The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-10-25
ARMY OF THE POTOMAC.
. JOUR- OWN CORRESPONDENCE


one sees on either side a line Of old, dilapida-
ted and moss-coyered houses, with narrow
window creaking doors, broken shutters, and
gable roofs. The fences are broken down or
entirely carried away. Everything has an
air of the past, and there very few indi-
cations of modern thrift or present pros
perity. Formerly it was place of much
note But a few years ago the town boosted
Of ten thousand inhabitants, OF an immense
trade, both foreign and domestic, of large
warehouses, fine theatre, and many beauti-
ful private residences. 1t was Il place OF
great wealth aud refinement; and, being "a
port Of entry, great expectations were based
upon it, which were never realized. How its
rover was destroyed, its wealth lost, its fine
buildings carried away, and its bay and harbor
filed up by the mo fountain streams, with earth
from the hills shall be recorded In another
letter from this point. To study all the OBJ
i,.cts of interest would require time. There
are old churches old cemeteries, an old court
house. old lJil, ancient buildings. and some
rare old trees. An Old mill, too, now being
fitted up as a hospital, is worth being pre-
served by pen and pencil, and before long
time passes l hope to visit it again. For the
present must say good bye to Dunfries and
pass on 10 Evansport.
Taking = road to the left OF the town. across
til" run. where formerly vessels OF medium
=t2z discharged their cargoes at we'll built
WdarVps we mass down 10 Il farm house now
rsed IS General Trim bies headquarters
Tpots have been prepared near the batteries
II which the General and his staff will soon
remove. From here TO the river the distance
is about thr"e and a half miles, the road
passing through an unbrOken lire Of woods
until the river comes in view. To the left
of the road is TriFiet's hill, upon which
- Long Tom has been mounted to bear
upon the channel. About q thousand wards
from the base of the HILL and npon the point
at the outlet of Dumtriss Bay, is the first OF
the batteries that have been urmosked and
discovered TO III" enemy. Below are several
more, and, as have previously stated situa-
ted upon the different head}ands. The iOca-
items Of these detences are wen chosen for the
blockade OF the river, and, protected by an
en- trcGChed camp, are inyiEcibie to the as
suits of the enemy. am nr:oiy OF opinion
that. taken in C2nuS ton with Srnall1narine
battery, these worSs form n perfect obstrnc-
zion 10 vessels going NJ or down the Po-
tomac.
THE PoroHAc RIVER
From plet's hill magnificent view OF
the country can be obtained. Looking to-
wards Washington we see he river curviug
around a bold point on he Maryland side
Just f which three Federal W.T. steamers are
ewGying in the wine. Fatriij Z, with ca I like
anxiety, the movements 18th" batteries below.
Small craft q every variety, Sleeps, fish
I
the distant SEA, lOohinE be WIFI Je- winged
pilgrims TO some distant l,ud. The N .ry-
l!Nt! shore Is quite bold, and the land hi-n q
II as the eye can see az and down. Ga this
side the shore Is ia some p.Hces low, long
points or shcais Of sand stretching ont Tor
some distance into the river. Generally, the
saures are well cultivated; but there is sun
many miles Of forest. White speaking Of the
general characteristics Of the river and It's
shores, [ an reminded o. 4 curious O,G vol
uulr which now lies before me. Perfectly
charmed with its QUaiEtlaSS. is nrcniiar
sCy!e, and ancient dress. have been pouring
over il foV Euurs. heaGpr, do YOU like old
locks then read - Blunt's American Coast
Pilot It gives directions for sailing through
every h2- and inlet On the American coast
and gives curious descriptions OF taa land
1t commences with the following note writ
ten as il viii be seen GurinS tne war of 1872.
Note by the editor: " II is intended to sab
j1in a List ana Forms + PslUers uscd at the
Court House; but a it is at present not de-
terDIEed whether they rema}Q as they are
whether any or what alteration IS made, ii
must h. postponed til the present Ceranged
state Of our mot commerce, tor that has again
retired from the ZEN pestuOus sea Of Hhcrty.'
commercial affairs takes Il more favorable
'attituJe,' y hen that long wished for mo-
mcnt arrives, a orTect list viii be published,
in 4 pamphlet form, az The QUADRANT. 80 Wa
ter street, Btclnlan slip, and delivered gratis
TO all purchasers u thl> work.
