James River
a river in Virginia; formed by the union of the Jackson and Cowpasture rivers, passes through the Blue Ridge, and pursues a devious course as far as Scottsville. At Richmond it falls 100 feet in six miles, thereby affordfalls 100 feet in six miles, thereby affording a grand water power. Above this point the James river and Kanawha canal extends, following the course of the river, and embracing extensive reaches of slack water navigation, to Buchanan, 196 miles. The tide comes up to the Rocketts, just below Richmond.
This is the head of navigation for steamboats and schooners of 130 tons. Shipping of the first class comes up to City Point, 40 miles below, at the mouth of the Appomattox. Below City Point the river is a broad, deep, tidal estuary, 66 miles long. The James river flows into Chesapeake Bay through Hampton Roads.
Chesapeake Bay through Hampton Roads. to Old Point Comfort is some 450 miles.