bridge, about six miles above
the city; The other, called the Long Bridge,
crossing the stream Immediately into the up
Der part ui tie own OH The road 10 AleSan-
dria. The right bahl; is dcnsely wooded ana
uncleared, and descends in slabs CT rocks from
the undulaling plateau TO the tnrbid waters,
which, gradually contract and lessen in depth
from the city up to Tie Little Falls, some seven
mile; above, where they assume the character
OF q mountain torrent. \ broad canal, III which
the Stat: of Maryland has sunk many millions
of dollars forever, absorbs much OF the river,
ami runs above the left bank by the side Of the
roads which lead to the Chain Bridge and the
large suburb; called Georgetown. All along
the road We met parties Of soldiers, armed or
moi. 10 AMI fro, in q variety OF uniform which
battles knowledge. Some OF .heln are seated
in the shade under trees #ll!l their rifles, aud
The sharp whiz U! Inc balls and the clack II
the lead against the rock, direct the eye to ille
amHnshed rillrmali who is practising to hit Il
"secesher." There is n many.iongnca utter
ance among these trcops-Swcdish, Dutch,
German, Italian, Irish, Scotch and English Of
divers accents. At the bridge there was m
examination OF passports, conducted in d very
loose manner by the sentry Oh duty. The pass
runs rs follows:
"HEipoUAaIcns MnrTAEY DEPARTMENT of W4sIISGToH.'
"Pass--aycr the bridge, and within Inc
lines" By order
'~tscncral MANSFIELD, Commanding"
"DRAEE DE KAY, A~id-de-Camp,"
Turn O7er..-It is understood that the With
in named and subscriber accepts this pass Oh
his word OF honor that he is and will ever BE-
loyal 70 the United States; and if hereafter
found in erms against tho Union, or IN any
way siding her c%heiaics, the p"r'a!Ly viii hc
DEATH
OF course Inc foreigner strikes out the la!-
ter clauses or produces his regular passport
granted by Lord Lyons, which is now de-
handed by the authorities, and which is coun.
tersigncd by Mr.. Seward, the Secretary OF
State, and subsequently by the General Win
field Scott, commanding chief. The passage
Of the bridge is defended BY an carthwork
with LEo h:Iss hos tiers, on The level OF the
causevay, and by another work on the bank
above it, which mounts three pieces OF heavy
ordnance, tho two being supported by 4 battalion
of volunteers from the Columbia district, who
are Just now striking their tents to return
home on the completion Of their term OF duty.
We were soon on The sacred soil Of Virginia,
which is here light brick cclorcd. The road,
one 81 the toughest, winds through wood and
deep, high banks, crowned with forests and
and open knolis towards Tie cnclay's plckcti,
some indefinite number Of Iuiles in 'front.'
Having proceeded q nhort way, . small camp
is reached, which commands the road from the
plateau above. The soldiers "lo belong to
the District OF Columbia are alao lying in the
shade, not particularly solicitjous. it would
seem, about front o. rear, though the camp
could be easily approached Under cover OF the
surrounding trees. FROM The open space IN
which the tents were pitched the eye Waldera
over Il fine cIpanSc Of woodland, and The
yellow current Of tine Potomac flowed at our
feet, commanded here unl there by the small
camps on the opposite heights.
gave one Of Them 4 paper, which he lrntne
diately began 10 read fol- his comrades, while
others crowded round rs ready 10 afford any
information in their powcr. They did nc!
seem disposed to continue their term Of service,
ind we're mostly Of I mechanical, turn i'll Lbs
world, ana given TO small trades instead Of
soldering. This pest had no cnnncction with
the columns lower down The river, and its
lines or communication with Washington lay
over The bridge and along the left bank. On
lea7ing the camp was struck by the evidence
o. the ingenuity Of the Americans in pTcpar'
ing defenses. The large trees By the side Of
and overhangirg the road ~ere all cut Mt the
base, and Just retained in their places; by guys
and ropes attached 10 the cliff above, the cut.
ting Of which would liberale the trees and per.
nit them 10 fall upon The causewaY, where
they would present aerioua obstacles 10 The
passage Of artillery and cavalry till thc pia'
neers could clear away tho rldt ahattiS. This
sTstem Wa continued lor aolnc hundreds Of
Yards above the camp. We now j1ggeda nd
iolted along fer sone tine III Il shady lane
through the woods; not a soul lid We meet
for se7e?a! miles. Two isrm.hou:es which VIC
passed were apparently deserted, though the
whcat lay stacked in the field. From one
poor hui iwo uegrt&see peercd Out, hut they
could act give much information about the
Country. Al last, the dri2cr, disInoun.ing, made
his way to \ FARMHOUSE, and YES told We had
got outside the line of picketf, snd had taken
the wrong road. Iy friends were Cni6nists
and ubolitionia!i. E.cn TIC keen eyes Of
scouting SouthcrneTs might rot perceive The
marks OF neutrality in the Juur!ei, which
ought 10 serve rs l. shield to rifle bullets
There waa probably no reason 1t oil to be III
eaay, though there were lAany to retracn our
steps, aud il is never pleasant, Is those know
who accompanied Lord Raglan IN That hot
September dag in lis ride through ti:e Mack
en2ie brentwood, in be caatcring through The
greenwood glades in al cRemy's country with.
out any knowledge OF his whereabouts. And
40 our charioleer diverted hia stccds from their
course, aud after . solitary drive Of mere miles,
through, more forest, and up and down hills
and valleys, lie remarked, We're are among
them now, AM way, whether sechcsers or
not" Under the trees by the roadside 4 zen.
try "wulkcd his lonely round" and the rays
which, pierced the glade flashed back froIn the
polished barrels OF the picket beyond. Jchn
strained his eyes and announced, I'VE arc all
right, they're our own side"
At THE POST Or THE KEW YORK SECOND hsGiMESr.
The post We n0w reached was now thrown
out from the Second New Yor; regiment, and
the Lieutennnt's c0minanl vas stationed in Il
wooden church, or school house, by the road.
side. Our passes we're examined. The officer
approached US, and very politely Offered any
information we required. What Il rowing race
has come from. those marshes Of Elbc and
Oder! Here vas our blonde bearded, blue
eyed New Yorker in these Virginia woods. no
uuadventnrous traveller, nor now for the lIrst
time familiar with war. In fact, llc had been
United States Consul ut Hong Kong, but when
the blast or war blew in his cars he had shut
up his office, ind followed John Bulls forces,
land and sea, in their campaigns against John
Chiraman, and had assisted al Fatshan and