NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Sewell's Point

Hampton Roads, Virginia - from official state map published in 1859 Template:PD-US File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. Click on date to download the file or see the image uploaded on that date. (del) (cur...

Hampton Roads, Virginia 1858

Sewell's Point is a A peninsula is a geographical formation consisting of an extension of land from a larger body that is surrounded by water on three sides. A peninsula can also be a headland, cape, promontory or spit. Peninsulas ( or peninsulae ) of the world: Continental Europe Apsheron, Azerbaijan Balkan peninsula Brittany, France Butjadingen... peninsula of land in the An independent city is a city in the United States of America that does not belong to any county, but rather interacts directly with the state government. Because counties have historically been a strong institution in local government in most of the United States, independent cities are relatively rare outside... independent city of Norfolk, Virginia, viewed from Portsmouth, across the Elizabeth River Norfolk is a city in the U.S. state of Virginia in the United States of America. It is an independent city, and therefore part of no county. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 234... Norfolk, Virginia in the The United States of America — also referred to as the United States, the U.S.A., the U.S., America¹, the States, or (archaically) Columbia — is a federal republic of 50 states located primarily in central North America (with the exception of two states: Alaska and Hawaii... United States, located at the mouth of the salt-water port of Hampton Roads, Virginia 1858 Hampton Roads is the name of both a body of water and the land areas which surround it in southeastern Virginia in the United States. Officially known as the Norfolk-Virginia Beach-Newport News Metropolitan Area, the Hampton Roads area has a population about 1.6... Hampton Roads. Sewell's Point is bordered by water on three sides, with Willoughby Bay to the north, Hampton Roads to the west, and the Lafayette River to the south. It is the site of the -1... Norfolk Navy Base.

Origins and variations of name

The area was apparently originally named in the 17th century after a Captain John Seawell, an Englishman who was a captain in the A militia is a group of citizens organized to provide paramilitary service. The word can have four slightly different meanings: An official reserve army, composed of non-professional soldiers The national police forces in the Russia, and other CIS countries, and the Soviet Union: Militsiya The entire able-bodied population... militia and grew Species N. acuminata N. alata N. attenuata N. bigelovil N. clevelandii N. debneyi N. excelsior N. exigua N. forgetiana N. glauca N. glutinosa N. kawakamii N. knightiana N. langsdorffii N. longiflora N. obtusifolia N. otephora N. paniculata N. plumbagifolia N. quadrivalvis N. repanda N. rustica N. × sanderae N. suaveolens N... tobacco on his land. Capt. Seawell is said to have preferred his name to be pronounced as Sow-el. According to old court records, the The word Episcopal is derived from the Greek επισκοπος epískopos, which literally means overseer; the word however is used in religious terms to mean bishop. Episcopal churches Episcopal churches are the churches with bishops, but generally those whose bishops are in... Episcopal churches in Norfolk are directly descended from the first Anglican church of Elizabeth River Parish "at Mr. Seawell's Pointe," begun in the late 1630s. The church stood somewhere within the present western limits of the US Naval Station Norfolk. Later, variations in spelling were used, such as Seawell's Point, and Sewall’s Point. The common spelling today is Sewell's Point.

Local government – Shire to County to City – A Virginia tradition

Sewell's Point is an area of land. Never declared a town or city, it is more correctly described as a geographical area. The listing of political entities which have constituted the local government at Sewell's Point is complex, but typical of many communities in the state of State nickname: Old Dominion Other U.S. States Capital Richmond Largest city Virginia Beach Governor Mark R. Warner Official languages English Area 110,862 km² (35th) - Land 102,642 km² - Water 8,220 km² (7.4%) Population (2000) - Population 7,196,750 (12th) - Density... Virginia dating back to the colonial period.

During the 17th century, shortly after establishment of the Jamestown was a village on an island in the James River in Virginia, about 45 miles southeast of where Richmond, Virginia, is now. Both the river and the 1607 settlement there were named for King James I of England who had recently come to the throne then. The Jamestown Settlement... Jamestown Settlement in Events January 20 - Tidal wave swept along the Bristol Channel, killing 2000 people. (Possibly tsunami) April 25 - Battle of Gibraltar Dutch fleet destroys anchored Spanish fleet April 26 - English colonists make landfall at Cape Henry, Virginia, later moving up the James River to found Jamestown, the first permanent English settlement... 1607, English settlers and explored and began settling the areas adjacent to Hampton Roads. By Events Moses Amyrauts Traite de la predestination is published Curaçao captured by the Dutch Treaty of Polianovska First meeting of the Académie française The witchcraft affair at Loudun Jean Nicolet lands at Green Bay, Wisconsin Opening of Covent Garden Market in London English establish a settlement... 1634, the English colony of Virginia consisted of eight For information on the fictional Shire of J. R. R. Tolkiens The Lord of the Rings, see Shire (Middle-earth) A shire is an administrative area of Great Britain. The first shires were created by the Anglo-Saxons in what is now England and south eastern Scotland. Shires were... shires or Originally, a county was the land under the jurisdiction of a count (in Great Britain, an earl, though the original earldoms covered larger areas) by reason of that office. The term has since tended to represent a tertiary geographical unit of administration intermediate between the larger, secondary state or province... counties with a total population of approximately 5,000 inhabitants. Sewell's Point was a part of Elizabeth River Shire.

