The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1862-05-15
GREEN MOUNTAIN FREEMAN, MAY IT, 1862
The CITY of Richmond.

The CITY, by last census, had population OF
thirtv-eiyht thousand souls but the great In
Aux of civil and military official and refugees
from other parts Of the State, has probably rails
ed it. of late to IL much higher figure. Ii Is SIT
mated at the head of the tide- water, at the low
er falls of James River, about one hundred and
fftv miles from its mouth. Inc city occupies
a most picturesque situation, being built on
Richmond and Shockoe hills which are separa-
ted by S5hockoo Greek and surrounded by beau
tiful scenery. II is regular y laid out and well
built the streets, which are lighted with gas,
crossing each other at right angles. On Shoe
koe Hill are the State Capitol and other public
buildings. The Capitol Is an imposing edIiice,
and contains IN its centrai hall HoNDONs ceie-
brated statue Of WAsnINToN. On the east "
the square IS the GovornJr $ mansion, now 0c.
cuped by the drunkard and traitor Fletcher.
jeff Davis resides in 1t private mansion, "lhch
was purchased tor hiu, by the rebel GoYernment
The city has many line public buildings. Six
banks, thirteen newspapers ana twenty three
churches. In Of the three Presbyterian church.
es jeff Davis worehirs.
The fails Of James River ahord immense
water-power, and there are very extensive lac
torres, including four cotton and about fifty to-
bacco factories, -four mills, rolling mills, iorg-
es, furnaces ,machine-shops, &c, the latter, and
particularly the Iredegar iron Works have been
Of immense service to The rebels in turning out
ordnance ma erial OF war. The annual export
OF Richmond before the rebellion reached to near
ST 600 GOO, and of imports three quarters ot Il
million; but SINCE its foreign commerce has been
extinguisheu. Vessels or gunboats drawing ten
feet Con ascend to within u mile OF the city, ,tt
IL place called Rockets, from which the rebel
capital could be conveniently shelled. Vessels
OF fifteen feet drought ascend to Warwick, three
mes below. A canal has been built around
the tails, and above them there is navigation
Tor over 200 miles Tne James River ana Kan
awha Canal, intended to extend to tovlngtcn,
is com Ted for zoo miles.
Richmond has very extensive railroad commu
ncallons, being the terminus of five roads. run
ming TO Ercderlcbsburgh and the Potomac (now
in our hands. TO West Point and the York river,
On our hands,) to PeIersburgh and Norfolk,
(partly in our hHnda,) to Danyille, Va. to Jack.
sons River, by the CCntlal Railroad, and from
these the come ctions lead all through The South
egn Stacs. Opposite the city are the no towns
Of Spring Hill and Manchester.
Richmond was looi.led in l742, became the
Capital Of the State Of Virginia IN 1873, and IA
Jane, 1861, il was made the seat OF goVernmeu /
fll the Confederate States OF America, whose
Congress assembled there on July 20. It's his
tory since ghon is onjy too familiar to the country.
Around the city are various hills extending /.
great distance, On the most important o. which
notifications were erected last Summer, in the
days OF the Ca to Richmond cry. Some Of these
viii be found indicated in our diagram. what
late may now await the city depends upon jeff.
Davis and his army.