New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-07-09
TIE CAMP ON JAMES RIvER-ITS SUR
ROUNDINGS.

EOUNDlNGS.
Directly opposite 4" the old Harrison Mansion"
lives or did live, Edmund Rlfin jr., of the old
Rnffn who " fired the first gun at Fort Sumter.
Ruilin junior had beautiful place when wac there
some years ago. surrounded by belt OF forest
trees upon the bluff, which is eighty or hundred
feet above the river, which is here about a mile
wide. The view from the top of the house was a
beautiful one, overlooking the river and the old
Harrison plantation AMI several others. From the
same spot there must now be panoramic view Of
Cen McClelan's camp and il the Rebels are al.
lowed the opportunity erect batteries upon Ruff
fms flrm-entirely masked as they would be
shells could Re easily dropped upon tie lower ground
OF the east side.
The RutIin farm ia a very large one having some
200 acres in cultivation. The wheat crop, when
knew the place. averaged go acres year, and pro-
duced from 10 10 ~ bushels mn acre. TIE crops
ranged from coo 20 i700 bushels year corn from
500 10 1000 bushels. There were 90 slaves on the
place. whose labor and the application Of mari had
raised the place from III condition OF an old wonout
Gotten plantation TO this condition OF fruitiuness.
H. atOres OF aud wheat meat. vegetables, and
fruit are applied 20 the usee Of our army one Rebel
viii have to pay fair proportion OF ms " war tax
There are Inanv other large farms along the west
side Of James iiyer, from City Point, though gen
orally hidden from the river by high bluffs and for
rest. winch will bedly be infested by gueTil
las who annoy vessels AZ they did last year on
the Potomac.
plantations, owned by the Harrison family, for more
fhan two hundred YEAR.. ! rode FIX or seven niles
through cultivated fields all in Enclosure.
Below the Harrison plantations lies the =" Orgain
estate" inherited some year, ago by Wan. Allen,
who then became the greatest landowner IN VIZ
cina There were 1900 acres in the ho'le farm,
and 10 900 acres bc.ide including james Island and
" old Jamestown" and " Berkley,' the General
Harrison place. wbere the army b. now cpc1upod.
lie took with tie and some seven or cighf hundred
slaves but they could not work quarter OF the
land i, has grown up to forest.
The o. iect Of his ancestor was 70 DIVE of all
willie population; TO accomplish whica he bought
al the small farms surrounding him, and made
desert Of them That y real slayeholding policy.
Republican policy would be honestly applied in
using the crops OF his place for present needs, and
III rrconyerting the land TO the use Of men, instead
OF wild beasts.
Directly opposite lies the great Sandy Point
estate" formerly owned by Robert Il. Boiling Of
! peier,buIg-a very wealthy, INTEL, gent, good man.
lie sold It 50 RlciaTd BAYLOR, very large slave
holder on the l.sppahannock, below fredericks-
burg.
The Sandy Pom, plantation embraces the point
between the james ard Chickahominy, and contains
! : 600 acres and when owned by Mr.. Boiling had
100 acres under cultivation OF which 900 acres
were annually IN wheat, about 80 III corn, 20 in
oats, and the remainder IN clover, ana there were
$50 slaves on the place. We venture TO ray that
these people dl not rejoice at the change o. owner
ship, nor would they weep 10 see their present mas
ters great crops devoted to the use Of MON army
| This place was the home Of the Lighiioot
family in the ancient days Of Virginia splendor
and il has eight miles Of nayigab!c shore Inc, and
would be better location for large camp than the
ground now occupied By the army. II Is 20 miles by
water below Richmond and H. by land.
Ten miles toward Richmond, nearly all the way
through thick woods Of pine and oak, along narrow
unwOrked road, | came 10 the mansion OF eX-Presi-
dent Tver q long irregular wooden house, standing
Or high ground, mile and "a bali back from the
river, which is nearly hidden By forest which
abounds in all ths part Of the State in s primitive
concion. 7 he soil here the upland is still clay,
ana travelling in a we; time is not done for pleasure
President Iyler had good wheat farm Of / 100
acres-6J0 cleared-but il was in wilderness.
without a near neghbor except oycr,ecrs, and
" poor white trash" Tie road toward Richmond,
in those days, was simply horrible; and the comfy
seat at Charles City County, FIVE miles nonhward,
where the eX-President did his court business,
ike many of the capitals OF Nirgini. countes-a
capital without houses. 1t had but one
Before parting from the dead lion will give him
one kick, by copying and applying 10 himself an
epit.ph which Ound upon the monument erected
to tie memory Of lis faithful old horse:
Here g the bones o. iaithful old horse General
asd Is years who in oil Lis long service never blandered bat
once v ould that hs master could .sy the same"
Berkly," the place where the army is now en-
camped ID about dozen miles from the Tyler lace.
There are some good farms i'll the country back from
the river but the great bulk Of the land il forest,
he country between here and the Chickahoniny
comparatively level. clayey SOIL with bad roads, and
inhabited by Z. misunderstanding people.
The church which served rs place OF worship for
The first Harrison family still serves the gentry OF
that neighborhood. IL Is a most woc-begoue looking
edifce outside and III, or was when | attended II
few DAYS ago. If It has improved any since IT has
done moro than | ever heard ol any other old church
IL Virginia.
The next planstion above Berkly" IL called
" NestOver. All plantations are pamed, and are
os well known by name as towns al tue North.
"WcstOyer' was the residence Oi n Col. Byrd,
whose tomb II in the garden. lie buii. an cxpen-
sye house of English Drich, more than I'D years
400 There was one maullepece that cost S2,S'O.
he house was beautifully located upon tie bank oI
the river. which was walled with brick, ana Inc
lawn inclosed with brick WALL entered BY massive
iron gates.
The Byrd efste WAS extensive, but after beng
reduced 10 al area Of 900 acres OF woodland ana
s,iti acres arailo-And that run down 20 starvation
o.. II PASSED from the hens into the hands o.
john -l den, one Of the most Improving farmers
mon James River, who renovated tie Rand, and
made il productive and beautiful. IT be slil owns
IT, slall reeret biz fate thai Of personal irena
IL seems hardly possible Tor such man 10 oe
Secesh Rebel
Between Berky and Westoyer, there Is an e1-
tep,iye marsh. which Mr. Selden tried 10 reclaim by
dykpg out the tide and ditching, hut unfuccear
fully. That will he IA line Of defense nDon tfat
flank against all enemies but nushetcee. wh.n ~
viii produce by ire rho '.s.!.