The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-06-17
JANIS Blair 10 Thomas II. Benton.
WAsHNGros, April 2, 1886.

WAsHMGroS, April 2, 1886.
SIR: answer your inquiries of the 3Oth
ultimo. ! regret that neither Lieutenants Knox or
Reynolds in the city, for information from them
would be more satisfactory TO you. They are both
senior to myselG and the first being directly charged
with, and responsible for, the service in which |
co-operated, a statement from him particularly
would have been much greater authority than any
thing from me. Yet venture to say that it would
have been precisely the same in import, however in
other respects more satisfactory.
. Lieutenant Knox, commander of the FLYING
Fish, conducted and completed the survey with
great ability sharing equally with Lieutenant Rev
nolds and myself the drudgery Of sounding out the
harbor, channels and bar.
The accompanying chart will show you how
faithfully the work was performed-every spot in
the bed Of the river having its depth ascertained.
The diagram will explain how easily the river may
be entered by ranges of landmarks and without the
compass. The only difficulty in entering the har-
Dor OF the Columbia, is the strength of the cur
rcn's. They vary from five to three miles an hour
according to the time Of the tide, and differing in
several parts of the channel. When the water is
low, and confined to the channels, the currents are
very strong but as the river rises the tide sweeps
in over the middle sands, and are much moderated
During the two months and a half we were en-
gagged in the Flying Fish upon this survey, from
August to November, we had ample opportunity to
observe the effect of all weathers upon the bar and
channels. In heavy weather the bar is dangerous,
but not more so than any other BAR with the same
depth of water and in like situation. The channels
are very much protected by the north and south
breakers, upon which the sea breaks leaving
the channels comparatively smooth, and when
the sea is running highest the more completely is it
broken upon the breakwaters. If the bar and chan
nels were buoyed out, there would be no necessity
for pilots. Four and half fathoms is the least wa
ter found on the bar at any time. This is sufficient
water for frgates and the largest merchantmen, even
with large swell running.
There is as much water this bar as through
the famous Gedney Channel into the harbor of New
York. In state as it is now, it is far preferable to
that on many accounts-especialyo on the .roxmi-
ty Of safe anchorage to the sea, which the bold
shores Of the river, the high land, and the heavy
timber, cover from the storm.
Lieutenant Knox discovered the south channel
(Which renders the entrance into the river much
more direct and easy,) when, upon a reconnois-
sance of the work to be performed, he observed and
concluded that such vast body of water as swept
between the great middle sands and the southern
shore must create deep channel. He pulled
through it in a boat, and followed shortly after
wards with the schooner drawing nine feet water
This channel is a straight chute, and, taking the d.
rect course of the dead tree landmark with the re-
moer one on Young's Point you enter the river on
straight line; never having less than four and
half fathoms water, and width of from three
quarters to onethird of mile. There is no diff
Guilty IN entering even against the ebb tide if the
ship has six.knot breeze. Three knots are stuff.
cient to keep the range on with the flood tide.
The wind is free for this channel to enter, when
from any point of the compass west of north and
south. Through the channel the tide is 20
strong that small vessel can beat through it with
the tide against the wind, and large enc can back
and MI through when the sea is not high. | passed
in and out Of the river in the schooner and boats
from thirty to forty times and was never in any
yh fnrin 81, L.o.
on the middle sands. Lieutenant Knox would
sometimes club through the south channel in a
calm, merely using his anchor to shove from one
side OF the channel to the other, the occasion
qured. IL Sir Edward Belcher, of the English
navy, knew this channel, he kept it to himself as
he did all the information he had obtained while
here. This was ingratude, unless the result of
obedience TO positive orders from the Admiralty; for
the Peacock assisted him, when unfortunate, In the
Fejee islands, and Captain Hudsons want Of nfor-
nation was the immediate cause of the loss of his
ship; yet this disaster might have been avoided, il
the precaution of feeling our way in had been
adopted.
While the Peacock was going to pieces on the
north breaker, Lieutenant Knox in the schooner
Flying Fish, felt his way with the lead over the bar
and was about TO anchor near Cape disappointment,
and would easily thence have entered the river but
was ordered to sea again by signal from the Pea
cock After the discovery Of the south channel we
used IT. or the NORTH served best for the OCCASION
tou can see, by inspecting the accompanying chart,
mat The north channel (which seems to have been
me only channel known, or at least used, until
hnoxs discovery Of the south channe) has two ell
bows, and it is, besides, subject to strong cross
tides. rs, however, deeper and wider than the
south channel. All things considered, think the
south channel preferable for entering, and the north
for leaving the rver with the prevailing northwest
sea breeze ms sea breeze generally prevails
throughout the year, in all clear weather. from
about eleven o'clock, a. M, until sunset. There
was, during the season we were on the north west
coast, much more clear weather than have ever ex
perienced the east coast of the United States at
The same season Of the year, and milder climate at
all aeason.