The eastern clarion. [volume] (Paulding, Miss.) 1837-1863, 1861-05-03

HAHrEa's FERET-TAe great interest
attaching Just now to this important
town. may serve to render a description Of
it acceptable to our readers. IN its to-
biography. It Is one Of the most remarka-
Die localities on the face Of the globe
a Thermopyln, that a scientific engineer
with a suaiciency Of heavy ordinance, and
four or Eve regiments, could hold against
the world. The town lies just above the
mouth Of an opening in the Blue Ridge.
and at the confluence Of the Shenandoah
and Potomac rivers, whose united waters,
in the opinion OF Dir. jefferson, forced
The passage and "tore down tho mountain
from lie base" just between those two
rivers that flow on either side along the
mountain, rises gradually, a high promon-
tory upon which the town, for the most
part, is built. Extending up some half
mile or more to Camp Hill, so called from
he fact that troops of the United States
we're eneamped there during the admins
tration of John Adams, the apex oil the
,~cclivity s. reached, and thence a oorres-
ponding decliyiy is seen on the other
.lde.
The slope from Fast 20 West. is. as we
nave said gradual. but the sides of the hill
acing North and South are rugged and
RECEPTIONS. The summit Of the alll.
therefore,. can only bee reached from East
I'd Wet; from the iorm.r 10y passing
he narrow gorge between the m~PuuHslu-,
"a the Maryland side, which could be
-vept by csnnon from the hIii above, or
q N- - E-L- DIS 4s8 -
hy passing through Virginia territory in
he Shenandoah valley ard tie APP
reaches IN that direction also could be
swept by cannon planted on the mil.
The potomac. which Is about a fourth
e a mile wide az the Ferry, l. crossed by
substantial railroad bridge which could
lc destroyed. and thereby cut oil all ac-
ess from the Maryland side. When ~ is
Considered that the troops that would bee
,ouveyed from Washington or from the
Northern States. could not approach the
own from any other quarter than this,
Except those that might bee sent from the
West, and that would have To come
through nearly three hundred miles of
Virginia territory where they would have
10 pass a narrow dehle of not more than
thirty feet. at the base of the mountain
and could be Gaked 10y batteries FROM thg
hili before mentioned and from the plain
fTrpFsa
face of a strong military force Th.
mountain on the Maryland side NIGH
have batteries planted upon il 10 dislodg,
the forces from the hills Of the town, j
they were not properly protected with
earth works but the besiegers would not
be able to damage the musket factory
which is erected along the Potomac. auo
upon which their guns could not b,
brought TO bear nor the rifle factory. on
the shenandoah, which would be com
plctelv covered ard protected from the
point indicated 10y the hills aiIuded TO
Taking altogether. we know not a position
anywhere that could so easily and eiieCtu
ally DO held by a small force against 3
largeoue
We have little doubt that the sevcsa.
regiments OF volunteers, to the number
two or three Thousand men. that could be
had in the thicb.y populated counties o
! Jefferson, Frederick. Berkeley and Leu
doun, az a few hours notice have already
been concentrated at Harpers Ferry, un
less Lincoln had anticipated such amove
ment and thrown in large bodies Of hi'
mercenaries previously. He has had
some ninety Dragons there, b~equeathed
him bv the late Administration but they
could have been easily overcome II not
reinforced. We know the men OF that
country tnflf courage ana eAEtEtAeN -t
the use of firearms. and feel assured tina.
they viii render a good account OF them
selves whe engaged with the Northern
hordes. But IT. unfortunately. the hire.
linrs Of the Administration hrst occupied
the ground. we may expect to hear of
bloody work. A report was circulated
here yesterday, though we bad no tele.
graphic communication with Washington,
that a conflict was raging 81 Harper's
Ferry. The intelligence purported to
have come from "a member OF the Con
/ v|ention. and may be reliable, though we
are not warranted in saying so.-Lyaetj ug
lrguuaa.