Year: 1865

| was the dim outline of a spire Evident


ly ItWas one of the piRnacles of the world
renowned capital of Virginia. Inspired
with the thought of being actually within
/ the limits of the city which for so long a
time had liked the attention of all civil
Ized nations, and which so many thousands
had perlshed in the attempt to reach and


conquer, we put spurs to our horses and
with flying feet they bore US son to Rich
mond - a-IL


There are three successive lines of field
works of great magnitude and strength
covering the approaches to the city on its
Southern side. All the commanding
points are crowned with forts which were
designed to sweep with a raking fire every
possible avenue Of attack. The first of
these lines is about seven miles out from
Richmond, auu all of them rest their
Hank upon the James. The second line,
which is about five miles below Manehes-
ter terminates in Fort Darling This
famous work is only sort of lunette, and


one marvels that so insignificant an affair
could have figured SO extensively in the
history Of the war. But its vast import
ance as part Of the defences of the Con-
fedeTate Capital was derived simply from
the nature of Its position. It is built up
on the verge of Drury's bluff, at an alti-
tude Of about one hundred and fifty feet
dUON6 Il0 SuIldC6 OF Ln6 TlVef. ne
channel of the James here extends for
two or three miles in nearly straight line,
thus enabling the guns of the battery to
sweep its course with a plunging fire for a.
distance OF mile at least. Meanwhile
the battery Is so situated that no direct
fire against it could be obtained from any
point on the river. The lofty and almost
perpendicular wall Of bluffs compelled
our water batteries to fire in a direction
which was both laterally and vertically
beyond the plane of effective range


Fort Darling still remained just as the
rebels had left it and probably lust as 1t
was after the destructive repulse of our
iron clads. The great columbiads still
pointed grlmly through the embrasures
and seemed in their CyclOpean hugeness
and blackness even yet the untamed de-
mons of rebellion. Stranded on the
beach far below was the ruined iron-clad
which was sunk by these monsters at the
time of the fruitless attack made by our
fleet. 1t was painful reminder of that
disaster, but there was consolation for it
IN the fact that pastthat same spot trans
port and steamer were now bearing In
serene and undisturbed majesty the tri-
umphant flag Of the Union. The eye
wandered far down the winding course of
the James, begirt on either side by chains
of hills bestudded with the camps of
armies and ploughed with the deep fur
rowing of war. Up the river the city of
Richmond could be plainly seen, the col
onaded front of the capitol building,
iutting forth in Roman-like prominence
high above all the rest Despite our
aversion for the cruel despotism which
there rose, reigned, and fell, the view in
spired US with a respectful awe not un-
like that which would be impressed by
ones first glance over the ancient city of
the Caesars. There stood the colossal
statue of the great American Fabius, and
from thence the Catiline of the republic
had just fled to worse than Punishment.
There had been first raised the affairs
and the temples of liberty, and there
were they first stained with the blood of
the victims OF slavery. Like Rome on
the Tiber, the subdued and half-ruined
citadel of ancient liberty and modern
tyranny, and the birthplace of the grand
est ideas and the worst of heresies, even
so loOmed up before us Richmond on the
James


An hours ride brought us to the ven
erable and lOng-ago finished town of
Manchester. This dingy-looking village
is doubtless old enough to be the great
grandmother of almost any city on the
continent But its rusty and forbidding
aspect reminds one rather of the shriv-
eled countenance Of some very aged
spinster, who never could love anybody.
and consequently never could be loved
Evidently there was no hospitality here
except for lover of secession or an E.
Z. V. of unquestionable primogeniture.-.
We hastened therefore to the pontoon
bridge and without further opposition
than demand of our pass by the guard,
we entered Richmond Threading our
way among the ruins of the burnt dis
trict, we were forcibly reminded how like
a dying viper secession had in its last
throes turned and bitten itself. Unable
any longer to strike its fangs into the
heart of the country, it expends its con-
suming poison in its own flesh. SIC SEM
per tyrdnn5s.


Our journey terminated at the Spotts-
wood House, once one of the most fash
ionable and aristocratic hotels Of the
South. At the time of our advent the
establishment was being overrun by a
very miscellaneous crowd of soldiers,
among whom the blue and gray uniforms
were about equally divided. Gentlemen
of the colored persuasion were not
difficult to be found who for a very
trihing sum were willing to perform any
possible act of kindness. Indeed these
were apparently the chief proprietors of
the concern, of which there seemed to be
a very little hotel and a great deal of
barber-shop. A. I. SEcHAND.