Camp Morehead By-The-SeaVirpetual* Reunion Web Site

The surrounding waters of Camp Morehead in the days of pirates, before the Civil War

Source: Blunt's Coast Pilot, Fifteenth Edition: The Atlantic Coast Pilot, containing Directions for the Principal Harbors, Capes, and Headlands on the coasts of North and South America, by Edmund G. Blunt, published in May, 1847

[Purchased at a New England estate auction by Nancy Jones]

CAPE LOOKOUT.- Cape lookout lighthouse is painted with red and white stripes horizontally, and can be seen 16 or 18 miles, and resembles a ship under sail. It contains a fixed light, elevated 100 feet above the level of the sea. The house is surrounded by small growth of trees, from which a bold, sand-beach extends in a S.E. direction, about 3 miles, in the center of which are small hillocks of sand. This light, although seen clearly all night, until near the approach of day, cannot then be discerned, owing, it is thought, to a mist that rises between the vessel and lamps. It is judged imprudent to approach the shoals of Lookout in the night nearer than 7 fathoms on the east, or 10 on the west side.

The shoals extend from the cape 10 miles, in a S.S.E. direction, being broken ground as far as lat. 34º 28' N. In that latitude there are 14 fathoms water, and from thence to the Gulf Stream the soundings are gradual, 95 fathoms. The tracks are faithfully laid down in the chart, (published by E. & G.W. Blunt,) together with all the soundings form the outer part of the shoal to the edge of the Gulf Stream.

The outer part of Cape Lookout shoals lies S.W. 1/4 W., 22 leagues from Cape Hatteras, and 22 leagues S.W. 3/4 W. from the outer part of Cape Hatteras Shoals. Seven miles from Cape lookout light lies a shoal which is dry at low water, bearing S. 1/2 E. from the light; the sea breaks constantly S.E. from this shoal for the distance of 2 miles, which is the S.E. point of breakers. Between this shoal and the shore there are numerous spots, on which are 1 1/2 and 1 1/4 fathoms; south of this shoal the least water is 2 1/2 fathoms. On the eastern part of Cape Lookout Shoals there are 2 1/2 fathoms; near them, on the northern and southern sides, are 4, 5, and 9 fathoms. On the N. and E. of Cape Lookout Shoals you will have 7 and 8 fathoms; dead, dark, broken shells with sand.

Old Topsail Inlet, or entrance to Beaufort, lies about 3 leagues W. N.W. from Cape Lookout. It has 2 1/2 fathoms water, but the eastern side of the entrance is formed by a long spit extending westward. The channel in lies first N.E. by E., then, and then alters gradually around the flat, which extends from the larboard or western side to the N.N.W. In proceeding up to Beaufort, you will have 3, 4, and 3 fathoms in the channel, and may anchor in 3 fathoms at low water.

If you wish to come within the shoals of Cape Lookout, after making Beaufort, keep along the shore at the distance of 2 miles, until you come up with the point of sand, forming a pretty good harbor, with the wind from the N.W. to E. for small vessels. If bound to the northward keep, as near as you can judge, the same distance, or a little less, from the beach, until you bring the lighthouse to bear N.W. by N.; you will at that distance have not less than quarter less three; then keep N.E., and you will deepen to 5 and 6 fathoms in a few minutes.

West, 10 leagues from cape Lookout, lies Bogue Inlet, on which are 8 feet water; W. by S. 1/2. S., 4 1/2 leagues from Bogue Inlet, lies New River, on which you have 8 feet water; S.W. 3/4 W., 6 leagues from New River light, lies New Topsail Inlet, on which are 10 feet water; S.W. 1/4 W. from New Topsail Inlet, 3 leagues distant, you make Deep Inlet, on which are 7 feet water; S.S.W. from Deep Inlet, 6 leagues, lies New Inlet, on which are 7 feet water. This Inlet is between the sea coast and N.E. end of Smith's Island. It will admit vessels drawing 6 feet; and is about 2 miles wide at its entrance, having 7 feet water, at low tide, over the bar. It continues its breadth to the flat, and is navigable for large vessels 21 miles from its mouth, and 20 miles to Wilmington, to which town vessels drawing 10 or 12 feet can reach without any risk. S. by E., 8 leagues from New Inlet, will carry you into 15 fathoms, south from the Fryingpan Shoals.

* Virpetual --> Virtual + Perpetual                                           Comments/Suggestions: Webmaster