Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1818-03-09
From The Mchmona Enquirer.

. - @ES@ &s~---
From The Richmond Enquirer.
Report of the Commissioners appointed
10 survey the lower part OF Chesapeake
Bay.
GA Point Comfort, Hampton. Roads, !
2lih January, 1918. )
The undersigned Commissioners ar-
pointed to examine the lower part OF
Chesapeake Bay, Hampton Roads, and
York river, for the purpose OF determi-
ming whether the entrance into the for
ner could be prevented by Notifications
from the uOae Shoe 90 the Middle
Ground whether the latter could be SO
fortified, as to prevent the entrance OF a
hostile force, have the honor to state.
that from various causes, they were not
-nsbled 10 assemble until the latter part
af the month of December, lSl7-that
thew commenced to discharge their du-
ties Assigned them on the first ct Janu-
ary 1918, at Old Point "Omfort.-From.
the advanced stage Of the season, and
the subsequent uncertainty OF having
such weather as would enable the Com
missioners 10 effect thorough examina-
ton of the waters Of Chesapeake Bay,
and the entrance of York river, they re-
commend that the execution OF their du-
" in relation to those places, may be
nostponed until the first of May next.
The date of this report, from the lst OF
January, the Commissioners have been
employed in surveying Old Point Com
fort, tie RIP Rap shoal, and The entrance
into Hampton Roads. The result of this
examination, is a csnvic ton on the part
Of the commissioners, that the passage
into those roads can be SO fortified as to
preyent the resistance Of any hostile
fleet. The extent and efficiency of such
Notifications will depend upon the deci-
sion OF the government as TO the length
of time which the works should be ena-
bled to withstand the attack of a combs
ned naval aud land force of given mag
nitude.
If the amount of resistance to be made
at this pass be merel. an obstruction Of
the entrance into HAMPTON Roads,
without any reference TO land attack.
the Commissioners believe that compe-
tent water defences may be constructed
to such an effect. As however the OBJ
iect Of forcing an entrance into Hamp-
ton Roads might be deemed by an enc
my worth the expense oil a regular siege,
the commissioners deem it their duty to
recommend a system OF defence equal to
such an exisency. Such situation would
embrace the occupation OF the Rip Rap
Shoal, with castellated fort; the channel
between Old Point Comfort. with boom
raft-and Old Point, itself, with an in
closed work, the whole to he 80 located
as to afford mutual protection, and to
embrac. in the total, the power to resist
auy force which may be brought against
the pass into Hampton Roads. The CON-
missiOnerS have not as yet been able to
collect sufficient data to authorize them
to offer you a complete plan. The mag
ni,uie Of the work NAV effect the prices
of materials and workmanship, and as
the nature of substraium at the sc'tes
has not been sufficiently ascertained no
determinate amount Of expense can be
estimated upon which the commissioners
can with safety relyN
For a general view Of the subject the
commissioners present the ;.!closed
charts, which will exhibit the positions
that should be occupied, and may eha-
BILE YOU 20 form some opinion Of the aP.
proximate expense which the adoption OF
The system would involve-in aid Of
which they also enclose an estimate tor
a work on the Rip Rap shoal. which is
predicated on the supposition that the SUD-
stratum Of that settle is solid and upon
the usual principles Of materials and
workmanship 10 this section OF this u
nion.
1t isthe wish Of the commissio to
lay before you their reasons in detail up
on the proposed system, to which effect
the commissioners can with usefulness
employ then time till May Iext. in &C
eairing further information, anu IN dl.
costing as perfect plan as the nature oil
OF the case will admit.
The commissioners deem it their duty
to state to YOU that Majors Roberdeau,
and Kerney, and Lieutenant Blakely,
have attended the Commissioners. and
have BY assiduous attention been mate
rally beEefcial IN surveying and draw
Ing.
Respectfully submitted.
(Sisn.d).
JIG. SWIFT, Br. Gen.
WARDINGTnN