The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1864-06-24
From tie Philadelphia Age.
Approaches to Richmond.

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Approaches to Richmond.
In abandoning the Mechanicsvile route
to Richmond Gen. Grant has done wisely
The Notifications of the city, from the
uorth around to the east are too strong
for direct attacks. Grant has moved fur
Their down the Chickahominy, and will
advance from the east and southeast
From New Bridge to Bottoms Bridge
the Chickahominy runs south east course
for seven miles. New Bridge is six miles
east-north-east from Richmond, aud Bot
TOMS Bridge is twelve miles east of Rich
mond. Between these two bridges the riv-
yer runs almost directly from the town,
and below Bottoms Bird it ceases to be
available for defence. The road from
Richmond to New Bridge, after crossing
the river, passes short distance north
east of Gaines Mills, and then turns east,
running past Coal Harbor to White House
The White House Railroad runs east from
Richmond, and crosses the Chickahominy
three-quarters of mile above Bottom 8
Bridge. South of the railroad, ard pa
rallel to it, distant from half mile to a
mile from it, is turnpike, known as the
williamsburg road. 1t crosses the Chick
ahominy at Bottoms Bridge, and passes
down the Peninsula to Williamsburg and
Yorktown
Below Bottoms Bridge the Chicka-
hominy is not defended, aud the Federal
army could, by movement in that direc-
ton, cross the river and turn this position
of the enemy. The top of the ridge forti-
fed by the Confederates, is fiat table
land, about mile broad, covered with
but few forests. On it are Gaines Mills
and Gaines House. At the back it slopes
down to the Chickahomiuy Swamp
Where the railroad crosses, the swamp is
wider than it is above. The trees grow
ing up from the river are larger and the
foliage more luxurant A high, long
trestle bridge is necessary for the crossing.
Between this bridge and New Bridge are
various roads and crossing places, built by
Gen. Mcclellan. All of them are now
used by the Confederates From the
swamp, which is here nearly two miles
wide, and without tree excepting those
which grow up out of the liver, the hills
slope up very steeply on the Richmond
side. Heavy forests cover the tops and
sides Of all Of them, and along the entire
range there is every opportunity for Con-
federate defence. An army crossing the
wide expanse of bare swamp from the RI
ver's edge to the bases of the hills, would
run great risks. At New Bridge, Old
Tavern Hill is the name of the ridge
Below it, the next peak is Lewis Hill,
and then Trent Hill. Below Trent Hill
is the railroad crossing, and the Chicka-
hominy Swamp here joins the White Oak
Swamp, a vast wilderness, extending south
of Richmond and almost to the james ri
yer. The railroad crosses the upper cor.
ner of this swamp, and then passes
through the Fair Oaks Swamp. A more
dismal place than Fair Oaks Swamp can
scarcely be imagined. The pine forests,
nearly all Of them slashed to make abattis;
the soft ground, with water oozing out at
every foot step; the thick underground,
and the damp, disagreeable atmosphere,
are we'll remembered by all who have ever
been there. Every road over which even
bodies of foot soldiers have to go, must be
built of timber. In this swamp the bat
tie of Fair Oaks was fought. Grant must
pass it, aud if it is successfully crossed
new obstacles will confront the advance.
From Old Tavern Hill, southeast runs
the outer ridge of the Richmond deftnces.
1t is from Eve to six miles from the town.
The iuner ridge is parallel to it, and about
three miles from town. Various little
streams, some emtyiug into the James
River and some into the swa.nps, form de-
pressions aud gullies of great assistance in
forming the defensive line. From Fair
Oaks Swamp the outer ridge slopes gradu-
ally up, and on the top are Notifications
defending the approaches by the various
roads. If the Coal Harbor line is carried
or turned by the Federal army, the Chicka.
hominy must be crossed; then the hills be-
yond it carried; then Fair Oaks Swamp
must be captured; and after all, the army,
still five miles from Richmond, will be con.
fronted by other hills bearing the defen-
sive works Of the town.
The works southeast of Richmond, are
almost as formidable as those northeast of
it, The strength of the dcfenses on the
Now Bridge road has already been stated.
On the railroad aud Williamsburg road,
tier after tier of forts confront an sdvan.
cling force. Abattis protect all. They
are on high places, from which their can
Il Al. I
the fields. They cannot be turned, for
White Oak Swamp, south of them, pre-
sents no advantage for fanking party.
North of them the Confederate works,
along the Chickahominy above New
Bridge have already been unsuccessfully
tried.
INCREASE OF EMIGRATION There
were four thousand two hundred and eight
IN oi,rht arriyolS of Enropaon +, 70