, 1861-06-03
Description Of Hnrper,8 Ferry.

This position, which the Insurgent army is
Eaid to be fndustriously fortifying, lies in the
deep valley formed At the confluence of the
Shenandoah and Potomac rivers, Immediately
on the west side OF Blue Ridge, where that
mountain is cut through by the Potomac
Mr.. Jeferson'a famous description Of this To-
cality, which, though 1t has been regarded Is
rather extraTagant, will be found In his Notes
on N;rqinia, and ia worthy to be read again at
this time.
At, sud Immediately below the mouth of tho
shensndoah, the valley Of the Potomac Is very
na1row-the mountains, on both sides Of the
river, rising abruptly, and to great height,
almost directly from the Eater's edge. On
the north shore, the Baltimore aud Ohio rail-
road and the Chesapeak and Ohio Canal are
constructed, @ slde by side, at the foot Of tue
mountain-Which, In many places from Har-
per's Ferry down to the point Of Rocke,
twelve miles below the old ferry, on the Mary
land side, Ia 20 closely washed by the river,
that room could only be obtained for the two
works by building heavy walls In the river to
support the ceha1, and blasting away the rock
st the foot Of the mountain, to make room
for the raiiroad- So contracted is the space,
that the right claimed by each company to the
first choice Of the ground for the location Of
their respective works, was some thirty years
ago the subject Of a severely contested suit
before the Supreme Court Of the United
States. Although, in this space Of twelve
miles, there arc some considerable bzeldths Of
leyel bottom land, yet, Just abo7e the Point OF
Rocks, and Immediately opposite Harper's
Ferry, there is none at al1-the whole ground
being occupied, as stated, BY tho two works.
Above Harper's Ferry, on the north side Of
the Potomac, the came features prevail, Off
and on, for considerable distance. The She
Eaudoah enters the Potomac from the South,
on the East side of H2rper's Ferry, washing
the Western base Of the Blue Mountain, which
there rises IN almost inaccessible cliffs between
the two rivers.
The town itself occupies very narrow plat
Of level ground, forming the point On the
south side OF the Potomac and tie west side Of
the Shenandoah The Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad crosses the Potomac, from the north
to the south side, en- 3. substantial wooden
bridge, and thence proceeds wcstwardly up
the Virginta bank Of the river, while the ca-
nal continues to follow the Maryland shore.
The current Of the Potomac is here very
rapid, and much broken and disturbed By
rushing amorg tle rocks strewn over the bed
Of the river for 3 considerable distance above
the town, in the angle between the two rivers,
d mountain rises abruptly, cutting of any
practicable communication in that direction.
The Winchester and Potomac Rai1ro3d d.
Terges from the Baltimore aud Ohio Road
precisely at the confluence Of the two rivers.
Indeed, the space is 60 contracted that tho
roads begin to separate on the bridge where
the Ohio road is continued westWa1dly on =
high wall washed By the river, and the Win
chester road pcsscs through the yalle5-here
SO NARROW that it may be regarded as the deale
Of the shcnandoak-!nto the valley Of Viz
gin'a
It is in this trap, hemmed in thus By two
rapid ziyere, and surrounded and commanded
on all sides By lofty mountaine, that the insur-
gent army is posted. To drive this army from
its position, If that were the object, would re-
qulre but little skill or effort; for to sustain
themselves there they must hold the tops OF
three mountaluBs and all the approaches
through them; they must hold a:so both
slopes OF the three mountains-aud the the
three valleys radiating from the Ferry 4 sim
gle battery placed on any Of the surrounding
hills, By force capable Of maintaining it
there, within a mile, or even more, OF the
opint Of Junction Of the two rivers, will serve
to destroy the bridges, and cut off ali tho for
css stationed on the Maryland side. Harper's
Ferry, as soon Is the Federal troops shall have
taken possession Of the point of junction of
the Manassas Gap Railroad, with the Orange
acd Alexandria road, ,-twenty-seyen miles
south Of Alexandria, may be advanced upon
In three directions, by the three valleys Iead-
ing to It; and the force now stationed there,
hemmed In where the contracted and broken
ground will permit Of no general engagement,
or any prolonged defence against artillery,
must necessarily capitulate.-N 7, Times.