Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-05-23
neacrIption d RIehnond .

The city of Richmond, by the last census,
had q population Of thirty-eight thousand
souls; but the great influx Of civil and mill
tary official refugees from the other parts Of
the State, has probably raised it, of late, to
much higher figure. 1t is situated at the
hesd of tide-Water, at the lower falls of James
River, about one hundred and fifty miles
from its mouth. The city occupies q most
picturesque situation, being built on Rich
mond end ShOckoe hills, which are separated
by shockoe Greek md surrounded BY beau
tiful scenery. Il is regularly laid out and
well built, the streets, which are lighted with
gas, crossing each other ct right angles. On
schockoe Hill are the State Capitol and other
public buildings. The Capitol is an imposing
edifce, and contains in It's central hall Hou-
don's celebrated statue of Washington. On
the east of the square is the Governor man
sion, now occupied by the drunkard and
traitor Letcher. JEFF. Davis resides in pri-
vate mansion, which was purchased for him
by the rebel Government. The city has many
hne public buildings, six banks, thirteen
newspaper and tWenty.three churches. In
one Of the three Presbyterian churches JEFF.
Davis Worships.
The falls Of James River afford immense
Waser-poWer, and there are very extensive
factories, including four cotton and about
hity tobacco factories, -four mills, rolling
mills, forges, furnaces, machine-shops, &C.,
the latter OF which, and particularly
the Fredegar Iron Works, have been
of immense service to the rebels in
turning out ordnance and material of
war. The annual exports of Rich
mond, before the rebellion, reached to near
1000, 600, and lis imports three-qasFteTs of
q million; but since It had the honor of be-
ing the rebel capital, its foreign commerce
has been eTtinguished. Vessels or gunbosts
drawing ten feet can ascend TO within mile
of the city, at place called Rockets, from
| which the rebel capital could be convenient
" shelled. Vessels of fifteen feet draUght
can ascend TO Warwick, three miles below.
A canal has been built around the falls, and
above them there is navigation for over two
hundred miles. The James River and Kan =
awha Canal, intended to extend to COving-
ton, Is completed for 400 miles.
Richmond has very extensive railroad
communication, being the terminus Of FIVE
roads, running to fredericksburg and the
Potomac, (noW in our hands to West Point
and the York River, lin our hands TO
PetsEsburgh and Norfolk, (psrtly in our
hands, to Dansville, Va, to JscksOn's Riv-
er, by the Central Railroad, and from these
the connections lead all through the South
eFn States. Opposite the city are the two
towns of Spring Hill and Manchester.
Richmond was founded in lT42, became
the Capital Of the State Of Virginia in lT79,
and In June, 1881, it was made the seat Of
Government for the confederate States oi
America" whose Congress assembled there
July 20 Its history since then is only too
familiar to the country. Around the city
are various hills extending a great distance,
on the most important Of which tOrti6ca-
tions were erected last Summer, in the days
of ION to Richmond" cry. What fate may
now await the city depends upon JeH. Davil
and his army.