Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1862-02-20

tank, Perquimans, Chowan, Gates, Hert-
ford, BERTHE, Martin, and even Northamp-
ton and Halifax Counties, are all laid open
to his ravages. These counties have here
tofore furnished Norfolk, Wilmington, Sa-
vannah and Charleston larger amount of
corn than they obtained from all other
sources. besides the large shipments they
made to Baltimore, New York and Provi-
dence. The product of surplus corn from
these counties is immense. Add to this
the entire loss of the whole fishing interest
of these waters, am ounting to several mil
lions, besides affording one-half of the sup
port of large number Of INDECENT persons,
who can scarcely obtain it from any other
source
The Raleigh Standard gave some time
ago the following particulars concerning
Roanoke Island, and what was considered
its strategic Importance: ,s.,.,
Roanoke Island is, beyond doubt, the
most important strategic point in these wa
ters. Whether the enemy designed an at.
tack upon it to make rear movement upon
Norfolk, or to harrass and despoil the coun-
try, his success in either respect would be
severely damaging. This island lies about
forty miles North of Hatteras, at the foot
of Albemarle Sound with Croatan Sound on
the West, lying between the island and the
Tyrrell shore. Its easy of access by wa
ter, with no natural distractions to any
sized vessel than can be gotten over the
Swash "a shoal with about eight feet water
at Hatteras. On the East, the island is
cut off from the Nag's Head banks by a
shallow sound, not navigable except to light
boats. The island is about eight miles
long, and from two to three miles vide
Croatan Sound is about four, miles wide at
this point, with two good channels, the
best, however, lying within mile and a
half from the island. The Western chan
mel is about three miles from the island
1t is capable of being made a very strong
position, and, under the control of good
engineer, furnished with ample means, such
as its Importance demands, might be made
|impregnable against any force which could
be brought against it The possession Of
the island by the enemy would give him
easy access to all Of the above last mention
ed twelve counties by the navigable streams
which penetrate them, and would place at
his disposal Elizabeth City, Edenton, Hert.
ford, Plymouth, Williamson, Windsor and
Murfreesboro' small, but, to our peo-
pie, important towns. .-..'
The idea, however, which seems to pre-
vail at the North, and perhaps in some
minds South, that Norfolk would be endan.
gered by the Burnside feet passing through
the Albemarle and Chesapeake Canal, or
Dismal Swamp Canal, is simply preposter.
GUS. The narrow but deep streams through
which the aeet must pass to enter the ca
mails could so easily be closed up by the fel.
ling of timber as to cut of all possibility Of
passage; and even if he were to be quick
enough to reach the canals, his passage
could be easily obstructed by the same
means, or by breaking the locks and turn
ing the water out 1t would be equally
hazardous for him to land troops in Curri
tuck, or Camden, or at Elizabeth City, tc
attempt march towards Norfolk, as bis
advance could be easily obstructed. There
are several points, however, at which there
might be successful movement, aiming al
the rear of Norfolk, but We suppress no
tice of them, lest the information may sug
gest to the enemy schemes which might
prove injurious to US. These points are
doubtless known to the authorities, and We
trust, are we'll guarded We have grouped
together thus much, however, in order tt
Impress upon the President of the Confed
eracy, the Governor of the State, and to al
whom our defence is con6ded, the immense
Importance of strongly fortifying Roanoke
Island.