Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-03-13
Position and Strategic valu. Of Manassas.

ginia he will find that this semi circular shape
Of the Potomac continues down nearly to
Aqua Greek, and as far up as Hsrper's Ferry,
the greatest curve, however, being between
Occoquan river Unto which Bull Run empties, }
some Is or Is miles below Washington, to Lees.
burg about 25 above it. Within this space it
approaches q half circle, on the outside of
which is Washington, and on the inside some
what south Of the center and respectively 49,
25, and 32 miles out, are Fairfax, CentreVille,
and Manassas. A line drawn from the mouth
of the Oceoquan river to Leesburg would pass
between Fairfax and Centreville, while Ma
nassss is not much further from Leesburg than
it is from Washington, and is still nearer the
mouth Of the Occoquan, as well as Dumfries,
another point still further down.
Thus with Manassas, Centreville and Fair
fax as a base Of operations, bodies of men can
be thrown out with about equal facility from
any point from Occoquan river to Leesburg
between which their main lines extend, or can
be concentrated as easily at any point within
the semi-ciIcle or the wings Of the army can
reyolye to meet an attack from any portion of
it as far west as the Blue Ridge, and north to
its junction with the Potomac.
The face of the country, after leaving the
Potomac bottoms, as you advance into the
interior, is billy, and covered for the most part
with dense growth Of either hard timber or
old field pines. These pines, which form a
dense thicket, impenetrable by cavalry must
not be confounded with the pine belonging to
the original forests, and which is getting very
scarce in those parts. The old field pines have
only sprung up within the last seventy years,
on fields worn out by cultivation, being en-
tirely unknown before that period. While
our Government was deficient in cavalry las
summer, they afforded an excellent cover for
our infantry scouts, which caused the rebel
cavalry to give them a wide berth. When
they had to be passed. fsvorite plan was to
send some farmer ahead on foot and in his
shirt sleeves, so as not to excite suspicion
If no danger lurked in ambush, the cavalry
followed.
The New Orleans Picayune of the 14th of
July had a letter from a special correspondent
at Manassas Junction, dated July 7th. We
make the following extract, which will give a
complete idea Of the strength of the position
This place still continues the headquarters
Of the army of the Potomac. There are many
indications Of an intended forward movement,
the better TO invite the enemy to an engage
ment, but the work Of fertilization still con-
tiHues. By nature, the position is one of the
strongest that could have been found in the
whole State. About half way between the
eastern spur of the Blue Ridge and the Po-
tomac, below Alexsndria, it commands the
whole country between so perfectly that there
is scarcely possibility of its being turned.
The right wing stretches of towards the
headWaters of the OccOqusn, through wooded
country, which is easily made impossible by
the Telling of trees. The left is a rolling table
land, easily commanded from the successive
elevations, till you reach a couHtry so rough
and so rugged that it is a defense to itself.
The key to the whole position, in fact, is pre-
cisely that point which General Beauregard
chose for its center, and which he has fortified
50 strongly that, In the opinion Of military
men, 5000 men could there hold 20 900 at bay.
The position, in fact, is fortified in part by
Rafnra herSaf Z a of
nearly equidistant from each other, in front OF
which is a ravine so deep and so tnickIy wood
ed that it is only passable at two points, and
those through gorges which fifty men can de-
fend against a whole army. Ii was at one of
these points that the Washington Artillery
were at first encamped, and though only half
the battalion was then there, and we had only
one company Of infantry to support US, we slept
as soundly under the protection Of our guns as
il We had been in fort Of the amplest dimen-
sions.
OF the Notifications superadded here by
Gen. Beauregard to those Of nature, it is, of
course, not proper for me to speak. The gen
eral reader, in fact, will have a sufficiently
precise idea Of them by cOnceiving a line Of
forts some two miles in extent, Zigzag in form,
with angles, salients, bastions casemates, and
everything that properly belongs to works Of
this kind.
The strength and advantages of this position
at Manassas are very much increased by the
fact that IL miles further on is position OF
similar formation, while the country between
Is admirably adapted to the subsistence and
entrenchment Of troops, in numbers as large
as they can easily be manGuvred on the real
battlefield. Water is good and abundant;
forage such as is everywhere found in the rich
farmer districts Of Virginia, and communica-
tion with all parts Of the country easy.
Here, overlooking an extensive plain, wa
tered by mountain streams which ultimately
find their way to the Potomac, and divided
into yerdant fields OF wheat and oats and corn
pasture and meadow, are the headquarters oi
the advanced forces Of the army of the Poto.
mae.