Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1861-06-05
Chesapeake Bay--Its Rivers and Inn

Chesapeake Bay--Its Rivers and I'M !
pOrtant Cities.
After making the entrance to the Chesapeake, :
Hampton Roads opens to the right, broad es- !
tuary with a deep channel a mile and half In !
width in its narrowest point. Eight miles from
the buoy which marks the entrance to the roads, Z
on the north side of the channel, is Old Point .
Comfort, on which is the Fortress Monroe, whosef
guns command the channel +
FORTRESS MONROE.
This fortress is the largest and one of the best
constructed in the United States. 1t was builtI
like all the coast forts, for defense against foel
approaching from the sea, and is casemated only
on the side facing the channel having simple walls
of masonry only to the landward. Against an
attacking force from that quarter it will need pro
tecting out-wOrks. Its walls enclose paradeJ
ground Of about seventy acres, making it an ad J
mirable school for recently recruited regiments
Opposite the fort, in the channel, distant about
mile and third. are the walls of n small FORTH
cation commenced by the Government, not fin !
ished, called Rip Raps.
Farther up the Roads, and four miles in right
line across westerly from Fortress Monroe, is!
Caswells Point, where the Virgnians have at
tempted to erect batteries. At this point to the;
south opens Elizabeth Channel the entrance to.
Norfolk harbor. Notifications az Caswells Point;
although too far distant to threaten Fortress Mon
roe, would effectually guard this entrance. Eliza
beth Channel, from its opening into Hampton:
Roads to the city of Norfolk, is eight miles long
direct in its course, very deep, and scarcely a,
quarter of mile in width. Craney Island lies
close to the channel, the west side, about three
miles from Norfolk, on which are the remains of
an old fort, which the secessonists are rebuilding
Nearer to the city, on the other bank of the chan
nell is Fort Norfolk, also being improved and
mounted with ordnance by the Nirginians~
NORFOLK AND ITS SUBURBS.
The city of Norfolk, situated upon an almost,
level site, presents but few natural defenses
against an attacking force. The city and Ports
mouth lying opposite, can be approached from
several points Troops could be landed from the
Hampton or Lynn Haven Roads, within seven
miles of the city; the approaches being easy and
indefensible An approach could be made from
London bridge on the south, with an easy march,
of ten miles.
Norfolk is important for its railroad connec-
tons; as the location of a navy yard, whose dry
dock and machine shops are proving useful to the
Virginians and as the Chesapeake terminus of
the Dismal Swamp Canal through which passes
the commerce of the Albermare and PamlicO
sounds Into Hampton roads empties the James
river a large stream affected by the tide one hun
dred miles from its mouth, at which point the falls
and rapids, with descent of one hundred feet in
two mile effectually blocks further navigation,
giving at the same time an unlimited water
power. At this point is situated the city of Rich
mond, beautifully built on several elevations. the
most noted of viii n Shockhoe and Rich
mond hills, between which flows Shockhoe creek
The city is handsomely built, the streets intersect-
ing at right angles. On Shockhoe hill are the
capital and other prominent public buildings, and
about them are clustered the ari tocratic man.
sions of the city. Vessels drawing ten feet of
water fasten to the wharf at Richmond, and those
drawing fifteen approach within three miles ofthe
city, Lines of steamers, before the secession
difficulties, connected Richmond commerc ally
with New York, Philadelphia, Norfolk and Balti-
more. Richmond has been the grain depot of
Virginia, which its mills convert into flour.
RAILROAD FROM RICHMOND.
Five lines of railroad diverge from Richmond.
One line running due north passes Fredericks-
burg, on the Rappahannock and terminates at
Aqua creek near the Potomac. A line running
east terminates at Whtehouse, on the York riv err.
A third line runs due south to Wilmington, North
Carolina. having intermediate stations at Peters
burgh, Virginia, and Weldon, North Carolina.
The Richmond and Danville railroad extends in a
southwark direction to the latter town, near the
North Carolina boundary line, beyond which it is
unfinished. The Virginia Central runs nearly
west, being finished as far Covington, beyond
the Blue Ridge. At Gordonsville it forms a
junction with the Orange and Alexandria road
running northeast, and the Lynchburg road run
ming southwest This city is thus the military as
well as the commercial center of the State, and a
point of great strategic Importance.
YORK RIVER.
From the buoy at the entrance of Hampton
Roads to the light-shp at the mouth of York
river, the distance is about fifteen miles. From
its source at the junction of the Pamunky and
MattapOney its debOuchment into the Chesa-
10 tha Vor ~ 40, fort bain at
estuary with heavy tide, varying from two to-
four miles in width. 1t is navigable by the lar
gcst vessels to Yorktown, and by vessels of sec
ondary draft to its source. A land spit separates
the mouth of the York river from Mob Jack bay,
which sets inland about fifteen miles, with eigh-
teen feet of water. Into this bay empties the
Severn, North and Ware rivers, inconsiderable
streams, navigabe short distance for vessels of
light draft. From the lighthouse at n ew Point
Comfort to the light house at the entrance of the
Rappahannock, is twenty miles. A space of four
miles to the south of the light comprises the en-
frances to the Rappahannock and small bay and
river called the Plankeetank.
THE RAPPAHASSocK.
The Rappahannock, like the James river,
rises in the mountainous portion of the State
At one hundred miles from ITS mouth navigation
is stopped by falls and rapids The river below
the falls has the character of an estuary, being
DrOad ana aHecteu Dy TIE tiueS AT the heau OF
tde-w water is the city of Fredericksburg, great
tobacco depot, lying on the line of the Richmond
and Potomac railroad
Twenty-Five miles from the light ship, moored
at the mouth of the Rappahannock, is the light
house at Smiths Point, guiding the entrance to
the Potomac
Seven miles below Washington lies the city Of
Alexandria, the most important town on the Vir-
ginia side of the river. The shores of the Poto-
mac below Washington have but a few slight ele.
vations, and would be difficult to impede navigs,-
ton by hastily constructed batteries. The width
for the same distance varies from one and a half
to five miles.-Nep York Commercial