The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-11-08
THE SOUTHERN HaFBoRs or THE UNITED STATES.
The Southern Atlantic and Gulf Coast
from Cape Henry to the Mouth OF the
iktO Csrnnle.

- AH offiSHs W AIM tNAtED slAlES SVAoA sun
vRY.
From the Merchants Magazinc.]
Tho important cities Of Virginia and Maryland have an
access to tho ocean only through the Chesapeake Bay
which, at It's entrance from the shoals at Capo Charles TO
those Of Cape Henry measures eight miles in width.
single man could close The bay against the exit
entrance Of the merchant marine provided there
naval armament to act against IT, 1t is probable that one
q our larger vessels, with the aid of small warsloop
IKE tue Perry could close the bay against all commerce.
especially while Fort Monroe, which is not far from tho
entrance remains in the possession Of the United states
| government.
!. Albsndrle and Pdmlc0 S0und.-After passing cane
Henry FOR two hundred miles low sand Islands ana shoas
lie between the shore and forming the CurrltucK
Abemarle pampico and Core sounds nayGable for fes.
sells Of light draft The Dismal Swamp canal connects the
Chesapeake with these sounds the FIRST practice Die ocean
inlet Is hundred and thirty-hye miles from taic
Henry narrow and difficult entrance, knownas Hatteras
| Inlet, with only seven feet water the bar single
vessel OF light draft would be Sufficient for the closing Of
this channel Eighteen miles southwest OF IL is 0crdcoke
Inlet of the Same character: both open into Parllco
Sound OcTacoke bar gives ten feet at mean low water
The only opening into Nbcnarle Sound is by shallow,
winding channel through Oregon Inlet about forty mics
north Of Cape Iteras The depth OF water ut the bar Of
Tie inlet is probably about ylc ieet.
=, Tco9}ot.foiiowng the coast southwark for fifty
ve mes below ocacoEe Inlet there are no connections
with the interior sounds until the old IoisaiInl IS
reached, which leads 10 the harbor or Foapor North
Carolina This harbcr is about eight ard lar miles west
northwest from Cape Lookout II is ne haven, haYng
fun fifteen feet Of the bar at the entrance Of the
channel nj low tie eighteen Mt high water. The town
Of Beaufort IL commercially important, having railroad
connection with Paoigh, and ct that point With The
various roads Of the North and West. Ihe
defended by Fort Macon work OF the same cass rs tof
! Carroll.
There are several nlets for vessels drawing and
seven feet Ct water 10 the interior sounds, yz-EoEre
Inlet with ,lt feet on tle bar; New Tupsa niot with
ten feet on The bar and Deep t with seven feet on The
ha, al Of VII c are unmorant as they lead 70 no ports
o entry or railroad towns. vessel stationed az the en-
trance TO Beaufort, by looking down the coast occasion
ally, could electnaliy ard these minor straits
II IL proper TO state that Ia giving the depth Of water
when the extreme highest figure is used indicates the
depth only At special point. The average depth will b
found nearer the lower figure employed. With this ex
| PLANTATION, VIC proceed TO
3 WdatagtH.fhe next harbor Of importance i that
! O WilmnGtcn, North Carolina, on Cape Fear river.
This port has suge channel with two incis. hftcen
mites in length, rather tortuous and Il places
with depth Of and hall feet % eight tho hars
! il low water which could be easily bio. kadcd by Wo
vessels Wilmington is connected by railroad with the
Interior and taIs important commercial entrep,t
Near the mouth Of Cape Fear river Forts Johnson and
taswci recently seed hy the rebes Fort Johnson is
rather collection Of barracks wh b.oclhorse, than
| fort. Fort taswel is third cass work.
| sotm CAROLINA.
a. Georgetown The next accessible harbor il that Of
GeorgeowG, South Carolina, seventy-two miles south
west from Cape Fear. having sing.e winding channel,
! zen mies IN length, fthnins among shoas Tue
depth o. channel varies from feet 10 thirty. The
Pefee river connects Georgetown With the interior, being
navgtle as far Conway bcro by hrigs The blockade
Of The entrance 10 his ha Dor woud be easy Further
down the coast cnptis the saacc river whose mouth II
ohstuctcd by shoals on which the depth of water Is
| only from ,wo to two and quarter feet
D. Butts Bag.--lhs Is good harbof Of refuge from
southeast winds and very accessible The dcp On To
Is god in tweniyonc feet, inside. Capcrs' and Devices
ln!ets below Bus lay, admit vessels drawing six feet
/ water.
