Report of Lieutenant-Command Fitch, U. S. Navy

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.