The Democratic press. (Eaton, Preble County, Ohio) 1860-1865, 1864-06-16
THE DEFENSES or RI0HXOND.

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The portion OF the Chickahom.
my which Gen. Grant is now ap-
proaclling, embraces the strongest
part Of the defenses of Rich mOnd.
The Chickallominy valley and
swamp have already been described.
Between this valley and Richmond
there is another valley. The gro, n
ascekds from the Cllickahoniny 20
. higher ridge, the crest of which
is about mile from the stream -
Beyond this ridge again it desccnds,
and then slopes UP TO IL second
tFidge, ,ahOut alnileand ~ half from
the city. The Ground is then
rather level until the suburbs are
reached Grants northern flank
does not extend beyond the road
to Meadow Bridge. His southern
flank now reaches the road to New
Bridge, six miles below.
Various r0a IL run out of Rich
mond. The Frederick, burg rail
road runs north west, Iassing be-
yond Grants flank. The Gordons
Vile railroad runs N, und crosses
tho ChickAhominy at Meadow
Bridge. brook turnpike eros. es
at Brook Run Bridge, mr. Meadow
Bridge. The Mocha icsville turn.
pike runs north east, and crosses
the river at MechAnic.yille. The
New Bridge road runs east. cross.
ing ut New Bridge As Grants
northern flank does not extend be.
low Cold Harbor on tee New
Bridge road, the lower roads are
not now available to him.
The COatederales have made "
very good use OF the two ridges
and valleys which defend Richl
mond from the north to the east -
They have strong fort alongsi,.e e
Of the Brook t1Iupike. 1t sweeps
that fort for mile or more. On
the outer ridge. u mile north. east
OF this one, and standing between
the turnpike and the Gordonsville
railroad is another large tort. Its
guns can control movements OH
both roads fora mile in their course
up the valley utter they cross the
river.
On the inner ridge, inside of this
fort, is aEother commanding the
railroad and turnpike, should the
tlrst fort be successfully passed.
For two miles, in front Of this work
the ground slopes down. and then
abruptly ascends to the ourer ridge
on which the first tort s,anis.-
The guns of this fort sweep the
entire space. These forts, with
another, two and a half miles north
east "t the city, hear the Mcehan.
icsvilie road form the northern DE-,
lenses of the city. bitches and
abattis are in front of all, and in
addition to- the Chlckuhominy
swamp, the h i'll sloping up from
it OH the Confederate side, is ter,
raced with riAe,pits.
Against attacks from the direc,
tion OF MechanicsviIle, the defenses
are equally strong. On the outer
ridge, three miles from the city, is
u large earthsork. 1t stands along.
side Of the MechaniceviIlo turn.
pike, aud commands the road down
to the river, the bridge. and The
entire three quarters of a mile up.
on Grpnt's side. with the a liacent
fields. l. has ontworks anil aba.tis.
Should this fort be passed, Lowev.
or, OH the inher ridge. two miles
from the city willbe found another,
an immense sructure, with every
species of defense known in war.
fare. 1t commands the first fort,
and all the intervening ground
Besides these, on the outer ridge.
on the top OF Golding's Hill, a peak
in the ridge on the Confederate
side, just below Me hanicsville, ia
q third fortifcAtion, which contains
q huge magazine. ...a . ,
Below Gold!ng's. on the Confed.
crate side,, the next peak in the
ridge is called Old Tavern Hill,
and the third, Trent Hill. The
New Bridge road passes between
them. Old Tavern Hill has two
forts, and an abaltis of fallen trees
covers it's sides all the way down
to the road and the bridge. After
passing this hill and reaching the
inner ridge, the road passes be.
tween two huge forts, three miles
from town, which can sweep it all
the way to Old Tavern Hill An.
other inside Of these commanls
the road after It passes the inner
ridge. These forts are all con.
nected by smaller redonbts and at
every angle and turn the road is
commanded by cannon. From the
north. around TO the east, Rich
mond is strongly defended.