The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1861-06-13
Correspondence Of the Eyoningpost
The Probable Battle Field-Topog-
raphy Of Eastern Virginia,

Correspondence Of the EyoninrPost. I
The Probable Battle Fteld-Topog-
raphy Of Eastern Virginia.
The region Of country lying between
the Potomac river and the Manassas
Gap Railroad Junction is a very inter
esting locality at present, and promises
to be so for many weeks to come IL is
unquestionably destined to become the
theater of stirring events, and a few
facts respecting its topography will not
be without interest. At the request Of
General Mansfield, however, all CORES
pondents refrain from indicating exact
y the position of our troops, lest the en-
emy might profit by such statements,
for though the mails are cut off, yeti
there is a direct communication with |
the South via Harper's Ferry. All the
Northern news goes daily to Harper's /.
Ferry, and thence to Richmond and the
entire South.
From the Chain. bridge, which is three
miles above Georgetown, to Alexandra |
IA distance Of about ten miles--there
is a continuous chain Of hills half mile
to a mile and half back from the Poto
mac. Entrenchments are thrown up !
quite a distance north Of Georgetown
across the river--and so at diherentl
points below to Alexandria. The
Chain bridge, the Aqueduot, and espe-
cially the Long Bridge, are very strong
! ly guarded, and every prominent hill is,
or soon will be, extended.
Arlington Heights are right opposite
IGeorgetown, nearly two miles back from
the river. Roachs Spring, which is
frequently spoken Of is about two miles
southwest of the Long Bridge, q little
off from the road to Fairfax Court
House. Arlington House is about five
miles north or northeast of Alexandria.
Falls Church is little northern viii
lage six miles straight west of George
town. Baileys Cross Roads is FIVE miles
due west of Long Bridge, and the road
from the Bridge which leads directly to
Bailey is the road to Fairfax Court
House. The last-uamed place is eigh-
teen miles from Washington and four
teen from Alexandria. This was the
scene of Lieut.. Thompkinss exploit last
Friday morning; and he was then about
thirteen miles distant from the main
body of the rebel force at Manassas
Junction, and only eight from Centre
vile, where two or three rebel regiments
are stationed.
From the Potomac to the heights
west the ascent is somewhat abrupt;
but from the heights westward the slope
is very gradual. At least ten miles of
the Loudon and Hampshire Railroad is
within our lines, but the Orange and
Alexandria road is none Of it in our
possession. Our troops tore up the
track to Springfield station, distant
! from Alexandria nine miles. Beyond
this point the road is in good condition,
and it is reported that the trains Oc-
casionally even run up from the June
ton as far as Springfield station.
THE POSITION OF THE ENEMY.
The main body of the enemy is at
Manassas junction, fifteen to twenty
/ miles from our outposts, but two or
three thousand Of the rebels are station
ed few miles this side From reliable
} advicos it is judged that the enemy
numbers about eight thousand at the
, Junction, making their entire force in
J that region ten thousand Should any
advance be made by the rebel troops it
, would undoubtedly be upon Alexandria,
by way of the Orange Railroad. An at
tempt would be made to turn the right
flank of tho United States troops; but
as Alexandria is commanded by the
Pawneo vessel-of-war, the rebels, even
if they succeeded in entering the town,
could not stay.
THE DEBATABLE GROUND.
But no shrewd military man is of the
opinion that the rebel troops will ad-
vance a step towards Alexandria and
Washington, except to strengthen their
position at Manassas Junction by strong
outposts. They await an attack by the
Federal troops. Skirmishes may be
looked for daily, as the scouting parties
of both armies frequently meet, The
whole region from FalIs Church to
Centreville is debatable ground. Our
mounted pickets and scouting parties
run down nearly 20 miles, and theirs
frequently come within fve or six miles
of our camp. Senator Wilson is urging
upon the War Department the accept
ance of companies of sharpshooters as
, fast as they offer themselves. The
Southern army has many very accurate
shots, and as there is to be a good deal
of guerilla fighting, regiment Of sharp
! shooters would be ofgreat service to our