Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1861-06-05
The Chesapeake Bay-Its Rivers and
Important Cities.

~ NSSN'il "llIl u uteD cudn
mel mile and half in width in It's mar
lowest point. Eight miles from the buo
which marks the entrance TO the Roa dis
on the north side of the channel, is Ok
Point Comfprt, on which is Fortress Mon
roe, whose guns conn and the channel.
FORTRESS MONROE.
This fortress is the largest and one O
the largest and best constructed in th,
United Stgtes. 1t was built like all tn,
coast forts,so defence against approache,
OF u foe frgm the sea, and is casemateo
only on { tlies sido facing the channe., hav.
ing simple wall masonry only to the land
ward. Against an attacking force from
that quarter it will need protecting out,
works. Its walls enclose parade ground
OF about seventy acres, making it an adj
mirable school for recently recruited regi.
ment5. Opposite the fort in the channel
distant about mile and third, are the
walls Of small ioltificNtiOn commenced
by government, not finished, called the
Rip Raps. Farther up the Roads, and
tour miles in a right line across westerly
from Fortress Monroe, is Caswel's Point,
whore the Virginians have attempted to
erect batteries. Atthis point to the South,
opens Elizabeth channel, the entrance to
Norfolk harbor. Fortifcations at Cas-.
wells Point, although too far distant to
threaten Fortress Monroe, wonld effectu-
ally guard this entrance. Elizabeth Chan.
mel, from its opening irto Hampton Roads
to the city OF Norfolk, is eight miles, di.
rect in its course, very deep. and scarcely
II quarter of a mile in width Craney Isle
and lies close to the channel, on the west
side, about three miles from Norfolk on
which are the remains Of an old fort,
which the secessionilts are rebuilding
Nearer to the city, on the other bank of
the channel, is Fort Norfolk, also being
improved and mounted with ordinance by
the Nirginians.
NORFOLK ASD ITS SUBURBS.
The city Of Norfolk, situated upon an
al most entirely level site, presents but few
natural deiences against an attacking
force. The city and Portsmouth lying
opposite, can be approached from several
points, Troops could be landed from the
Hampton and Lynn Htven road, within
seven miles OF the city; the approaches
being Easy and indefensble. An approach
could be made from London bridge on
the south, with an easy march Of ten
miles.
Norfolk is important fer its railroad
connections as the location of 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 AlbemarIe and Pamlico
sounds. Into Hampton Road enpties the
Jarues river affected by the tide one hum
dred miles from its mouth, ut which point
the falls and rapids, with descent of ono
hundred feet in two miles, etiectualIy
blockade further navigation, giving, at the
same time an unlimited water power. At
this point is situated the city of Rich-
moud, beautifully built on several eleva-
tions, the most noted of which are Shock.
hoe and Richmond hills, between which
flows Shockboe creek The city is hand
built, the streets intersectiEg at
right angles. On Shockhoe hill are the
capitol and other prominent public bull
dngs, and about them are clustered the
mansions Of the city. Nes>
sells drawing ten feet of water fasten to
the wharf at Richmond, and those draw
ing fifteen approach within three miles of
the city. Lines of steamers, before the
secession difficulties, connected Richmond
commercially with New York, PhiladelN
phia Norfolk and Baltimore. Richmond
has been the great depot of Virginia.
which its mills have converted into flour,
RAILROADS FROM RICHMOND.
Five lines Of railroad divcrgc from Rich
mond One line running due north passes
fredericksburg on the Rappahannock,
and terminates at Aqua creek, near the
Potomac a lire running east termin>
ates at Whitehouse, on the York river. A
third line runs due south to Wilmington,
North Carolina, having intermediate sta
tions ut Petersburg, Va, and Weldon,
n. c. The Richmond and Danville rail,
road extends in a southward direction to
the latter town, near the North Carolina
line, beyond which it is unfin-
ished The Virginia Central runs nearly
west, being finished as far as Covington,
beyond the Blue Ridge. At Gordonyille
it forms a junction with the Orange and
road runuing north EAST, and
the Lynchburg road running southwest.
This city is thus the military as well as
tie commercial centre OF the Stale, and q
point of great strategic importance.
YORK RIVER.
From the buoy at the entrance of Hamp-
ton Roads to the lightship at the mouth
Of York river, the distance ia about fif-
teen miles. From its source at the juno
ton OF the Pamunky and Mattapony, its
debouctment into the Chesapeake, the
York river flows forty miles, being an es-
tuary with a heavy ide, varying from two
TO four miles in width. 1t is navigable by
the largest vessels to Yorktown, and by
vessels of secondary draft to its source. A
land spit separates the mouth of the York
river from Mob Jack bay. which inland
about fifteen miles, with eighteen feet of
water. Into this hay empties The Severn
North ard Ware rivers, inconsiderable
streams. navigable a short distance for
essels of Ii ght draft. From the light,
house at New Point Comfort to the light
house at the entrance OF the Rappahan-
mock, is twenty mics. A space OF four
miles to the south Of the light comprises
the entrances to the Rappahannock and
small bay and river called the Piankee-
tank. ..f H- ..a