"June, 1872. EDyrHD VI. DLJNr"
In the directions from New Point Comfort
"Potom"cH river separates Virginia from
Mary land lis entrance is formed by Smiths
Point on the south side. and Point Lookout
on the north side the distoace between these
two points is about three ana one half les : les.
! On Smiths Point is Il lighthouse.
III you are bound to st Nary's river, Won
mast give Point Lookout, ana also the shore
| about it. . good bIrth and when Won ap-
| proach -. Georges Islaad, YOU must keep
nearer 10 The main land dian ID the sbotl,
| which extends IRON Tie Island, Your course
into the river is =. ", and it is ali open to
| your view, you may EncnDr where YOU please
| in five or slE3f3thoEHs water. On the
| south, OF lHTbn|rd side, there ara fats i-irg
| OF from The silOra, which in some places el-
| tend nearly one mile come no nearer them
| IMAM seven tjthQlAs. tordar Point
! is on the sou IN side OF the P,,wtuXent river :;
! TIE ground is low ana sandy, and has some
| Struggling trees standing on it. From This
| point a NAT extends 10 the eastward. and also
| TO the nOrthWara. On the north side of this
| river there high hills called cliffs. WI IA
| trees on them, and from this side also 1iat
| extends, nuI the ShO1iIn2S on each side OF The
| channel are gradual, and the ground soft. In
| tue middle Of the channel there are eight
| tathoms water"
| He then goes on to speak of several points,
| ana further says:
y on may anchor without these points. or
| you may 20 further up the river, always Oh
| serving the following general rule III al the
| a"rn bays throughout Nir"inia and Maryland,
namely To every point, more especially
! where the land l. low, give a good birth IN
| passing, because SpitS or flats Of sand extend
! from them, and consequently the water i
| sheai in such places.
" In going into the river yOu must keep
| your leJd going, and keep in the middle, and
| go between TWO points of marsh. and you
| viii have no more than three tathoms tween
| the ponts-mGddy bottom"
must give one more quotation, even at the
| risk o. becoming tedious 10 those whose tastes
| are less antiquarian than my own. In direc-
| lions for going ont Of The river, he says:
In going along on the south side, you
| shoaien your water from fathoms, haul OIL
| TO the northward, ana keep IN about or
| fathoms till you judge yourself nearly up
| with WiliOughbys Point; go no nearer il
| than fathoms. BY hauling to the north
| ward You vii deepen your water. On the
| HUr&6-Sh0e side the bottom is hard sand, and
| on the south side it is soft bottom, uEti draw
| ing on to Willoughby's Point, where il Is
| hard: Therefore, being on the south side
| when the ground Is soft, yon may always
| know, draWin~ ND with Willougnby's as
| s0on rs yCu get haCi sand bottom. Then
| faul oil as before dirseled fer Old Point Com
| fort light
have c0pied these extracts partly from the
| quaint English in which they are written
and partly Tor he general desert ptions Of the
| character Of 10 river. ne9r numtries there
| is but little difference: there are the same
| mills, woods, and marshes On the shore, and
| the same "spite or Hlt2 Of sand, which eX-
tend into the water. = mile and seven or
eight-tenths is, perhaps the average width
| OF the Potomac at this poiaG.
TEE CAPTURED scHooNERs.
Looking down from Triple is hill towards
| the river 4 large batter. - seen, upon which
| TWO Confederate faSs are flying. Between
thls and the base OF the bill il Z small cove or
| bay, III which the two captured schoonerS are
| lying. As / rode up this morning, party of
! men We're busy III landing their cargOes.-
| Seyerals flats had been obtained, and these
| passed to and from the vessels as rapidly as
| they couId be loaded and unloaded The
| shore WAS streWn with bundles OF nay, aud
| men and teams We're hnrrNing them nHYaY 10