Year: 1861

The place is thus described by an intelligent
correspondent of the New Orleans Piegy9Hs in a
letter of the 7th:


This place still continues the headquarters of
the army Of the Potomac. There are many in
dications of an intended forward movement, the
better to invite the enemy to an engagement, but
the work of fertilization still continues. BY na-
ture, the position is one of the strongest that
could have been found in the whole State.
About half way between the eastern spur of the
Blue Ridge and the Potomac, it commands the
whole country between so perfectly that there is
scarcely possibility of its being turned. The
right wing stretches off toward the head waters of
the Occoquan, through wooded country, which
is easily made impossible by the falling of trees.
The left is a rolling table land, easily commanded
from the successive elevations. till you reach a
country so rough and so rugged that it Is de-
tense to itself The KEY to the whole position, in
fact. is precisely that point which Gen. Beaure
gard chose for his center and which he has for
tihed so strongly that in the opinion of military
men, 5000 men could there hold 10000 at bay.
The position, in fact, is fortified, in part, by Ma
ture herself. IL is a succession OF hills, nearly
equidistant from each other, IN front of which is
a ravine SO deep and so thckly wooded that it is
impossible only at two points, and those through
gorges which fifty men can defend against n
whole army. 1t was at one of these points that
the Washington artillery were at first encamped,
and though only half the battalion was then
there, and we had only one company OF infantry
to support US, we slept as soundy under tine pro-
lection of our guns as if we had been in fort of
the amplest dimensions.


Of the Notifications superadded here by Gen.
Beauregard to those of nature, it is of course not
proper for me to speak The general reader, in
fact, will have sufficiently precise idea of them
by conceiving a line of forts some two miles in
extent, zig gag in form, with angles. salients,
bastions, classmates and everything that properly
belongs to works of this kind.


The strength and advantages of this position
at Manassas are very much increased by the fact
that fourteen miles further on is position of
similar formation, while the country beyond is
admirably adapted to the subsistence and en-
trenchment of troops in numbers as large as they
can easily be maneuvered on the real battle field.
Water is good and abundant; forage such as is
everywhere found in the rich farming districts of
Virginia, and the communication with all parts of
the country easy. s- .r.-.


Here, overlooking an extensive plain, watered
by mountain streams which ultimately find their
way to the Potomac, and divided into verdant
fields of wheat, and oats, and corn, pasture and
meadow, are the headquarters of the advanced
forces of the army of the Potomac. They are
South Carolnians, Louisianians, Alabamians
Mississippians and Virginians for the most part
tho first two, singularly enough, being in front
and that they will keep it their friends at home
may rest assured. Never have l seen finer
body of men-men who were more obedient to
discipline or breathed a more self sacrificing
patriotism.