The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-05-10
The Topography Of Washington.
APPROACHES TO THE FEDERAL CAPITAL

The Topography OF Washington.
APPROACHES TO THE FEDERAL CAPITAL
Correspondence Of the N. Y. Post.
| New YORK, April rs.
The topography of Washington and the
country round about is subject of interest
to the people of the country at this time,
and this is my apology for few paragraphs
to-day.
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS.
Few persons in Washington fear an inn
mediate attempt to march troops into the
city, no matter how strong the rebel army
may be. The fear is Of an attempt to shell
the city from the surrounding heights.
There are several points from which the
Capital might be destroyed, if the rebels
could succeed in planting their batteries. 1t
was generally supposed in Washington, by
the military authorities, that the Virgini.
ans encamped at Alexandria would soon
attempt to occupy Arlington Heights, op-
posite Georgetown. These Heights com
mand Georgetown, the National Observable
ry and the Presidents house. Gen. Scott
has made every preparation to occupy Ar
lington Heights in advance of the enemy,
and many persons advocate their immediate
occupation, for it was possible that the rebels
might, at night, make a forced march
towards Washington and plant their bat
teries before morning.
The provision made against surprise of
this post by General Scott was as follows:
An immense amount of powder and ball,
shell and grape was removed from the Navy
Yard to Georgetown, together with pieces
OF ordnance. Arrangements were made for
the instant transport OF men and munitions
of war across the Potomac whenever the
scouts, who cover the country for several
miles into Virginia, should report an ai-
vance of the rebel troops. The excuse given
for delaying the occupation of Arlington
Heights until after it was certain that the
Virginians were marching upon the capital
was, that under the existing circumstances
an invasion of the soil of Virginia by Fede
raj troops would be injudicious. This,
perhaps, is valid excuse until Washington
is strongly reinforced, put not single
moment beyond that time.
THE HEIGHTS TOWARD THE SOUTH.
Southwark OF Washington, on the Mary.
land side of the Potomac and mile from
the Navy Yard, is a commanding hill, upon
which the Insane Asylum stands. This bill
commands the Navy Yard, and it is not
improbable that the rebels would cross the
Potomac below Fort Washington and
march up to this point. On Monday the
government had not taken military posses
sion of this height, though it is within the
District.
There are four bridges which need guard.
ing, all within two miles of the capital
The first is mile and half directly east
of the city, and crosses over the eastern
border of the Potomac into Maryland; the
second crosses the branch at the Navy Yard
The troops coming overland from Annapo
lis would cross this bridge. This third
bridge is called the Long Bridge, and crosses
the Potomac into Virginia. 1t is one mile
southwest of the capitol building. AT
Georgetown there is stone aqueduct across
the river, across which troops might be
marched. 1t would be difficult to destroy
this work quickly, and it should be guarded
very strictly.
WHERE THE REBEL FORCES CAN BE CoNCEN-
TRATED.
There are no bills north of Washington
near enough to command the Capital; but
it is singular that the government did not
take possession of the railroad running to
Baltimore, and west over the mountains to
Harper's Ferry. On Monday the Vir-
ginians might have forwarded five thousand
troops from Harper's Ferry and Baltimore
into the heart of the city by the railroad,
which was in their hands. Arlington
Heights are about two miles distant from
the Presidents house the heights south
east of the Capital, on the Maryland side,
are mile distant from the Navy Yard;
Fort Washington is fifteen miles below the
Capital; and Alexandria, where the rebel
troops are concentrating, is nine miles down
the river. A railroad is in the bands of the
rebels, running from Alexandria to the
Long Bridge, Washington.