Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1862-02-21
STRATEGIC POSITIONS IN THE
SOUTH-W EST.

are Clnch and Holston rivers. which rise in
the Allegany Mountains of Virginia 1t has
half dozen other branches, which, uniting,
form the Tennessee proper at point forty
five miles southwest of Knoxville. From
Knoxville 1t pursues a southwest direction
across the State and enters Alabama, when it
pursues a westerly course for $50 or 200
miles and then turns north and enters Tonnes
see again, crossing the State and the western
portion Of Kentucky, and entering the Ohio
eleven and a half miles below the mouth Of
the Cumberland, and iorty-seven and half
above the mouth Of the Ohio. The whole de-
scent of the river from its most remote course
to its mouth is about 700 feet Its whole
length by the course of the river is 200 miles.
1t drains surface of Al 900 square miles.
There is no perpendicular falls, and few rapids
which obstruct navigation through its whole
course. The greatest obstruction is at Muscle
shoals, Alabama, PSI miles from the mouth
to which point steamboats, ascend. A canal
thirty-six miles in length has been built
around these shoals. and above the navigation
for boats is unobstructed for $50 miles. The
river being rapid is chiefly favorable for nav
gatiun down streams.
TUE CUMBERLAND RIVER.
The capture Of Fort ID Jnelson will give us
a very strong hold ON the Cumberland and
become base for operations further on, ex-
tending in time, probably to Nashville, the
capitol Of Tennessee.
The Cumberland river rises in the Cumber-
land mountains near the boundary between
Virginia and Kentucky aud pursuing a west
erly or south-westerly course enters the State
Of Tennessee. After an extensive sweep to
the south it turns northwestardly and north.
erly. and enters and crosses Kentucky, enter
ing the Ohiu IL 2 miles cast Of the mouth Of
the Tennessee river and so miles above the
mouth Of the Ohio. The entire length Of the
river is about 600 miles, and it drains a terri
rtory Of Z 500 square miles. Ii is navigable
for large steamboats, and vessels to Nashville
2O3 miles from the mouth, and for boats Of 5
tons 800 miles further. At certain seasons of
high water, vessels Of 400 tons can descend
the river 400 miles TO the Ohio, and for half
its length boats may navigate it at all seasons.
It is the second river in size which enters the
Ohio, being inferior only to the Tennessee.
Below Nashville, the river is deep and mar
row. There are on the borders Of the Cum
berand nineteen furnaces, nine FORCES, and
two rolling mills, producing annually 1880
tons of iron valued at 81 ,G73,OOO
FORT DoNELsoN.
Fort Donelson is situated on the Cumber-
land river, sixty miles from its mouth and
fifteen miles southeas: Of Fort Henry IL
was constructed some time last summer, to-
getaer with Fort Henry, to prevent the adj
vance of our forces up the Cumberland, as
Fort Henry was built to prevent our advance
up the tennessee Ii is the counterpart Of
Fort Henry. and these two lo-ts in our pos
, session we have the key to the positions on
the rebel armies at Bowling Green and Col
umbus, and can easily prevent them from
eHecting a junction, and can cut off their
communication with the South, unless they
abdicate their positions speedily and retire
further into the recesses of rebeldom. Fort
Dpnelsou is situated on the west bank of the
Cumberland river, where that stream washes
an acute angel at Dover. 1t is fertilization
, of earth. 1t is at the intersection Of some
seven or eight post roads, and but four miles
north Of the Memphis and Clarksville Rail-
road. The position is important as control
ling the river as far up as Clarksvile. Claikes-
willie is thirty miles distant, and is the site OF
extensive aud formidable rebel works, which
have been in construction for four months
past, to protect the bridge crossing the Cum
berland on the rail- Dad route to Nashville.
THE CITY OF nashville.
In a short time if our armies progress in
p the West as energeticaly as they have done
( of late, Nashville will become a place of in
terest as connected with our movements ur
the Cumberland 1t is connected with Bow.
ling Green by railroad. Nashville is situated
II on the left OF the west bank Of the Gun Der
C land river. some two hundred miles. by the
70 course of the stream from its mouth 2SC
miles northwest Of Memphis; LOG mile.
southwest of Lexington in Kentucky, and 6Si
miles from Washington city Many Of tn,
private residences are erected on scale O.
palatial magnitude and splendor, aud IN,
% public buildings exhibit a corresponding
\ character. The new capitol, which stand.
on a commanding eminence, us feet abov,
y the river is one Of the most noble, magnif
cent and costly structures in America. The
y material is fine limestone. which was quar-
I ried on the spot, and nearly resembles marble
. The dimensions are 2i0 feet by l85 and ID,
estimated cost $ 10000 1t is built, as i
7 is stated, entirely of stone and iron, withou
Il any wood about it, except the plank on which
y, the copper roofing is fastened the floor anC
- inner walls are Of dressed stone.
There were fifteen newspapers published
- here, six of them daily Nashville contain
three banks, with total capital of S5,lS2,
500 and fifteen churches, representing tn,
J.. of the late Dr. Troost contains the larges
d private collection in the United States. Tn
y city is lighted with gas. The Cumberlant
i river is crossed by magnificent wire sus
e pension bridge, built at the cost of 800, 900
Water is supplied by being raised from tn
e Cumberland river. Six railroads now ente
e at Nashville, afording communication will
many desired points. 1t is the terminus @
the Nashville and Chattanooga railroad, 81
= miles long, which was finished in 1852, at al
expense of about $4,000, 900. The road i
=, built in very substantial manner, and com
m pletes the connection with Charleston an,
is Savannah. The commerce Of Nashville i
? very extensive, amounting annually to owe
1t 5000 tonnage, composed Of steamboats, navi
l. eating the Cumberland river, engaged in tn
l. conveyance OF passengers, and the traffic O
y goods and produce. Extensive manufacture
m ing establishments are in successful operation
N at this place, among which may be men iune
le the powder mill, the rolling mill, the Tennes
at see Iron Works, just below the city, on th
Cumberland river, which are as extensive an
tie equal in capacity to any in the United States
D. founderies and machine shops. The popua
80 ton of Nashville at the present time is abou