Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-06-17
THE CITY-HALL TOP.
A VIEW OF TOWN AND COUNTRY
FROM THIS GREAT EMiNENcE.
Tbe River and the WoodIsnds-Battlc-
Fields and Historic Ground--Rumf-
nations and "reminiscences.

To make this trip measure ot heI 'ohV
stoadiness Of hand and on average degree
OF health and strength are necessary. Inc
dizzy height of the building * confusing
and the loose. unnailed scaGoid-planks
used hy the workmen for the prosecution
OF their work are misleading. The over
turning OF one Of these or mlssttp
npon them would land one into a PIT
with the same fatality that would attend
a mistake IN making the tOiisome as
cent of Mont Blanc. Tho falling frag-
ments of stone. bricks, and blocks DIS
tuTbed or displaced by the tread OF the
climber Of the ladders and scaifoding. Is
not Measuring Of safety. Gs they rebound
from one beam 90 another IN their down
ward fight to the cavornOus basement 81
the building, which contains the d,br7s. or
odds ands ends of things that have accu-
muigfcd in the three years already con-
sumed in bringing the structure TO us
present state.
An fNsPIEISG PANORAMA.
These dangers and difficulties overcome.
10 one with a clear head and good eyes a
magnificent and inspiring panorama Is
opened and gran l oblect-lesson u Deiore
the beholdcr large page OF nature ana
history Il, as II were. uuioidod 20 tne read
er's vision supcThly illustrated with Nerlla-
bic hills aud valleys, with Woodland anu
green of forests aud fields. and with SHIN
merinc waters that dazzle the eyes and
form mos, inspiring sight.
As ono pCrches himself upon the topmost
point of tins structure and sweeps the no.
iizun with his ewes he perhaps taxes IN
moro historic points and certainly more
oncc-bloody ground tnan could be seen
from ANY other enlDence on THIS CONT
mont or IN the New world. To begin.
Il. d
falls. lasbIpg itself into fury III It's mad
race u reach the sea. Then. a. II IN
sober after-thougbt. ashamed OF It's
anger and mad temper. 10 assumes
the majesty and dignity of queen sweep
Sue around the historic Falls planta-
ton. with It's shgltly-heaying bosom, with
the calmness OF royalty itself. II then
gracefully brushes and makes Its obe-
Ysnco to what was once the beautiful
farm known o. Powhatan. the Tcputcd seat
OF the renowned Indian king Of that name.
who was the father of the romantic
princess, Pocahontas, who gave 70 TINS
cont ncnt it, first page OF real ma
tive romance. Apart from this love episode
oi CAPTAIN John Smith and his royal sweet
heart, and the early exploits OF such eX-
plorcrs As himself and Captain Newport,
The river al this point - very interesting
as being at the head of navigation and
tileweter. Such being the case the hills
Of Richmond and Manchester with the
ahoriginees was "A place of strategic I'M
portanec, a point of offensive and defen-
fiye operations--a dividing line between
Eastern Shore and Highland Indians "a
place 10 he strivon after ana fought Tor by
both parties.
THUS FAR AND 40 FURTHER.
Hero the geography of the country suS-
Ccsted 10 the uututoTed savage the motto:
"Ihus far and no farther shalt thou go.
The innumernblcTe of Indian battles 10
he found even al this late day strongly at
test the theory Of the military Importance
Cf these hills Banishing from the mind
Indian traditions and mythical lore, and
,asl.ur the evastill further down the cir
cuitous James, the faint outlines and trees
of Drewry's Bluff are observed, and then
comes looming up the later history OF the
traitor Arnoldsnnd his marnuding gang as
they sailed up the river. pillaglug and de-
stroying everything within their reach.
Their robbery and arson, however,
dwndlcd into insignifcance by the side
of the later horrors that rose up hke u
black and bitter cloud and envelOped the
white brothers, and made the James aud
,ts tributaries almost red with the blood of
each other, and shook Tho granite hiiis OF
Richmond to their very bases, by the IN
cessant discharge for three years Of the
heaviest artillery of modern times, whose
roar could be heard here and whose reNer-
beratiuns ratified the window-elass or thou-
sands of houses now standing within signt
Of the capital Of Virginia.
THYE-coVTRED BATTLE-FIELDs.
From this lofty perch also, within less
than hundred yards OF the Capitol OF tho
doomed Confederate States, where rang
the clarion and avenging voices OF William
4. Nancey. Wigfall. Toombs. and Hunter,
and the protesting speeches OF stephens
and a few Others. ran be seen. not the san
summary battle-felds Of Mechanicsyille,
Gold Harbor. Gaines's Mil, &c, and the
marshv banks of the ChickahOminy,
but the deep blue forests that cover
md environ them and fringe the
sniasmatic swamp, that presented an
Snsurpassable barrier reinforced anu
backed rs it was by Lees brave
men. to the further advance OF General
McClellan's grand army. Here to-day Is
sen the curling SMOKE ascending like
incense above these hills 10 Heaven,
then could be seen the forked tongues OF
fire as il issued from the hot mouths OF
hundreds of cannon and the throals oil
thousands of smaller firearms.
HISTORIC TURNPIKEs.
Looking still further 20 the north and
from the river the eve takes in what APP
pears to be tiny little threads or paths,
but such they are not. but broad turn
pikes which were the main arteries through
which in those trying DAYS rushed To bat
4lc the most valiant army that ever
frontcd an enemy. Thousands OF vote
rams who marched weary ana worn
and foOt-sOre over these, III some
places, stony thoroughtmcs, VIII re-
rognlze Mechanicsville turnpike, the
81 J 1. 4 "a.
Broad-strcet or Three-Chopped road and
ihe Wcstham or River road, aud others OF
les note. The memories of all these roads
h1eadipp to Rome" (Richmond) STIR the
heart and move the eyes 10 tears as they
ave looked at to-day in the bater light
that followed the futility Of the tremen'
dous energy and the herolsm of Lees army.
OF these roads the Meadow bridge has
been for the most part abandoned or super
reded by the Henrico turnpike and New
North road.
WHERE STUART DLED.
Looking still further north and up the
Brook turnpike can be seen within lev
smiles the spot where the merry and gallant
j. L. Il. Stuart poured out hls blood; ano
Iebanon-then the home OF the Hon.
James LYONS, where Fitzpatrick made ms
famous raid and from which he dropped
shot almost within the corporation OF
Richmond.
Further northwest in tho direction OF
the Westham OF River road the eye. but iol
the foliage of the trees and the topography
Of .he country, could see the farm upon
which Colonel Dahlgren was met III hn
dashing raid and forced TO change his on
ward march 10 Richmond and 70 make th'
detour around the city, which he came sc
nearly entering. This change OF pro
framme no doubt cost that brilliant oihcel
his life. which he lost in the ambuscade II
Hing and Queen county.
cHEsTERFIHLD HEIGHTS.
Looking over the river the vision take
IN the heights OF Chesterfield county, on'
OF the loveliest of which Is Spring HUI
once crowned with the battery OF tina
name. and consequently famous as To
fort that overlooked and commando
Belle Isle with its PRISON. The tortlhca
ton az this point has recently bcel
almost levelled. aud Ia the very cen
tire OF the space where once trown
cd the artillery Manchester has built
wster-tower, from which she draws be
supply. This tower is most conspicuou
object. and attracts attention from man
points o. Richmond. HOLLYWOOD. where Ii
the remains Of 100 COnfederateS, an
Oakwood, too, which contains the preoiou
dust Of Is, 900 more. and the Union cemeter
with its Federal dead running up IN NUN
bers 10 thousands are also in sight.