Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1865-04-12
gaiIgg y empire.
Sketches of the Cities OfPeters-
burg and RlchmOnd.

burg and Richmond.
In view of the important war news the
following sketches of the cities of Petersburg
and Richmond will be of interest:
SKETCH OF PETERSBURG.
Petersburg, which was formerly en- exceed
ingly handsome and hourishing post town, as
well as port Of entry, Of Dinwiddie County,
Virginia, is situated on the right or south
bank Of the AppomAttox River at the cross.
ing of the Great Southern Railroad, at a dis
tance oftwentytwo miles south of Richmond,
and ten miles from James River, at City
Point, in latitude 81 Ia north, longitude n
20 west. In respect of population and COM
mercial advantages, with facilities for a rap.
idly increasing business, it ranked as the
third town in Virginia The town displays
much architectural taste in the manner in
which it ig built, and also possesses several
important public buildings. IL contains nu.
merons churches, in which several denomi.
nations are represented Before the war it
had also number OF cotton factories, three
banks, two rope-walks, one wooden factory,
one iron furnace, and mills for almost every
purpose Of trade IL had also educational
establishments and newspapers.
There is unlimited water power about
Petersburg, as the ascent Of the tide, beeom-
ing arrested by the falls directly above the
town, affords extensive supply. Some enter.
prise has also been manifested by the construc-
tion of a canal around the falls, by which
boats Of light draught can ascend the river
Tor distance OF nearly one hundred miles
The town can be approached by vessels of
one hundred tous ascending the river, while
those of larger size are obliged to discharge
at Watham's Landing, about six mil es below
where the Southsde Railroad has its eastern
terminus, connected by the Appomattox Rail
road with the mouth of the river and CITY
Point, where vessels of large size are chiefly
discharged. Some idea may be formed Of
its trade and industrial resources from the
fact: that from ten to fifteen thousand
hogsheads of tobacco we're formerly exported
annually,
THE CITY OF RICHMOND.
Richmond, by the last census, had popu
lation of thrty-eight thousand souls, bat the
great influx of civil and military officers and
refugees from either parts OF the State, has
probably raised it to much higher figure
1t is situated at the head of tide water, at the
lower falls Of James River, about one hun.
dred and fifty miles from its mouth. The
city occupies a most picturesque situation,
being built on Richmond aud Shockoe hills
which are separated by Shockoe Creek and
surrounded by beautiful scenery. 1t is reg
ularly laid out and we'll built, the streets,
which are lighted by gas, crossing each other
at right angles
On Shockoe Hill is the State capitol and
other public buildings. The capitol is an
imposing edi6ce, and contains in its central
hall Houdens celebrated statue of Washing.
ton. On the east of the square is the Gov.
ernors mansion, jeff Davis residence was
private mansion, which was purchased for
him by the rebel Government. The city has
many fine public buildings, six banks, thir.
teen newspapers, and twenty-three churches.
The falls Of James River afford immense
water power, and there are very extensive
factories, including four cotton and about IF
ty tobacco factories, -four mills, rolling mills,
torges, furnaces, machine shops, &c, the lat-
ter of which, and particularly the Tredegar
Iron Works. have been OF immense service
to the rebels in turning out ordnance and
material Of war. The annual exports of
Richmond before the rebellion, reached nearly
seven millions of dollars, and its imports three.
quarters Of million dollars.
Vessels or gunboats drawing ten feet can
ascend to within mile of the city, at place
called the Rockets Vessels of fifteen feet
draught ascend to Warwick, three miles be-
low A canal has been built around the falls,
and above them there is navigation for two
hundred miles The James River and Kan
awha Canal, extending to Covington, is COM
pleted for two hundred miles.
Richmond has very extensive railroad
communications, being the terminus of five
roads-running to Fredericksburg and the
Potomac, to West Point and the York River,
Petersburg and Norfolk, to Danville, Virginia,
to Jackson's River by the Central Railroad
and from these the connections lead all
through the Southern States. Opposite the
city are the two towns of Spring Hill and
Manchester.
Richmond was founded in l742, became
tire capital of the State of Virginia in I779,
aud in June, 1861, 1t was made the seat Of
Government Of the rebel States, whose Con
greSs assembled there on July 20. Its histo-
ry since then is only too familiar to the coun.
try. Around the city are various, hills extend.
ing great distance, on the most important Of
which Notifications were erected soon after
the rebellion broke out.
Forney's Washington Chronicle Of April
lth, speaking of the evacuation Of Richmond,