Baltimore daily commercial. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1865-1867, 1865-12-04
CORRESPONDENCE,
LETTER FROM NEwBERS.
[ From our travelling correspondent South

NEWBERN N, ", NOV. y, 1868.
He0m LINES Jehrcen Norfolk and Nc1cJe,a-T tn,
Route Get,ceeathose Cities Portsmouth NqUy Yard"
Orr Passengers Elizabeth Rirer-A AiJemar5e Or
chesapeake and North Cay0'ipu TtRuis- Roaa0f,
jslaaa- Interesting Observation-Disclosures OJsi.ue-
iioRS, dc.
There are two lines of steamers between NoTfoIk
and this place. The Peoples Line leaves both places
on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, meeting and
exchanging passengers at the mouth of North River
The inland route%from Norfolk to Newbem is as
follows: Up the west branch of the Elizabeth river
to the Chesapeakeand Albemarle Canal seventeen
miles; through the canal to Blackwatcr river eight
miles; down this river 10 Curritucb Sound, fifteen
miles: across Curlituck Sound to North Carolina en-
nal, fifteen miles; through this canal to North river
six miles: down North river to Abemarle Sound If
teen nmleso Croatan Sound, twelve miles, to Roanoke
Island eight miles; to PamlicO Sound, seven miles.
to the mouth OF Neuse river, eightyiive miles; to
Newhern, thrtyfve miles.
AT about II o'clock A. NJ the pionear left har
wharf and proceeded to the wharf Of the Baltimore
steamers where she remained nearly an hour taking
on freight ior diierent points on her route little
after y o'clock we were fairly off, and steaminr mn
the West Branch, passed along the water front of
Portsmouth and the navy yard. | had visited these
places the eYenlng before. Portsmouth looked pretty
much rs IT did before the war but the navy ward
although much has recently been done there in the
way of repair presented ruined and desol9te an
pearance. sailing frgate lay moored in the stream
and two or three small steamers and other boats were
At the wharyes, There was but little appearance Of
lile none OF activity. As look upon the melan-
choly scene. thought mouTnfully of the lot OF the
poor workmen recently discharged and about to be
ulsCnhTBtu just Nnen Implying winter NJ
hand, and then OF the miseries which had been
brought upon our country and especially the south
ern norton OF It, by the unhappy civil war When
will the dreadful wounds of our beloved land be
healed When will our enormous public debt be paid?
The day was cloudy, and there was a low waiIing
wind-both calculated TO nourish sad thoughts n i
generally best not to dwell upon unpleasant subjects
but there are times when such revcrics do us good
AS we lett these scenes of mOurnfUl interest how
ever, and the passengers began to talk more freely
with each other, the tone of all Of us became more
cheerful We had passengers from orthern, West
young men who had served in the Federal army and
several ao who had been in the rebel service: there
was even one who had served under both banners
II was pleasant 10 observe how easily they all trater
nHcd. Many incidents were related by both sides of
battles sudden SURPRISES and narrow escapes; such
narratives never created ilwill but oftcn sympathy
The company on board was indeed an agreeable one
The west branch of the Elizabeth river after leay-
ing Portsmouth, narr0wS very rapidly to It's head nj
one point, to the entrance into the Albemarle
and Chesapeake canal, the channel is. for the dis
tance of one or two hundred yards artiticialIv
wldencd 10 enable vessels to through. Both the
Albemarle and Chesapeake and the North Carolina
canals wide and deep On the former there is but
one oCh-where it leaves the Elizabeth river; on the
latter there is none, the water flowing through il on
level from Currituck Sound to North river. Both
canals pass through low and fiat country; that on
the Albemarle and Chesapeake canal being appar-
cntlya continuous maTSh that on the North Carolina
canal not quite so.
We were passing down the Black7atcr Flats ON
the river Of that name, when night closed in upon
us Shortly afterwards our steamer got aground,
when as the channel of that river i very torluOus
and fog had gradually deepened around us. anchor
was cast, and we remained all night at the place
These Blackwater Flats, by the way, are the only
part of the route between Norfolk and Newbern.
which is uncertain; there Is no danger in any part of
the route Our passengers bore the delay here very
patiently; the saloon was a cheerful scene; there
some amuse themselves with cards some with read
ing, and others with lively chat. For my part, sat
up conFersng wi tn couple Intelligent gentlemen
till midnight. traveller, who has regular hours for
all things else can have no regular hours for sleep
ing and eating; and the sooner he suits himself TO
this fate the better for his comfort.
-I,.
her way. During the day We passed through the
North Carolina Canal. There is small village or
rather hamlet on this canal, where we stopped to
land some freight. Shortly after we left this place
we passed steamer of the Peoples Line, and soon
after little steam tug towing barge. These. with
another Stcamtug towing another barge, which
met shortly after we left the Elizabeth river, are all
the vessels met in the canals. We arrived at
Roanoke Island little after dark ana stopped at the
Government wharf there. Several of the gentlemen
paSsengerS-I among them-accOmpanied our cap
tain to the little village which has gathered there
! say accompanied because it is certainly very
nearly if not quite, a quarter of mile from the end
Of the wharf where vessel lay to the shore far
out from the land does the shoa water extend. The
village containing few slight frame houses (as well
could be Judged in the dim light, is built upon the
sands along the shore.
Interesting memories gather around Roanoke
Island Here settled the first English colony in
America that unfortunate band who, after being
left by the ship which had brought them oyer the
broad Atlantic, so far from their native land,
never seen Of heard of more BY civilized man.
With this colony persisted Virginia Dare the first
white enid noIn IN america. " nat became OF theM!
How that question interests and puzzles the mind.
But memories of much more recent date and fully as
mournful are connected with Roanoke Island All
my readers will remember the bloody battle fought
there in the late civil war
All that night our stout HteaIaer sped on her
down the broad Pamlico Sound; and ten o'clock the
next morning in the mouth of the Neuseriver.
few miles below Newbern we passed the spot where
the Confederaes had sunk vessels loaded with stones
and had driven piles to prevent the passage Of the
Federal fleet Many of these Instructions still re-
main; but the deeper part Of the river, called by
sailors the channel, totally clear from them,
Along the shores of the river still be seen some
remains of the several fortfcaions thrown up by the
rebels On the south bank ofthe Trent at its mouth
lage of rudev constructed huts, inhabited by negro
freedmen A considerable crowd of the inhabitants
of this village were gathered on The shore as we
passed: they were apparently witnessing baptizing.
Shortly after passing this freedmens village, our
steamer gained her wharf and land ed her
1t was, although without any marked incident one
of the pleasantest trips ever experienced.
ORIONIS.