Image ID: AIMK

Gardner’s Photographic Sketch Book Of The War. Vol. 2, No. 82. View on the Appomattox River, Near Campbell’s Bridge, Petersburg, Va. May, 1865. The scenery hereabouts is of a highly romantic character, the ground being very much broken, and the water, “now seen in sunshine, now lost in shade,” having to find its way, as best it can, over an exceedingly rough bed, and through various intricate channels formed by the rocks and several small, but densely wooded, islands, until it reaches the narrow granite gorge, or strait, spanned by the bridge. Through the latter it rushes with accelerated force to Bolling’s Dam, and thence pursues its course more quietly to City Point, there to be swallowed up by the mightier James.
On the right hand side of the view here taken is introduced a portion of one of the “Merchant Manufacturing Company’s Cotton Mills,” established in the early part of the year 1832, and employing, we are told, one hundred and fifty to two hundred operatives. In the middle ground are several other buildings, some being used for the grinding of corn and such purposes, and others as saw-mills, the water power being here very extensive; while in the background of the picture is to be seen the high road abruptly ascending from Petersburg, by way of Campbell’s Bridge towards Ettricks, and into the county of Chesterfield generally.