Report of Lieutenant-Commander Fitch, U. S. Navy
regarding the Cumberland River
MARCH 17, 1863.
from the B. R. Jennings collection
The Cumberland averages in width about 600 feet inside of the trees. During low stages of water boats have great difficulty in getting above Harpeth Shoals, about 160 miles from the mouth and 35 miles below Nashville.
Above Nashville the river becomes very narrow in making the turns and frequently boats get very much broken up. In making the trip to Carthage boats frequently are compelled to lower their smokestacks, and then suffer much from having their upper works much broken up by the branches of trees. Everything above Nashville seems quiet, and as gunboats can accomplish little or nothing above, the wear and tear does not warrant the keeping of two there, unless in cases of necessity; besides, when the Cumberland commences <nor24_59>to fall the water recedes so fast that there is great danger in being caught.
At low water the river is not navigable for boats drawing over 15 inches, that being the average depth on Harpeth Shoals. The river banks are generally very thickly wooded with heavy hills overlooking the banks. Palmyra, between Donelson and Clarksville, and Beatstown [Betsy Town] Landing at Harpeth Shoals, are the most noted guerrilla haunts. I have burned and destroyed all the stores or houses near the shoals frequented by guerrillas. The Cumberland frequently rises and falls with such rapidity that a difference of from 8 to 12 feet in twenty-four hours is of no uncommon occurrence.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
LEROY FITCH,
Lieutenant-Commander.
Acting Rear-Admiral DAVID D. PORTER,
Commanding Mississippi Squadron.
Tabulated report of Tennessee River from mouth to Florence, Ala.
| Towns, landings, shoals, etc. |
Distance [traveled] (miles) |
Distance from mouth (miles) |
Depth of water (feet) |
Population | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paducah, Ky | [0] | 4,000 | Very few loyal citizens. | ||
| [Great] Chain | 12 | 12 | 3 | ||
| Hottocks [Haydock's] Ferry | 3 | 15 | Left bank, one log house. | ||
| Little Chain | 2 | 17 | 3 | ||
| 27 Mile Island | 13 | 30 | Not inhabited. | ||
| Birmingham | 5 | 35 | 200 | Left bank. | |
| Fourn's [Fond's] Landing | 8 | 43 | Left bank, one house. | ||
| Aurora | 8 | 51 | Do. | ||
| Callowaytown | 1 | 52 | Left bank, two houses. | ||
| Pine Bluff | 10 | 62 | Do. | ||
| Buffalo Landing | 5 | 67 | Do. | ||
| Panther creek, island and bar |
3 | ||||
| Forts Henry and Hindman [Heiman] | 5 | 72 | Right and left banks. | ||
| Paris Landing | 5 | 77 | Left bank, one house and mill. | ||
| Mouth of [Big] Sandy [River] | 1 | 78 | 50 | Left bank. | |
| [Big] Sandy Island | 4 | 82 | |||
| Leatherwood Shoals | 3 | 85 | 3.5 | Very narrow. | |
| Winns [Wynn's] Landing | 2 | 87 | Right and left banks, one house. | ||
| Mobile and Ohio Railroad bridge | 5 | 92 | Two or three houses. | ||
| New Portland | 1 | 93 | Right bank, three houses, Union. | ||
| Point Mason | 5 | 98 | Left bank (rushing) doubtful. | ||
| Mason's [Turkey] Island | = | 98= | Plenty water; very rocky. | ||
| Green Bottom Bar | 5 | 103= | 3 | Very narrow. | |
| Reynoldsburg | 7 | 119= | Right bank, three families; rebels. | ||
| Wills [Wyley's] Point | 7 | 117 | |||
| J Trotter's Landing | 6 | 123 | Right bank, one house near by. | ||
| Thompson's Duck River Sucks | 5 | 128 | Left bank; very crooked and rocky. | ||
| Rockport Landing and Duck River Bar. | 1 | 129 | 2.5 | Left bank; rebel country around. | |
| Duck River | 5 | 134 | Right bank; all rebels. | ||
| Fowler's Landing | 2 | 136 | Right bank; very bad rebels. | ||
| Cuba Landing | 3 | 139 | Right bank; rebels, one house. | ||
| Leadbetters landing | 7 | 146 | Left bank. | ||
| Britt's Landing | 3 | 149 | Right bank; one house and store, professes Union. | ||
| Denson | 2 | 151 | Right hank; one family; rebels, in Confederate Army. | ||
| Brodie's | 7 | 158 | Left bank. | ||
| Perryville and East Perryville | 8 | 166 | 30 | Left bank; rebels. | |
| Marvin's Bluffs | 3 | 169 | Right bank; two houses, Union. | ||
| Fisher's Land | 1 | 170 | Left bank. | ||
| Brownsport, iron foundry | 1 | 171 | Left bank; iron foundry; Union. |
Tabulated report of Tennessee River from month to Florence, Ala.--Continued.
