Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1862-02-19
TopOgra. .,hy of the North Carolina
Coast.

TopOgra. ny of the North Carolina
Coast.
North Carolina has no very popslous
towns. Raleigh, the Capital OF the State,
has population of 5000; Newbcrn, form,
erly the capital, 5000; Wilmington, lin the
extreme southern point of the Stats, and
its largest town. 5000 Fayetteville, 5000
Beaufort, 1000 Goldsboro' 1000; Weld
on, 200; and there are many other small
towns scattered throughout the State. ran
ging from LOCO to 5000 inhabitants
by the last census, the population of the
State was 66l, ,586 freemen, and 33I ,O8l
slaves. These, free and slave, are nearly
all native born, only two or three thousand
Europeans having taken up their residence
there
The topography of North Carolina is re-
markable. The State has an extensive
coast-line, which, commencing at Little
River Inlet, on the borders of South Caro-
lima, runs nearly northeast to Cape Look
out, thence In the same general direction
to Cape Hatteras, and thence north to the
Virginia line, a distance of nearly 400
miles Along the whole length of the
coast are sandy, barren, desert islands and
bars, ranging from half mile to two miles
IN width, trayersed by numerous inlets,
which, with few exceptions, are not navi-
gable. From these islands shoals extend
far into the sea, which render the nevica-
tlon Of this coast exceedingly dangerous.
Cape Hatteras forms the headland of the
dangerous triangular island beach which
separates Pamlico Sound from the ocean.
The perilous navigation in the vicinity of
Capes Fear and Lookout is sufficiently in
dicated by the names Of those points. In
the eastern part Of the State, above Cape
Lookout, are the two extensive Sounds,
Pamlico and Albemarle, and one of lesser
magnitude, Currituck, which are cut off
trom the ocean by the island or sand bank
before referred to. Pamlic0 Sound, which
is the most southerly, extends from south
west to northwest eighty-six miles, and is
from ten to twenty miles in width, with a
depth OF twenty feet, a2d terminates west
wardly il, the wide bays of the Neuse and
Pamllco rivers. There are a number Of
shoals within this sound On the north it
connects with Alhemarle and Currituck
Sounds. Albemare is sixty miles in
length, and from four to fifteen broad ex-
tends west into the mainland. and is not
connected with the ocean except through
Pamllco Sound. Its waters are nearly
fresh, and not affected by the tides. 1t
sends Oft a number of branches or little
bays on either side which extend from ten
to fifteen miles inland. In the strait which
connects Pamlico with Albemarle Souudis
situated Roanoke Island the scene of the
late engagement. 1t is about forty miles
north of Hatteras Inlet, and the waters
on either side Of it are designated as Roam
oke and Croatem Sounds On the narrow
strip OF sand to the east, between Roanoke
Sound and the Atlantic Ocean, is point
called Nag's Head, where force of rebels
has tor some time been stationed Roam
oke Sound is not navigable by vessels of
large size but Croatem Sound is about
four miles broad, and navigable by the
hesVlest ships Of the Burnside Expedition.
Roanoke Island was strongly fortified by
the rebels. 1t is the key to Albemarle
Sound and Its vicinity, and the main posi-
ton tor the defence of Norfolk against ap-
proaches from the other important railroad
points in North Carolina. The other sound
Currituck, is from two to ten miles wide,
and runs parallel with the coast, from which
it Is cut OF by narrow sand islands. 1t con-
meets with the ocean only through Pamlico
Sound
The seacoast of North Carolina, from ff-
ty to eighty miles inland, including the
turpentlne region, is level, and abounds in
swamps and marshes; the streams are slug
glsh and muddy, and the land sandy and
barren' except along the banks of the
streams, where it is very fertile, producing
cotton, tobacco, and maize; but the inter
venlng country chiefly consists of pine bar
rens, valuable only for the turpentine yield
ed so abundantly by the pine forests.
The Great Dismal Swamp extends north
from Albemarle Sound into Virginia, area
l5O,O0O acres From the Pasquatank riv-
er, through great part of it, there has
been a canal cut, which connects Norfolk
with the North Carolina sounds. Between
Pamlico and Albemarle Sounds is Alliga-
tor or Little Dismal Swamp, which is near