Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1865-04-18
OUR REcENT CAPTURES.
The Towns Recently taken from the
Rebels.
SKETCH OF LYNcHBURo. VA.

bhkIGh OE LlANhbUhGY VA
The city of Lynchburg to which Cen
ersl Lee was retresting when captured,
and which has, since that important event,
been surrendered to q small force of our
scouts, under command of nameless lieu
tenant, is situated on the routh side Of
James river. 1t Is well built upon high
bluff, the streets, which run parallel With
the river, being built upon levelled benches,
and presenting very picturesque appear
snee. It was connected with Richmond
by the canal lately destroyed By Sheridan,
and also by two routes Of railroad. The
trade and manufactures of the city in to-
bacco were very great, there being in 1860
not less than thirty tobacco foundries. The
Lynchburg water works are one of the
largest in the country. The population in
1860 Wss twelve thousand. For q long
time past the city has heen an important
depot of supplies for Lees army. In De-
cember, 1868, General Averill made raid
upon the city, but failed to reach it. Gen.
Hunter also failed in the spring of 1854.
General Sheridsn's raiders, in February
last, penetrated to within few miles Of
the city, but made no attempt to capture il,
The city was lately strongly fortified BY
General r. E. Colston, and could probably
have withstood serious siege. The cap.
ture of this position leaves Danville the
only city of Importance in Virgin a now in
the hands of the enemy.
SKETCH OF MONTGOMERY, ALA.
The first capital Of the rebel confederacy,
the capital of Alabama and the county seat
of Montgomery county, is situated on
high bluff of the Alabama river. Before
the war it had q population of about ten
thousand souls and a very large trade in
cotton. Two iron foundries and cotton
gin factory we're the principal manufacture
ing establishments Since the beginning
of hostihties gun factory was built, but
up to October, 1864, though finished, it had
never been operated, owing to the impos-
sibility of obtaining hands. The city was
strongly fortified, but rather weakly gar
risoned. 1t Rss the headquarters Of the
''reserve foro6 of Alabama" Major General
Jas. M. Withers commanding, but was gar
risoned by only s email force of Young
men and boys. This force marched out TO
meet Msjor General L. d. Rousseau in
1854, when he made his famous raid upon
the Montgomery and West Point Railroad; /;
Dub EeOussoau soub bHon WOrQ 70 "qO nome
and not to hsrass him, as he never fought
women and children" 1t is 3 singular
fact that the first rebel capital, Montgom-
cry, and the second, Richmond, fell into
our hands within twenty-four hours Of each
other.
SKETCH OF SELMA, ALA.
Selma, Ala, reported captured by Gen.
james d. Wilson, is the county seat Of
Dallas county, Ala, and located on the
Alabama river. It is q small town OF
about two thousand inhabitants, and before
the beginning Of the rebellion it possessed
large trsoe-principslly in cotton-and
had considerable manufacturing. The
presence of shot msnufactory at this place
early made it one of importance to the
rebels; snd having, shortly after the Sc
cession of the State, established an arsenal,
powder mill, &c, at the same place, rail.
road was built, connecting it by railas vel
as river with Montgomery, then the rebel
capital. Steps were also taken 70 iortify
il, and early IN 1852, when Grant and Buel
had penetrated TO Oorinth, Miss, and were
raiding within short distance of the town
works were hastily erected. They wer'
not strong enough, however; to exclude The
gallant c&vRlrYmeu Of Gen, Wilson'S com