Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1864-06-22
THE DEFENCEs OF RICHMOND

porth aroundto the east, are too strong for
lrect attacks. Grant has moved further
o"h the Chickahominy, and will adj
hhce from The east and southeast t.
R rom tho New Bridge 10 Bottoms Bridge
ne Chickahomny runs southeast course
or seven miles. New Bridge is six miles
east-north-east from Richmond, and Bot
som's Bridge is twelve miles east OF Rich
Amond. Between these two bridges the
river runs almost directly from the town,
and below Bottoms Bridge it ceases to be
available for defense The road from
H Richmond to New Bridge, after crossing
the river, passes short distance northeast
VIC Galnes' Mills, and then turns east. run
hing past Coal Harbor to White House.
M1he White House Railroad runs east from
Islchmond, and crosses the Chickahominv
shree-quarters Of mile above Bottomis
bridge. South of tho railroad. and para,-
lel to it, distant from half-a-mile TO a mile
XSrom it, is q turnpike, known AZ the vii
A #lismsburg road. 1t crosses the Chickoho.
miny at otlom's Bridge, and passes down
the Peninsula to Williamsburg and York
N town.
On Tuesday morning Gen. Grants line
extended from Coal Harbor four miles
east OF New Bridge, to Despatch Station.
q On the railroad, two miles northeast of
Bottoms Bridge. 1t was about five miles
N long and faced southwest. Burnside was on
the northern flank. lie bad contracted
\ bis line SO as 10 DO opposite Coal lIarbor.
Bethesda Church, nor tn OF II, wss held
only by cavalry pickets, who would retire
N On any demonstration OF the enemy. -
Smith was south of Burnside Wrigh:
south OF Smith; Hancock south of Wright;
and Warren south of Hancock, holding
the southern flank at Despatch Station
N Cavalry pickets extended south O. Des-
Il patch Station, about mile to the Will
N liamsburg road. The northorn Federal
a flank WAS about eleven miles from Rich
mond the southern about thirteen.
n This line confronted the enemy on
high ridge running parallel with the river
from Coal Harbor down almost to the
y railroad. 1t Was very strongly fortified
TOO strongly 10 be captured by assault
a Grant was digging his parallels and works
10 capture it 5y siege. Below Bottoms
Bridge the Chiokahomiuy is not defended,
aud the Federal army could, by move
N ment in that direction, cross the river and
N turn this position of the enemy. The top
OF the ridge fortified by the Confederates.
isst Hat table land, about mile broad,
X covered with but few forests. On it are
Gaines Mill and Gaines House. At the
A back it slopes down to the Chickahomipy
4 swamp, Where the railroad crosses, the
swamp Is wider than it is above. The
trees growing up from the river are larger
and the foliage more luxuriant. A high,
long trestle bridge is necessary for the
crossing. Between this bridge and New
Bridge are various roads and crossing pla-
ses built by Gen. Mcclellan. All of them
are now used by the Confederates. From
The swamp, which is here nearly two miles
vide, and without tree excepting those
which grow up out of the river, the hills
slope up very steeply on the Richmond
side. Heavy forests cover the tops and
aides of all Of them, and along the entire
lsnge there is every opportunity for Con-
iederate defense An army crossing the
vide expanse of bare swamp from the riv
er's edge to the Eases OF the hills would
run great risks. At New Bridge, Old
Tavern Hill is the name OF the ridge. Be
low it, the next peak is Lewis Hill and then
Trent Hill. Below Trent Hill ia the rail
road crossing. and the Chickahominy
swamp here joins the White Cak Swamp,
vast wilderness, extending south of
Richmond and almost to the James river
The railroad crosses the upper corner of
this swamp, and then passes through the
tsIr Oaks Swamp. A more dismal place
than Fair OAKS Swamp can scarcely be i'm
sgined, The pine forests, nearly all of
them slashed 10 make abbatts the soft
ground, with water ooziug ou. at every
iootssep; the thick undergrowth, and the
damp, di'agreeable atmosphere, are we'll
remembered Dy all who have ever been
there Every road, over which even bo-
dies Of foot soldiers have TO go, must be
built Of timber. In this swamp the battle
@f far Oaks was fought. Grant must
pass it, and if it is successfully crossed
new obstacles will confront the advance
;, From Old Tavern Hill, southeast, runs
she outer ridge of the Richmond defenses.
~ ~, Is from five to six miles from the town.
Inc inner ridge is parallel to it, and about
'hree miles from town. Various little
streams, some emptying into the James
rNer. ana some into the swamps, form de-
presSlons and gulles of great assistance in
forming the defensive line From Fair
oaks swamp the outer ridge slopes gradu-
ally up, and on the top are fortfications
defending the approaches by the various
roads. If the Coal lTarbor line /, carried
or turned by the Federal army, the Chick
shominy must be crossed then the hills
beyond it carried; then Fair Oaks Swamp
muit be captured and after all, the ar
my, still Eve miles from Richmond, will
be confronted by other hills bearing the
defensive works Of the town.
The works southeast of Richmond, are
almost as formidable as those northeast of
II. The strength of the defsnses on the
New Bridge road has already been stated,
On the railroad and the Williamsburg
road, tier after tier of forts confront an
advancing force. Abbattis protect all
They are on high places, from which their
cannon can sweep along the roads aud
IS,er the fields. They cannot be turned,
~. White Oak Swamp, south Of them,
fAoootq No ad for Nanlxinp Dar-