Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-02-18

I u fNUse
circumstances, can see no cause tor chang
Ing the opinion formerly entertained: and will
now add that ia higher perfection in our ma
valarehtteCturc. or the increased size of our
shipS should render greater draughtof water
necessary, aud our ships are not 10 be nut into
4 state tOr service uWt,i their arrival in Ha,np-
ton Roads If they are then 10 receive their
guns, their proyisionsaud lheir stores from the
naval Depoi-ii Hampton Roads, instead of
anoioing protection 60 the whole Chesapeake
> t. answer Only tie purpose Of protecting our
W0honsiNe SHIPS, He mann object OF Naval
Depot at Ihe mouth OF tie Chesap-ake will be
defeated, aud the objections 10 Norfolk pro
pOrtionabiy increased.
How Tor the Notifications OF Hampton Roads
may Justify ships dropping down there Ia a de-
ienceless state, Will dcpeni on experiments
yet 10 De maae, and on the extent OF those
experiments. IL Is now doubted whether one
OF Onr largest ships underthe most favourable
circumstances, could steer through the mar
row aiid crOoked draiu. which forms the chali-
mel over The dats without grounding. The
means, however, OF ceteirus this point,
are tcrtuiat. y AZ hand, and It would not be
difficult go maze thetriil ----l OrN river on
poses no obs tacleS to the passage Uf the larr-
est sinpS, as high up as the Clay Banks, which
oppoats 90 be de NEST suitable place on that
stream for a navy yard. II OJers advantage in
streams of water tor labour-Saving purposes,
and ntay he protected from maritime attack
by batteries placed at York and Gloucester
Po'uts, and ntir the Channel on the Oyster
ShOaiS above, lvhlcr arc bare at low-Water.)
as well las on the ShOale>t part OF York Spit
ana passage OF al enemy may be retarded BY
means OtbomOs aIl other distractions. Tie
climate Is SAID 10 De SUBJECT to the same dis
eases as those which prevail AT Norfolk and
Il IS said 10 be liable te attack from Severn
river. 1t has, however, this advantage over
NorlolA On addition to its depth of water,)
ttldt SmPS can 90 TO Sea with most winds with
winch they leave the place named ~ most
suitable tor Naval Depot. Capt Sirclair's
reports and survey York river will afford
Non further Information on this subject. The
ldnSier Islands were surveyed by Captain *.
I. Spcnce-tO that survey and the report
which accompanies il, her leave to refer
HoTfor alit the information possess respecting
them.
Commodore Rodgers aud myself, on our
passage down the Potomac, ia conformity
with your instructions. touched IA at ST. Ma
=, which IS situated near it, mouth. In
point OF healthineSs Of situation, security from
Inaratlme attack, aud Il avn in,ormed) from
ice, excellence of harbour, ami the easy in
2rcsS and Cgress 10 an inUer harbour. at all
umes, 20 ships drawing not more than twenty
tour feet and halt OF water, the advantages
II oners by means OF streams Ut water FOR
laOoEr saving purposes, and is convenience
To forests OF fine timber, 81. Mary'S is, in INV
opinion, superior to any other place OF which
hayea knowledge on the Chesapeake for Ma
val Depot.
How far distance from the sea, and the
necessity Of concentrating a land force for IS
protection from an enemy (Which may attack
Il
advantages OK whether IL may be considered
a disadvantage - have 50 concentrated, IN
healthy situation, y force which may easily be
transported for the protection Of other im-
poftant points, or IN line, (taklng iatO con-
SlHeiato1 us central position, and the speed
with which vessels may get 20 sea with IA
yourabie wind, through beth channels of the
Chesapeake) whether such objections should
be constituted disadvantages, I Beg leave 10
submit 70 the cecISiCu OF government; they
involve military questions OF which l AN not d
competent Judge. / shaii merely observe,
firstly, that whatever OBJ ectlUIs may be made
20 thedisiance OF st. hAry's from tbs ocean,
when we measure the sinunstIes OF the chan
nrl, we ST. Il fInd the objection nearly as
strong 10 Norfolk. And when we take into
estimation the time required 10 sail this dis
lance, we shall ind the comparison much in
iavOr0s 81. Mary'S; and secondly. that what
ever Objection may be made 10 the assemblage
o. military force for the protection OF ST.
Maty S., stlli stronger objections might be
made 90 ther aSaemblacc from the distant
parts OF Virginia, FOR the defence of Norfolk.
And tie same remark may apply TO YORK. --
Norfolk has Owed IFS protection to t.oops
drawn from Richmond, which was thereby
left exposed 10 attack. ST. Mavy's would he
guarded b. those from Baltimore and Wash
ineton, aud placed Il. the NEST favourable
situation to euaole them T. AID Ia theirdefcuce,
as we'll as that of Richmond. The establish
ment ot Naval Depot ~ ST 6idry's is not in
compatible with the plan susges ted for Dr0ter-
ting the Chesapeake by means OF "A DiOyeahie
force thatshall seek tie protection Of batteries
at Hampton Roads and York River. The pro-
lection OtSt Mary's WOuld depend gTeatly on
that force, and the destruction ofthe Naval De
pot established there would require a force
,ln addition I o the one left TO watch our Geet)
pToportiohed TO the protecting force stationed
al ST. HdryS, tor il Is not usual or prudent 10
leave "a enemy unguarded III the rear, when
he may be IN situation to avail himself Of the
advantages which defeat might offer
y superior enemy fleet which could (by pla-
cling itself between the Naval Depot ut Saint
ntarys, and orr naval rendezvous at Hampton
Roads cat oil all communication between
them-couid, by blockade, render both fleet
and depot equally useless, was the latter al
NOrlOik. The command Of our own waters
the object for defending the mouth Of tie
Chcsapeake) would secure 70 Us an easy com
muuicatiOn between orr fleet aud depot
And II thiS superiority is not to be obtaisel
our naval depot, placed wherever II NAV be-
will not answer the end for which il was ilten-
q ii.
4 naval depot at 81. Marys would afford
safe asd cCnmOdiOus winter retreat for our
iiects, which experience has taught me can
not be found in Hampton Roads aud when I
have reason TO believe cannot be found i'm
YORK river would, from its central ana
convenient situation, afford protection and
convoy TO the commerce Of the whole b1y
even were rs mouth bi0ckad6d By an enenVs
fleet an advantage which could o0t ne afford
cd by York or Norfolk. Ii would serve as
rendezvous toy the light cruisers from Balti-
more, where they could easily einle an ne
my blOCkddin- fleet by awaiting themsclve
Of the choice Of channels: an ADVANTAGE
which lork does not possess IN 50 eata de-
gree, and ~ which Norfolk has been found
10 be entirely destitute. Tie blockade of
the NOUN 0i the Chesapeake would cogsfi-
tHte the blockade OF Hampton Roads; conse-
quentlV tie supplies OF tnc uavai depot. pla-
CgI there ty4uId hf frrtfad fo fit-.e ,.,,..'..,r