The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1862-07-19
THE RECENT BATTLES BErORr
!. .,-..-as 20 RICHMOND. ~ - n ~
Comments by she Richmond Exa,nas,ap
upon the Situation or Our Armvua1T
WASHINGTON, Friday. july n. 1870

lCSAAAMoAD Dy tne HlchmOnd Examiner
sg upon the situation Or Our AfmyXodT
Il -sr WASHINGTON, Friday, July IL, 1862
| The Richmond Examiner of the 9TH has been
received here. q ai .ss7..5sI46z a FIGrH
/ Discoursing~ on Gen. McClellan's present
Pc sition it says: Ia p. 3ag3aa 40 dino b-5T33
| We believe all that was known in this citv
yesterday; outside of the several circles Of
bureaucracy was that the enemy had taken q
strong position, with one of his TANKS resting on
the river about Berkely, completely under e0-
err OF his gunboats, and his extreme right reach
ing to Herring Creek, where his position is
defended by an almost impossible morass.. It
was supposed that the enemy would have been
attacked yesterday, but there had been no
lighting up to the last accounts we have had
from the lines. '5a 5ss ,9oo,5f aflJ5
1t is not to be supposed the enemy has Sc
lected these plantations as the scene Of his last
great stand, without good reasons The first
and most apparent Of these is that the West
over Landing is, perhaps, the very best, on
James River and the stream for miles up and
down being broad and deep, affo rds both excel.
lent sea.room and anchorage for his gunboats
and transports, but this is by no means the
only advantage of the position. "
. On the west Of Berkeley are innumsrable
impossible ravines, running from nearpthe
Charles City road, on the north, to James Rive
making . successful attack from that quartsR
next to impossible. Within quarter of mile
rom where these ravines begin, Herring Run
Greek crosses the. Charles City road and rum
ming in south-easterly direction skirts on the
nc north and east the plantations of Berkely and
Westover and empties into James River at the
extreme eastern boundary ofthe latter. 651G
The whole course of this creek is one i'm
passable morass, while along its northern and
eastern banks extend the heights of Evelinton.
long range of hills thatoverlook the MISSIONER
and Berkeley estates, and which offer, an eliei.
pie position for heavy guns. H Sc b3s.z3 =
1t Will be seen that, protected on the south
py the river and his gunboats, on the west by
impossible ravines and on the north and esst
by Herring Creek and the flights of Byelinton,
the enemy's position presents but one pregna.
bic point-the piece of level country north
west Of Westover, from quarter to half Z
mile in width, lying between the heads Of the
ravines and the point where Herring Creek
crosses the Charles City Road. .s?g =, bgA
But it is certain that the enemy, with his
immense resources of men and machinery, will.
IN very brief period, obstruct by art this on.
" natural entrance to his stronghold. Already
1t is within range of his gunbosts and Of his
seige guns, planted, on the Evelinton Hills
Another day may see it strewn with felled
timber and bristiing with field batteries W In
enumeratlng the advantages secured to the
enemy by his present position, his superior
facilities for transportation must not beomit-
ted. III bggs5saaao u si.s gas IT, 3H gd & gJfg
While our ammunition and stores must be-
wagoneda distance Of nearly thirty miles, his
steamers and transports are running up to the
very doors Of his tent. For the benefit of the
distant reader, we may here properly say sone-
thing OF the character of the country, to which
suddenly and Unexpectedly the seat Of war has
been shifted. Ten days ago, when Mcclellan be-
leagured Richmond, with the exception ofabout
five miles Of the Chickahominy low ground, he
the most barren and at the same time
the worst watered and most unhealthy region
of Eastern Virginia. ~ Z 20 .fa,2LF5a
Agues, hoop-poles and whortleberries have
been always the only sure crops of the country.
With radius of ten miles about the Seven
Pines, taking that point as centre, but two liv-
ing streams cross the Nine Mile, or Williams.
burg roads, between Richmond and Bottoms
Bridge. On these two roads, with the Seven
Pines az their headquarters, the very pick and
flower of the Northern army was concentrated.
and here for weeks their vigor and numbers
melted away under the influence of the missma.
bad water and southern sum- but by his hasty
trip through White Oak Swamp, Mcclellan has
emerged with thinned ranks into more genial
and. A broad, fresh river flows before him,
while his tired and hungry hordes will ind
'oundless supplies in as fair and rich valley
IS the sun shines on. Thecountry on the lower
lanes River is the very garden spot OF Virgin
q. Nowhere does the soil better repay the
oil and skill Of the husbandman. sr ss ID.
The Indianapolis Journal says that recruiting