The daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1863-1864, 1864-06-09
Tbe Defences Of Richmond.
From the Philadelphia Age.

General Grant is approaching, embraces
the strongest part of the detences Of Ricn,
mond The Chickahominy valley and
swamp have already been described: be'
tween this valley and Richmond there is
another valley. The ground ascends from
the Cb,ckahominy to ahgh ridge, the crest
of which is about mile from the s'ream
Beyond the ridge it descends again. anu
then slopes upward to second rldge, aoous
a mile and halffrom the city. The grouno
is then rather level until the SUBURBS are
reached. General Grants northern hank
does not extend beyond the road to MEADOW
Bridge. His southern flank now reaches
the road to New Bridge, six miles below.
Various roads run out of Richmond. The
Fredericksburg railroad runs northwest, pass
inc beyond Grants flank. The Gordons'
willie railroad runs north. and across the
Chickahominy at Meadow Bridge The
Brook turnpike crosses at Brook Run Bridge
near Meadow Bridge The Mechanicsville
turnpike runs northeast, and crosses the
river at Mechanicsville The New Bridge
road runs east, crossing at New Bridge.
As Grants northern flank does not extend
below Coal Harbor on the New Bridge
road, the lower roads are not available to
him.
All these roads cross the Chickahominy
on wooden bridges, though between New
Bridge and Mechanicsville there are two or
three fords. The Gordonsville Railroad and
Brook TURNPIKE, after crossing the Chick
ahominy, north of Richmond, pass north
ward some distance along the northern slope
of it's valley. The Mechanicsville turnpike
A.
Grants side, by straight road, three
quarters of mile long, the field on both
sides being all the way bare of woods and
commanded by the enemy's guns The New
Bridge road aScends the hill on Grants side
by zig gag course. 1t is also commanded
by the enemy's guns. Owing to the heavy
Notifications on the Confederate side in 1862
these roads were useless, and no attempts
were made to cross upon them.
The Confederates have made very good
use of the two ridges and valleys which de
fend Richmond from the north around to
the east. Two-and a half miles north Of
the town, on the iDner ridge, they have q
strong fort along side of the Brook turnpike.
1t sweeps that road for mile or more. On
the outer ridge, a mile northeast of this one,
and standing between the turnpike and the
Gordonsvie Railroad is another large fort.
1t commands the turnpike and railroad all
the way down the slope to the Brook Run
and Meadow Bridges over the Chickahomi-
nv. Its guns can also control movements
on both roads for mile in their course up
the valley after they cross the river. The
cannon also command the slopes on Grants
side, above Meadow Bridge. On the inner
ridge, inside Of the fort, is another com.
manding the railroad and turnpike, should
the first fort be successfully passed. For
two miles in front Of this work background
slopes down, and then abruptly ascends to
the outer ridge, on which the first fort
stands The guns of this fort sweep the
entire space: These forts, with another,
two and half miles northeast of the city,
near the MechanicsvilIe road, form the
north defences of the city. bitches and
abattis are in front Of all, and in addition
to the Chcbahominy swamp, the hill slo-
ping up from it on the Confederate side is
terraced with rifle pits.
Against attacks from the direction of
Mschanicsvils, the defences are equally
strong On the outer ridge, three miles
from the city, is large earthwork. 1t
stands alongside of the Mechanicsville turn.
pike and commands the road down to the
river, the bridge, and tho entire three quar-
tiers of a mile up on Grants side, with the
adjacent fields 1t has outworks and abatts.
A thick wood runs down from it to the bor-
ders of the swamp, which has been CONVEX.
ted, by cutting down the trees, into strong
defence. Should this fort be passed, how,
ever, on the inner ridge, two miles from the
CITY will be found another, an immense
structure, with every species of defence
known in warfare. 1t commands the first
fort and all the intervening ground. Be-
sides these, on the outer ridge on the top
of Golding's Hill, peak in the ridge on the
Confederate side, Just below Mechanicsville
is third fertilization. 1t was built by Joe.
Johnston, and contains huge magazine.
1t commands the slope up from the swamp
to Mechancsvill, on Grants side, and from
the high ground on which it stands, can
control the entire Chckahominy valley,
from Meadow Bridge down almost to New
Bridge. The fords between New B age
and Mechauicsville cross the Chickahomi-
ny at the foot of Goldiug's Hill and the
guns of this fort can bear on them all.
The New Bridge road is strongly defen-
ded. Below Goldings Hill, 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 abatts of fallen trees covers its sides all
the way down to the road and the bridge.
After passing this hill aud reaching the
inner ridge. the road passes between two
huge forts, three miles from town, which |
can sweep it all the way to Old Tavern |
Hill. Another inside of these commands
the road after it passesI the inner ridge. |
These forts are all connected by smaller
redoubts, and at every angle and turn the
road is commanded by cannon. From the
north, around to the east, Richmond is
strongly defended. Besides the earthworks,
the thick woods, swamps and smaller water |
courses are all employed. Should the
Chickahominy swamp be passed, the forti
ticatious beyond it must be carried.