/ O. CharFeton--The harhor OF Charleston las six en-
Nonees, VIII n ees anng with the one fnrhest north
are ~ 1rder;-Mniuts, or The suvan's Island channe
with eleven feet; the North channel with eight feet the
swash, with nn feet the Overall channel which is not
now nsed the mani sip channel With eleven feet, and
I2wiora channel, Which eiyes eleven feet at low
water The entrance by hegh channel is extremely pre-
ca,"us to vessels drawing seven feet Of water ard i'm
passbe at low tides any other Syasl chanel varies
/
row 1T The bukhcad near Fo.t Moutric jettee. Tie
frances to Charleston arc such that single vesse. could
easily bcckaee The harbor without being mo!csed from
possible Qualifications shore Charleston is connected
with the interior by tic Ashley and Cooper rive: and by
tworairoads that join the nat ona network The entrance
oCsrescn Is perfectly projected by forts Mouitre and
Sumter tho latter sh, a near the cLanuel There
a'sj military works on Norris Island and Cumming
tArt The city, lying at the confidence Ct two rivers
ma surrounded by low rice marshes, is difficult Of ap
foach lhre is an approach through Eo;;'s Cnt from
Stone river North Ediso river between Charleston aud
81 Helena SoG5, has nine feet Of water on its bar
nean low ti'e This and the siono and South Edisto
river entrances arc good harbors Of refuge from north
/ east WINS fos v.ssc's Of light draft.
J. Bstya'.--ioNowing the coast downward the next
SEAPORT u any Importance is Beaufort South Carolina.
his place. situated 90 St Helena Island accessible by
two ihets, viz, is south channel Of 81 Helena Sound,
IN depth seven' n feet The second inlet Of twenty feet
being the southeast channel OF Port Royal entrance.
Beaufort river has an avcnge depth Of sixteen feet ut
low water, TO point within two miles Of tho city, and
nearly fifteen mp to Beaufort The this port
easier than that Of Charleston but there rail-
roai or river communications with the inter ior the i'm
| portance Oh the place as port Of entry is limited
8. saiuaaah-Thc city or Savannah furnishes the next
accessible hastcr, TO which! there single entrance
with depth OF water OF cicvsn feet low water
on the har Al high water vessels drawing fifteen feet
can reach tne city, and those drawing eighteen feet
anchor within two miles OF the cv Savannah Il one of
the most important Southern Atlantic cities having cor
nccton with tho interior both by Hires Of railway and
the savannah river. The city is entirely surrounded
by rice sWargps would be difficult OF approach by land
md the entrance by is cicctuaiy guarded by Fort
Pulaski on ckspur Island, under whose guns all vessels
have 10 PASS 10 entering. Fort JACKSON is three miles be
low the city wassaw, not far ON Savannah IL reach
cd by ~ Intricate entrance, With ten feet Of water the
cept ITS proximity 70 Savannah nssabaw Inlet, OF the
mouth OF the oseechee ryor has depth Of fourteen feet
on the bar. 81. Catharinc's channel has eight and
hull fee! on the bar and not more than two hundred
yards wide. Sapoo Inlet has from eighteen to twenty
feet Of water These three channels lead sii.hury and
other insignificant places the sounds connected
by railroad or naSgab!c rivers with tie Interior Dari,n
On The Matnaha river, has a single inlet, with thirteen
railroad or other commercial connection with the inland
| towns.
! g. RYaas.ech-The entrance 10 ,l!c harbor Of Brnns
wick Is by ST. Simons Inlet md Sound which has depth
of seventeen feet at low water. The channel Of
Turtle river leading from ST. simon Sound has twenty
road partly inished which intended 10 connect it with
the great rational roads At present IL could be
MADE an Important port OF entry.
10. Ernaadiao.-Tho first important scapor, after
leaving Savannah IS Fernandina. near the
trance e =. Marys river, The boundary between
Georgia AID Florida The entrance Is by channel be
tvce. Cumberland ana Amelia Islands With fourteen feet
uf water the BAR Fernandina connected BY rail
way enc hundred and thirty five miles in length, run
ming across the state, with Cedar Keys the Gulf Of
Mexico, and IL thus an important commercial point II
proposed 10 make this road part of great comrnni-
cation between New York and New Orleans.
H. 81 Johns Rirer-- 81. Johns river is a bread
arm OF the sea extending almost parallel with the coast
for distance Of one hundred and sixty mikes, affected by
III. tide almost to its There depth Of seven
feet ut mean low water the bar. The chan.el up
Jacksonville affords about twenty three feet Of water
Thcrc Is great dead Of uncertainty the navigation Of
most Of these ineis the bars constantly shifting
0ssabaw and St Simon's, Georgia baye been toeyahy
constant in depth ard the channel OF sapeo quite
changes being favorable in depth aud position. single
vessel could enectray blockade the St Johns river On
this river Is Jacksonville which is about twenty
mics from thc bar ut the entrance OF the ST. Johns
IL. 81 4ayaSnc.-1he last place OF any importance
the Atlantic coast OF the Southern States ST. Augustine.
The entrance to this harbor is by incts with only
two q six feet Of water the bar low tide. Tho
barber is commanded by Fort Marion, an old
81 ansh work, which has BIO recently renovated.
Tie comm rcial facilities OF 81 Augustine are limit
ed, and the place Is Of small importance as port
Of eatry. southwark from 81. Augustine there IL q
stretch 81 seventy miles Of shoal and sand bar
other inlet opens passage for ships Of the Ugh
draft This inlet has less than five feet Of water at 10 W
tide, eight in high water and leads only TO few sma II
fishing towns.
Indian River 1nlet hundred and ten miles 10 the
southwark, has channel Of barely three feet water,
..l..