...he York, the York and the James, the James and the Nottoway, and the Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake Bay. The whole Atlantic and Bay Coasts from Hatteras to Assateague Island and the mouth of the Potomac river , were accessible to war steamers far above the head of tidewater, and the rivers and estuaries so parted each from the others that they could not readily or adequately support each other in their de...