98 TRAVELS IN THE CONFEDERATION 



parallel. If the weather was not very unfavorable, or 

 the management very unskilful, no other cause for the 

 ill success of these attempts can be given, except the 

 many large streams which make the water of the 

 ocean less salty along the coast. 



From York in Virginia to this place, and still far- 

 ther, it was to be clearly remarked that the southern 

 banks of all rivers and creeks passed by us were higher, 

 or rather steeper and rougher, than the opposite north- 

 ern banks, which are invariably of longer slopes and 

 more washed ; for it cannot be said that the sand-flats 

 generally through which these streams flow are dis- 

 proportioned. May this be the effect of the storms, 

 coming more frequently from the North, North-east, 

 or North-west, and making a greater impression on 

 the side from whence .they come? This is chiefly 

 observable where the creeks make a considerable bend. 



Thirty miles from Suffolk, on the Elizabeth River 

 and near to its outlet in Chesapeak Bay, there stand on 

 either side the stream the towns Portsmouth and 

 Norfolk. The latter was at one time not only a very 

 handsome, but a very populous place, to which much 

 business was brought owing to its advantageous situa- 

 tion at the mouth of the Bay ; * but the whole place, 

 soon after the beginning of the disturbance, was laid 



* It is remarkable that the tide rises scarcely 2 feet at the 

 mouth of the Chesapeak, whereas at the mouth of the Dela- 

 ware it rises nearly 7 feet. If it is remembered that a similar 

 mass of water is driven against both, there is then less resist- 

 ance in Chesapeak Bay and more space for distribution than 

 at the mouth of the Delaware river, where damming must 

 take place. Thus there is a higher flood-tide at the mouth of 

 the Potowmack than at the mouth of the Chesapeak. 



