Editor’s Note: This article was found by Brett Schulte at the free newspaper site Historical Newspapers of the Rochester, New York Region and transcribed by Jackie Martin.
LOCALITIES AROUND RICHMOND.—The places where an army can cross the Chickahominy are distant from Richmond: at Bottom’s Bridge, 13 miles east of the city; Sumner’s Bridge, where Gen. Sumner crossed his corps at the battle of the Seven Pines, 10 miles east; Woodbury’s Bridge, near Cold Harbor, 8 miles east; Meadow Bridge, 5 miles north; Mechanicsville Bridge, 4 miles northeast. They, and four or five others at intervening points, were built by Gen. McClellan’s army at the points most favorable for crossing; and Gen. Grant’s army will have to do the same.
The Chickahominy, although a small and narrow stream, is subject to frequent and sudden rises, which cause it to overflow (not its banks, for it has none, but) the country on each side for wide distances. It is this peculiarity of the Chickahominy which renders it such a formidable military obsticle [sic]. From the Meadow Bridge on the north to Bottom’s Bridge on the east, a distance of fifteen miles, the country, for half a mile on each side of the stream, is a vast marsh or swamp, utterly impassable for artillery, and nearly so for infantry, except where roads and artificial causeways have been made. Dozens of these roads were constructed by McClellan’s army—and if they have not been destroyed, they will prove of immense service to Gen. Grant. If they have been, new ones will have to be constructed.1
Source:
- “Localities Around Richmond.” Brockport (NY) Republic. July 14, 1864, p. 2 col. 5 ↩