The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1861-09-25
Front View of Arlington Heights.


Front View of Arlington Heights.
Tie special correspondent Of the New Orleans Plea
vne, writes to the editors Of that paper from camp
slocomb Manson's hin, Virginia, under date of Sep
TENDER 9th:
The principal occupation of visitors here is to watch
the movements Of the enemy on Arlington and the
neighbormg heights These heights, as Is well known
begin little above Georgetown and, following the llne
of the Potomac extend as far down as Alexandria The
distance about twelve miles eight of which are tort
fed Neither the heights the fortiieations how
ever continuous but separated from each other by
depressions Of greater or less extent.
First on the left, Arlington heights proper, on
which is Arlington house the headquarters Of general
Mcclellan. Near by is fort Corcoran well built earth
work. with angles, aliens bastons parapets, &e after
the most approved style of Notifications The work is
immense in extent and the federal flags nnumerable
wave over it, as also over Arlington house
Directly below this and two or three miles dis
tant is what is known as Swallow hill, on which are
works Of similar character but less extensive and less
perfect in their structure. They are, however, as yet
incomplete a. il evident from the activity Of workmen
upon them This activity however doubtless appears
much greater than it really IS from the circumstance
that the enemy encamped i'll considerable numbers
around it, and have frequent communication with it.
Still further down the river, and separated from the
heights above by Of the principal roads leading over
the long bridge into Washington is Shutters hill, one
side Of which is fort Ellsworth iortihcation similar TO
fort Corcoran This and the works connected with it
command Alexandria and the roads leading to and to
the long bridge.
in front of Shutters hill is another commanding emf
hence, wherein fourth extensive fertilization has re-
Gently been thrown up. 1t consists, however OF but a
series Of loose earthwork and is quite imperfect ii its
structure The greater part Of it has been thrown up
since we came inpossess0n Of MunSOns hill which rises
directly in front Of it. about three miles distant From
works we can everything that goes on there,
the squads Of loungcrs that hourly collect and talk
over the news of the day together
About mile and half this side Of these new works
appear be the encampment Of the various regiments
picket duty Their places Of rendezvous some bali
a mile nearer, at turn Of the road leading hther
through Gal, thicket From this place change OF
pickets, the file to the right and left and take up
their position for the day where assigned to them here
coy cred bY snake fence, there by an orchard oak
thicket or corn field as may be the fortune Of each
10 the left Of these is still another encampment, APP
pareltly Of cavalry. They anuse themselves with
scouting about III the negAborng country but they are
very venuresome its very rare that they are seen
beyond the safe line Of their piclets.
To the naked eye these successive elevations appear
to be continuous range Of hills nearly crescent in
FORM from tile Chain bridge the Theological seminary
near Alexandria, It is only by aid Of glass that the
outlines Of he successive elevations and depress can
be distinctly And the same may be said Of the
Notifications and encampments.
by the aid Of good glass, however, not only these
heights but those Of the opposite or Maryland shores,
can be distinctly SEEN and everything upon them. The
view however, is frequently oJscured hy clouds OF
smoke arising from neighbCrng woods on fire; set on
fire. suppose for the purpose Of opening Up the
country to prevent surprise through the extensive
intervening forests With tile same object, doubtless,
the enemy exceedingly busy with their axes,
cutting roads and clearing up the country in every d.
reCtUu For leagues and leagues around the capital on
Both sides Of the river this work Of telling burning
T. nv