Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1861-07-25

that Il Is defence 10 itself. The key 10 the
whole position, 10 hct ia precisely that
point which General Beaureeard chose for
bis centre, ard which be has fortified so
strongly thai in the opinion Of military men,
9, 600 men could there hold %, 600 81 bay.
The p0sti3a, in fact, is fortified in part by
nature herself Il is a succession OF hills,
nearly eqnidislant from each other, In front
Of which is ragine SO deep aad 90 thickly
wooded that it is impossible only at two
points, and those through gorges which fifty
men can defend against whole army. II
was at one OF these points that the Washing
ton Artillery were at hrs encamped, and
though only half the battalion was then
there, and we had only one company of
iniahtry TO support us, we slept as
soundly under the protection of our guns
as il we had been in fort of the amplest
dimensions.
OF the iortifcllons superadded here by
Gen. Beaufegsrd TO those Of nature, It is of
course not proper for me TO speak. The
general reader, iu fact will have a sufficiently
precise idea OF them by cOnceiving a line
Of forts some two miles in extent, zig-zag IN
form with angles, salients, bastions case
mates and everything that properly belongs
10 WorksOf this kind.
The strength and advantages Of this po-
sitiOn at Manassas ale very much increased
by the fact that fourteen miles further on
is a position Of similar formation, while the
country between is admirably adapted to
the subsistence and intrenchment Of troops
10 numbers as large rs they can easily be
manOeUvred on the real battle feld. Water
is good and abundant; forage such as is
everywhere found in the rich farming dis
tricts o. Virginia, and the Communication
with all parts Of the country easy.
Here, overlooking an extensive plain, wa
tered by mountain streams which ultimately
lind their way to the Potomac, and divided
into verdant fields Of wheat aud oats and
corn, pasture and meadow, are the head
quarters Of the advanced forces of the army
Of the Potomac. They are South CarOlini-
ans, Louisianians, Alabamians, Mississippi
ans and Virginians, for the most part; the
FIRST two, singular enough, being in front,
and that they will keep il, their friends at
home may rest assured. Never have | seen
a finer body Of men-men who were more
obedient to discipline, or breathed more
self-sacri6cing patriotism.
As might be expected from the skill with
which he has chosen his position and the
system with which be encamps and moves
his men. Gen. Beaureeafd is very popular
here. doubt if Napoleon himself had more
the undivided confidence of his army by
nature, as also from wise policy, he is very
reticent Not an individual here knows
bis plans or single move Of q regiment be-
fore it is made, and then only the Colonel
and his men know where it goes TO. There
IS not a man here who can give anything
like a satisfactory answer how many men
be has or where his exact lines are. For the
distance Of fourteen miles around yOu see
tents everywhere, and from them you can
make rough estimate of bis men, but how
many more are encamped on BY the roads
and in the forests none can tell. The new
conner, from what he sees at first glance, puts
down the number at about 80, 600 men; those
who have been here longer estimate his
force at AZ, 900 to $4,000, and some even At
60, 600 strong. And there is the same dis
crepsncy as to the quantity of his artillery.
So close does the General keep his affairs 10
himself his left hand hsrdly knows what his
right hand doeth, and so jealous is be of this
perOgatiye of commanding officer that !
verify believe if be suspected his coat of any
acquaintance with the plans revolving with
in nam, ne Wosfd essss ~ fsS'l-l l-i---'-