The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1862-04-19

The Field Of War In Eastern Vir.
Einia.

We copy the following interesting de.
scription Of the seat of war in Virginia.
from the New York Evening Post. The
advance of our armies in this region. and
the important events about to transpire.
gives additional interest to the localities
here mentioned:
That part Of Eastern Virginia which may
be properly called the field of war embraces
nearly the whole of the tide water and
Piedmont regions--bounded on the east by
| the Atlantic and the Chesapeake Bay, on
the south by North Carolina, on the north
and northeast by the Potomac. and on the
! west by the Blue Ridge. Harper's Ferry
and Winchester are beyond the Blue Ridge,
and in what is called the Valley This is
the department Of Gen. Banks. that Of the
Shenandoah, and comprises belt of coun-
try about fifty miles wide. and running the
depth of the whole State in Southwesterly
! direction. between the Blue Ridge and the
! Alleghanies. Beyond Banks, on the west,
/ is Gen. Fremouts department.
Eastern Virginia has been divided by the
President into two departments; that of the
Rappahsnnock under General Mcdowell.
comprises. besides part Of Mary land, the
District Of Columbia aud that part of Vir-
ginia between the Blue Ridge on the west
and the Fredericksburg and Richmond
Railroad on the west. General McClellan's 5
department consists of all the area east Of
the Fredericksburg Railroad. 1t is probable
that Nc Clellan extends as far as he chooses
10 operate 10 the south, in Virginia. and
that General Woors department. at and
about Fortress Monroe, is within the com
mand Of the superior general.
/ JAMES RIVER.
| The rivers OF Eastern Virginia nearly all
empty their waters into the Chesapeake Bay.
the only exceptions being the New River
and the Holston. in the southern part ef
The State. Leaving out of view the Poto-
mac. the James is the principal river of
Virginia. 1t meets the tide at Richmond,
one hundred miles from its mouth. and is
navigable to that place by vessels of one
hundred and forty tons. The only consid-
cradle tributary Of the James, below the
Blue Ridge. is the Appomat,ox. which flows
into i: at City Point. and carries seven feet
of water to Petersburg, capital of Dinwid-
| die county. ten miles from City Point and
/ twenty-five miles south from Richmond
The James is navigable to City Point. nine
teen miles south east of Richmond. for large
vessels. and 10 jamestown Island il has wa
ter enough for a frigate. On Harrison S
Bar. few miles below City Point, there are
fifteen feet of water q. low tide. 1t flows
into Hampton Roads, near the mouth Of the
Chesapeake Bay. and its entrance is closed
by Fortress Monroe, Newport News and
our cruisers in tha. neighborhood.
tue YORK RIVER.
The York river. on which lies Yorktown.
is formed By the junction Of the Ma:tapouy
and Pauiunky. and falls into the Chesa-
peake Bay, above the mouth Of the James.
Its appearance is rather that Of an estuary
than q river. AT its mouth il is about three
miles wide. and it is forty miles long. 1t is
navigable for large vessels. and is one mile
wide at Yorktown. Ga the peninsula form
ell by the near spprosch Of the James and
York, in their course, are situated Yorktown
and Hampton; its southern extremity is
Newport News. and at the southeastern
point is Fortress Monroe. Yorktown is
seventy miles eastsouthest of Richmond.
and the latter city is one hundred and fifty
miles from the sea by water.