The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-09-08
THE NAVAL EXPEDITIONS.
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IMPORTANT OPERATIONS ON THE COAST.
THE INLAND SEAS OF NORTH CAROLINA
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THEIR TRADE AND NAVIGATION.
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HATTERAS AND OCRACOKE INLETS.
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Navigation from New York to
4t Newborn.
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Maps Of the Locality Of the Late
Fight,
&C., &C., &c.


successes Of the neighborhood OF Cape Hat
tcras is necessary to take account statistics Of
the trade and navigation Of those extensive OF tho
known Aibemare, Pamlco and Currituck Sounds.
The map which we publish to-day shows the roia
tive extent and situation Of these waters and from the
fourth annual report Of the Abemarle and Chesapeake
Canal Company we CLEAN interesting particulars in
respect to the commerce of that region The map will
give clear idea Of the locality and OF the region which
Hatteras Inlet afforded access to the ocean
It will be seen that from the mouth Of Chesapeake Bay
all down the Virginia and North Carolina coasts and in
fact, down to the extreme Southern point OF Florida
there extends narrow strip belt Of sand which scpa
rates the waters OF tho Atlantic from waters which
once ana at no very distant day part Of the
On the coast Of North Carolina with which alone we have
to do In this article the interior separated
from tho ocean are Of very great extent. Albcmarlc
Sound extends, with large and numerous ributa
nOrthward and westward TO Virginia Pamico Sound
which is south Of AlbemarIe, stretches westward and
southwark through North Carolina and Currtuck Sound
stretcles northward along the belt in question From
Cape Henry to Ope Hatteras there are no nets giving
access from the TO these interior waters Some
appear on the map, but they are almost filed up,
and are impossible to tho smallest craft
Practically therefore, the only nles along that whole OK
tent of coast those OF Hattcras and Ocacoke The
former is about twelve miles south of Fort Hateras and
Ocracoko lies the same distance south OF it. their
relative positions refer readers the map pub
iished In connection with this article
This map shows the great extent Of these inland
SEAS opening up as they do, communication with
siderable portion Of the States Of Virginia and North ca
roina and being the great channel through which the
commerce OF that section finds its way TO market
On the one side Richmond is accessible by way Of
The Abcmnrlc and Chesapeake canal and the other
aide Raleigh is connected by railroad with Newberna
port Of entry the Neusc river tributary Of Pamco
Sound Thus these two rebel capitals were in direct
communication with the forces detailed by the rebel
government 70 defend the North Carolina coast and their
vessels had access to the through Hatteras and
Ocracoke nlets. The former Of these Is the most i'm
portan vessels drawing fifteen feet of water can pass
through, while the other b only navigablc to
vessels drawing less than eight feet Tho forts which
were surrendered TO our feet last Thursday were
erected by the rebels TO guard that point The small
map which published some days ago shows their
position, and Also lhe position of the feet and the point
where the land forces ashore little north Of
Inc forts Thus readers have before them the geo
graphical information necessary 10 enable them to under
Adnd the motive and object of the expedition and the
vast Importance Of its success.
does not seem to be decided yet whether Hatteras
Inlet shall be closed kept OPEN closed, will proba-
bly, DO found impossible ever to reopen it, for similar
work undertaken BY the general government few years
agothe reopenng of the Roanoke Inet-had to be aba
doned the excavation Of day being invariably filed up
by the succeeding tide. the government the
conclusion TO keep naval force in Pamlico Sound
occupy the forts captured the other day. the inlet will Of
course, be kept open; otherwise il must be closed no
matter at what sacrifice.
The latest from tho coast is that the Ocracokc
Inlet has been evacuated by the rebels and the mate
rial of war there collected abandoned The inetnext be-
OwCedar et-is Of account. None but tie smallest
craft navigate it. After tho closing Of Ocracoke Inlet
the next ard most important part of the enterprise will
probably be the capturing Of Fort Macon and the reopen
ing Of Beaufort United States port of entry--and
20 on until there is not rebel fort left under the guns OF
which pirates steal out upon the path Of
chant vessels any creek inlet left Enclosed in which
privateers find shelter That is the great object
the expedition which has had so suspicious commence
ment
So much for general views; for some details
The report Of the Albemarle and Chesapeake Canal Com
Pany to which have referred thai the region
lying upon Abenarle Pamlico and Curruck Sounds and
their tributary streams embraces about II square
miles or 5000 600 Of territory being larger than
Maryland New Jersey, Massachusetts, Connecticut New
HAMPSHIRE or Vermont, and larger than the combined
Of Connecticut and Massachusetts, Of New Jersey
and Delaware. Abemarle Pamlco and Curritnck Sounds
receive the waters of twenty rivers great num-
Der ornacr navgable streams watering altogether up
wards of twenty fertile countless and ardng about 800
miles Of navigation The soil Of this region is of
great fertility yielding abundant crops Of corn wheat
and the various other agricultural products. Cotton
Is grown to the extent OF some 100000 bales and
large proportion OF naval to supplied
from this section. The only register of the Sonnd navi-
CATION that appears TO have been kept taken by the
lighthouse keeper at Ocraeoke Inlet, which was few
years Since the principal channel to from the ocean
and even that only appropriated to accuracy During
the year 1865 there We're upwards of $50 passages
through Gcraceke, while the estimated number through
Hatteras oncthird Of that figure Tho estimate for
1858 that 64is vessels passed through these inets
aging l25 tons EACH which would show an aggregate
tonnage Of 800 600 tons. The following table was
prepared by the Albemare and Chesapeake Canal Com
peny TO show the export trade Of that region and is of
interest enough at this romen. to be quotcd:--
Cotton bales 10000
fish, bbs.. .....,................... 10000
Naval stores. JOG 900
Torn, bushels 800. 900
Wheat. OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. 200
Peas ....-................... $1,000
Potatoes. 0,0Qp
iunbcr, CUBIC feet 1000 900
lEmoer, superficial feet 400, 200
slaves. 10 900 ,00o
Shingles IS 600 OOo
Wood, cords 100 900
When 1t ia recoected that least three ours OF this