| Towns, landings, shoals, etc. | Distance [traveled] (miles) |
Distance from mouth (miles) | Depth of water (feet). | Population | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar Creek, iron furnace | 1 | 172 | Left bank. | ||
| Nichols Landing | 5 | 177 | Right bank. | ||
| Patriot Landing | 3 | 180 | Right bank; Union, yet rebel. | ||
| Decatur, iron furnace | 3 | 183 | Left bank. | ||
| Beech Creek, island | 5 | 188 | |||
| Carrollville | 2 | 190 | Right bank; four houses, Union. | ||
| Clifton | 1 | 191 | 300 | Right bank; rebels, town burned Feb. --, 1863. | |
| Eagle Nest Island | 5 | 196 | Right bank; rebels. | ||
| Swallow Bluff | 12 | 208 | Left bank; high, rocky bluff. | ||
| Point Pleasant | 3 | 211 | Left bank; three houses. | ||
| Saltillo | 1 | 212 | Right bank; three houses; Union. | ||
| Petticoat Riffle | 3 | 215 | 3.5 | 3.5 | |
| Cerro Gordo | 3 | 218 | Right bank; deserted. | ||
| Squire Craven's | 1 | 219 | Left bank; Union. | ||
| Chalk Bluff | 7 | 226 | Left bank; deserted. | ||
| Coffee's Landing Ferry | 1 | 227 | Left bank; hot secesh. | ||
| Savannah | 6 | 233 | 500 | Right bank; mixed Union and rebels. | |
| Crump's Landing | 3 | 236 | Left bank; deserted. | ||
| Pittsburg Landing | 5 | 241 | Do. | ||
| Hamburg Landing | 5 | 246 | Do. | ||
| Big Bend Shoals | 3 | 249 | Right bank, deserted. | ||
| Big Bend Landing | 5 | 254 | |||
| Bokerwins Landing | 3 | 257 | Left bank, deserted and destroyed. | ||
| Yellow Creek | 1 | 258 | Left bank, deserted. | ||
| Eastport, Miss | 8 | 266 | Left bank; two families. | ||
| Chickasaw, Ala | 1 | 267 | Left bank; eight families, four Union, rest doubtful. | ||
| Waterloo | 1 | 268 | 20 | Right bank; all rebels. | |
| Colbert Shoals | 1 | Deserted. | |||
| Georgetown Landing | 17 | 285 | Left bank. | ||
| Newport Ferry | 7 | 292 | Do. | ||
| Cone [Kane] Creek | 5 | 297 | Do. | ||
| Coffee Island [Seven Mile Island] | 5 | 302 | |||
| Tuscumbia Landing | 7 | 309 | Left bank; all rebels back. | ||
| Florence, Ala | 7 | 316 | 1,000 | Right bank; rebels. | |
| Foot of Big [Great] Mussel | 7 | 323 | .5 | Head of navigation; only 4 feet at the highest stages of water ever known; very swift and rocky. |
The Tennessee averages about 1,420 feet in width. Where shoals are, she is generally very narrow and crooked. Duck River Sucks are very dangerous, in consequence of the channel being very crooked and the current setting so strong over the rocks. This, at low water, is one of the most favorable places for locating a battery on the river. The banks are mostly flat and overflow at high water, with high hills back from 1 to 2 miles. There are now few loyal citizens above Fort Henry.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
LEROY FITCH,
Lieutenant-Commander.
Acting Rear-Admiral DAVID D. PORTER,
Commanding Mississippi Squadron.