Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-02-13

tdSe on tVNlnS the earliest intelligence OF las
approach.
Hence, ahhouShYork river does not possess
every advantage ,lat could be desired, as it
respects either itS inner or outer harbour il
does IN my opinion, unite more o. the cssenti-
al req ulSiteS than nature has bestowed on ~
most ANY other piace.--From its particular
position which tie chart viii shCw) w hen aid
eli by naval force, it is the only point de-
serving the name OF the Ike, 10 the Chesapeake
Esy.
row proceed to examine st. Marv's river,
This rIveri is situated or the north side OF
the Potomac, about seven miles aD0yc Point
LOOK Out, the next above Smiths Point wiki
which II forms the entrance iIso the Potomac.
by some II is urged chat this place. Us respect,
saiubr,y OF climate, is preferable 20 either
Norfolk or YORK. AS 4 safe and commod!ous
harbour 1t Is, perhaps, not exceeded ny any IL
tue United states. AS It's entrance Is about
) miles wide, aud the water > 70 - feet dcep {:
for y to ! miles up, its width gradually de-
cIedSes, until Nou pass two Projecting pOiutS
az opposite sides, within winch the depth at
low water Is about = ! ieet-aud the river from
po,ut To point about half mile wide-trom
thiS 10 place about two miles iurtier np. the
river is, toy two other projecting points, d,ini-
niSed 10 about 600 yards III width, present
ing above those points "a beautiful basin, III
which there il, neas the edtrsnce inside, 20
or II feet at low water.
This river above, where il is perfectly sus-
ceptlble OF deience against naval force, pre-
SCENTS i'll several respects, the most Sc
tuclnS reasons Tor It's SeteCtiOu is
Naval Depot and rendezvous.-3it, sit
tuated as ltIs, in a narrow peninsula la
wing the PatuNent on the one side, and POto-
mac on the other, .nie protection OF such an
establishment would re attended with great
eApe.ce. To protect il against land force,
it would be necessary to erect strong bate
rIes, and tie annual eXpence of maintaining an
circtent garrison III them would be very
great.
such an establishment shoulc; not oniy be a.
a huf ctln ri tl,.,
means OF protecting our own commerce
IN every art OF the bay. This latter adVau-
tage, atniucliUed TO think, is not possessed in
a superior degree bN ST. Nary'S. owing TO its
great distance from the sea (o5 to 100 miles,
neither do think that in the present infant
slate of our country, ii would eiectually pro-
tect Itself againsta land force, since eyen Il
Dove the line OF defence, where the batteries
would necessarily be situated, the peninsula is
SO narrow, that a superior land force nigh, so
occupy it, as to cut of all communication in
the rear, thereby endangeriug the safety OF
the adjacent country, while at the same tImc Il
superior naval force, from the safe anchorage
afforded, NIGH. not ouiy cut OF. all communica-
ton III front, bY has large vessels but ms s.al-
Ter vessels might destroy every merchant YES
sci al ours attempting 20 pass up % VI ASKING
ton or to Baltimore.
the facts stated Being all :hatoccur 20 me
as essential III deciding the question officiating
Naval Depot aud rendezvous, now proceed
respectfully 10 submit my views 10 tie best
means of defending the Chesapeake Bay gene
rally,-i assume the preliminary position
which prosume will be readily accorded TO
me, that in the present infant state Of orr coun-
try, our preparations TO meet war, should be
conducted with view to measures ct defence
as well as offence.
Two small but strong Nartala towers, be
tween the eastern extreme of LynMhaycn Bay
and the mouth of LynRhaven Creek, would
prevent an enemy from anchoring between
those two points; and his exclusion thence,
fN1r.
him of any other safe anchorage nearer the
month of the bay than New Point Comfort.
A strong battery on Old Point Comfort,
would keep him out OF Hampton Roads; and
two Martalla towers at the month Of York
river, would prevent his anchoring in that
situation, while. ut the same time, they would
serve t. protect il, rs IN outer hat b0ur and
general rendezvous for our marine iOrcc
assembled in the Chesapeake Bay, in time o.
war.
York river, fortified at York to,vn, would
afford security 10 tlilt important tract Of
country through, whiciit passes, and secure
Naval Depo. higher up tie river. The Place
where consider ii advisable to locate such
an establishment, is called the Clay Banks
and Is about ten miles higher up than York
town.
While a battery at Old Point Comfort and
two Nartaiia towers al the mouth of York
river, would keep an enemy from Hampton
and York, they would, with tic aid OF a suit,
BILE naval force. prevent his atte.li ;ing to
take shelter ~ situation so near rs New
Point Comfort --sFence, being shut out of
Lynnhaven Bay BY the two towers proposed III
that quarte ic wGGll Dc deprived OF all safe
anchorage near the entrance of the bay.
The importance OF depriving al enemy of
anchorage in lynnhaven Ray, is fully estab-
ilShed Dy tile fact. that it is position more
dangerous to our commerce ihan any that
could be occupied by any enemy within the
Chesapeake Bay; aai Il the Importance of
depriving MIN ofail safe anchorage near the
entrance OF the bay be, "a IL appears 10 me-
too obvious 10 adrilt of doubt, then tue pro-
p'3et, OF erecting towers and batteries at the
Other places suggested, must necessarily be
conceded
Ii Will, presume, be readily admitted, in
devising the most efficient means for the pro
lection oftbe Chesapeake Gay. that the mouth
ofthe hay should claim the frs, attention, since
u you can succeed II protecting that point ei-
tectuaily, YOU afford protection 10 all point, q
honor of suggesting have had this greet object
in view.
Allow me, Sir, to request your attentive
examination oftle chart submitted. A refer
ence to that part of it which embraces York
Spit, and what is termed the head Of the Mid
die Ground, will, ! think, satisfy YOU Of the
great advantage which n respectable naval
force, stationed AT the mouth Of York river,
would possess and that such a force co-ope-
rating with the towers near Gynnhaven BaV
the battery on Old Point Comfort, Il the tow
eTs oi York river, proposed, would, in all pro-
liability, protect tile whole commerce Of the
Che,apeake Bay.
With respect to the Tangicr Islands, have
considered 4 unnecessary TO SLY any thing
particularly rs tie report ard chart made by
Captain Spence, afford more information than
any personal observation of my own would ena-
bic me 10 communicate.
l have the hsnOr 10 he,
IA