Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1861-06-05
Chesapeake Bay-Its Rivers and I'm.
pOTtant Cities.

| Chesapeake Bay-Its Rivers and Inn
pOTtant Cities.
After making the entrance to the Chesapeake,
Hampton Roads opens to the right, broad es-
tuary, with deep channel mile and half
in width in its nsrrowest point. Eight miles
from the buoy which marks the entrance to the
Roads, on the north side of the channel, is Old
Point Comfort, on which is Fortress Monroe,
whose guns command the channel.
FORTRESS MONROE.
This fortress is the largest and one of the
best constructed in the United States. II was
built, like all the coast forts, for defense against
foe approaching from the sea, and is case
mated only on the side facing the channel, hav.
ing simple wall masonry only to the lanGward.
Against an attacking force from that quarter it
will need protecting out-works. Its walls en-.
close parade-ground Of about seventy acres,
making it an admirable school for recently re.
cruited regiments. Opposite the fort, in the
channel, distant about a mile and third, are
the walls of a small fortifcation commenced by
the government, not finished, called the Rip
Raps. Farther up the Roads, and four miles in
right line across westerly from Fortress Mon
roe, is Csswell's Point, where the Virginians
have attempted to erect batteries At this point
! to the south, opens Elizabeth channel, the en-.
trance to Norfolk harbor. Fortihcations at
| Caswelrs Point, although too far distant to
threaten Fortress Monroe, would effectually
guard this entrance. Elizabeth channel, from
its opening into Hampton Roads to the city of
Norfolk, is eight miles long, direct in its course,
very deep, and scarcely quarter of a mile in
width. Craney Island lies close to the channel,
on the west side, about three miles from Nor.
folk, on which are the remains Of an old fort,
which the secessionists are rebuilding. Nearer
to the city, on the other bank Of the channel, Is
Fort Norfolk, also being improved and mounted
with ordnance by the Virginans.
NORFOLK AND ITS SUBURBS.
The city of Norfolk, located upon an almost
| level site, presents but few natural defencet
against an attacking force. The city and Ports
mouth, lying opposite, can be approached from
several points. Troops could be landed from
the Hampton and Lynn Haven roads, within
seven miles of the city; the approaches beint
easy and indefensible. An approach could bt
made from Loudon bridge on the south, with ar
easy march of ten miles.
Norfolk is important for its railroad connec-
tions; 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 Albemarle and Pamlco
sounds. Into Hampton Roads empties the James
river, large stream affected by the tide one
hundred miles from it's mouth, at which point
the falls and rapids, with descent of one hun
dred feet in two miles, efectually block further
navigation, giving at the same time an uDlimt.
ed water power. At this point is situated the
city of Richmond, beautifully built on several
elevations, the most noted of which are Shock.
hoe and Richmond hills, between which flows
LII Tha H. 10 hao II, h,,;I
the streets interaecting at right apgles. On
Shockhoe hill are the capitol and other promi-
nept public buildings, and about them are clus-
tered the aristocratic mansions Of the city. Ves-
sells drawing ten feet OF water fasten to the
wharf at Richmond, and those drawing fifteen
approach within three miles of the city. Lines
of steamers, before the secession difficulties con.
nected Richmond commercially with New York,
Philadelphia, Norfolk and Baltimore. Rich
mond has been the great depot of Virginia
wheat, which its mills have converted into -four
RAILROADS FROM RICHMOND.
Five lines of railroad diverge from Richmond
One line running due north passes Fredericks-
burg on the Rappahannock, and terminates at
| Auuia Creek, near the Potomac. A line run
ming east terminates at Whitehouse, on the
York river. A third line runs due south to
Wilmington, North Carolina. having interme.
date stations at Petersburg, Va, and Weldon,
INC. The Richmond and Danville railroad
extends In 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
as Covington, beyond the Blue Ridge. At Cor
louisville 1t forms Junction with the Orange
and Alexandra road running northeast, and
the Lynchburg road running southwest. This
city is thus the military as well as the CONNER.
cisl centre of the State, and a point of great
strategic Importance.
YORK RIVER.
From the buoy at the entrance Of Hampton
Roads to the lightship at the mouth of Yorl
river, the distance is about fifteen miles. From
its source at the junction OF the Pamunky anC
Mattapony, its debouchment into the Chesa-
peake, the York river flows forty miles, beinl
an es ,uary with heavy tide, varying from two
to four miles In width 1t is navigable by th,
secondary draft to its source. A land spi
separates the mouth of the York river from
Mob Jack bay, which sets inland about fiiteeI
, miles, with eighteen feet Of water. Into thi
bay empties the Severn, North and Ware rivers
inconsiderable streams, navigable short dis
tance for vessels of light draft. From tn,
! lighthouse at New Point Comfort to the light
house at the entrance of the Rappahannock, 1
twenty miles. A space Of four miles to th
south of the light comprises the entrances u
|, the Rlppahannock and small bay and rive
called the Piankeetsnk.
THE RAPPAHANNock.
The Rappahannock, like the James river
rises in the mountainous portions Of the State
, At one hundred miles from its mouth. naviga
tion is stopped by falls and rapids. The rive
, below the falls has the character Of an estuary
, being broad and affected by the tides. At ID
head of Underwater is the city Of Fredericksburg
great tobacco depot, lying on the line of Ii
: Richmond and Potomac Railroad. '4h p
! Twenty-Five miles from the light-ship, moo
: cd at the mouth Of the Rsppahannock. is Il
: lighthouse atSmith's Point, guiding the entran,
to the Potomac,
Seven miles below Washington lies the Gil
of Alexandria, the most important town on u
}. Virginia side Of the river. The shores Of d
r Potomac below Washington have but 70
d slight elevations, aud 1t would be difficult to in
d Ipede navigation by hastily constructed battel
ls les. The width for the same distance vari
" from one and half TO Eve miles. .--New 10,