In Events February 24 - King Christian of Denmark gives an order that all beggars that are able to work must be sent to Brinholmen Island to build ships or as galley rowers March 26 - Utrecht University founded in The Netherlands. September 8 - A vote of the Great and General Court of... 1636 the southern portion of Elizabeth River Shire became New Norfolk County, and was divided in Events February 3 - Tulipmania collapses in Netherlands by government order February 15 - Ferdinand III becomes Holy Roman Emperor December 17 - Japan Pierre de Fermat makes a marginal claim to have proof of what would become known as Fermats Last Theorem. France places a few missionaries in the Côte... 1637 into Upper and Lower Norfolk Counties. In Events March 5 - French troops under Marshal Louis-Francois de Boufflers besiege the Spanish-held town of Mons March 29 - Siege of Mons ends to the city’s surrender Treaty of Limerick penalizes public worship of catholics and Presbyterians Change of emperor of the Ottoman Empire from Suleiman II... 1691 Lower Norfolk County was in turn divided to form Norfolk County and Princess Anne County.

Sewell's Point was to remain located in Norfolk County for over 225 years, until the independent City of Norfolk annexed the area in 1923 was a common year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). Events January-June January 1 - Grouping of all UK railway companies into four larger companies January 10 - Lithuania seizes and annexes Memel January 11 - Troops from France and Belgium occupy the Ruhr area to force Germany... 1923. (Virginia has had an An independent city is a city in the United States of America that does not belong to any county, but rather interacts directly with the state government. Because counties have historically been a strong institution in local government in most of the United States, independent cities are relatively rare outside... independent city political subdivision since 1871 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). Events January - April January 18 - The member-states of the North German Confederation unite into a single nation-state known as the German Empire. The King of Prussia is declared the first German Emperor as Wilhelm I of... 1871). The City of South Norfolk and Norfolk County merged to form the new independent city of Chesapeake is an independent city located in the South Hampton Roads region of eastern Virginia in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 199,184. The city was created in 1963, when the former independent city of South Norfolk was consolidated with... Chesapeake in Events January-February January 11 - The Whisky A Go-Go night club in Los Angeles, the first disco in the USA, is opened. January 14 - George Wallace becomes governor of Alabama. January 22 - Elysée treaty between France and Germany January 28 - Black student Harvey Gantt enters Clemson College in... 1963.

Boundaries determined by weather

Although Hampton Roads, Virginia 1858 Hampton Roads is the name of both a body of water and the land areas which surround it in southeastern Virginia in the United States. Officially known as the Norfolk-Virginia Beach-Newport News Metropolitan Area, the Hampton Roads area has a population about 1.6... Hampton Roads represents a sheltered area from the tempests of both the Chesapeake Bay The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States. It lies off the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by Virginia and Maryland. The Chesapeake Bays watershed covers 64,000 mi (165,800 km ) in the District of Columbia and parts of six states: New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware... Chesapeake Bay and the The Atlantic Ocean is Earths second-largest ocean, covering approximately one-fifth of its surface. The oceans name, derived from Greek mythology, means the Sea of Atlas. This ocean occupies an elongated, S-shaped basin extending in a north-south direction and is divided into the North Atlantic... Atlantic Ocean, the area’s shorelines change with extreme weather. At one time, Willoughby Bay did not border Sewell’s Point to the north!

The area known as Willoughby takes its name from Thomas Willoughby, who came to Virginia in Events January 7 - Galileo Galilei discovers the Galilean moons of Jupiter. March 12 – Swedish troops under Jacob de la Gardie take Moscow May 13-14 – Francois Ravaillac assassinates Henry IV of France July 5 - John Guy sets sail from Bristol with 39 other colonists for Newfoundland. Johannes Fabricius... 1610 and received a A land grant is a gift of land made by the government for projects such as roads, railroads, or especially academic institutions. In the past (the 1700s), they were given for the purpose of establishing settlements, missions, and farms. During the 1800s, four out of five of the transcontinental railroads... land grant around Events March 27 - Prince Charles Stuart becomes King Charles I of England, Ireland. June 13 - Marriage of Charles I of England and Henrietta Maria, Princess of France and Navarra. The English Parliament refuses to vote Charles I the right to collect customs duties for his entire reign, restricting him to... 1625. Willoughby's son, Thomas II, was living there in the 1660s, and legend has it that his wife awoke one morning following a terrific storm (possibly the "Harry Cane" of Events January 20 - Poland cedes Kyiv, Smolensk, and eastern Ukraine to Russia in the Treaty of Andrusovo that put a final end to the Deluge, and Poland lost its status as a Central European power. April 27 - The blind, impoverished John Milton sells the copyright of Paradise Lost for £10... 1667) to see a point of land in front her home, where there had been only water the night before. The Willoughby family, it is said, were quick to apply for an addendum to the original A land grant is a gift of land made by the government for projects such as roads, railroads, or especially academic institutions. In the past (the 1700s), they were given for the purpose of establishing settlements, missions, and farms. During the 1800s, four out of five of the transcontinental railroads... land grant, giving them ownership of the "new" property.

Severe storms and This article is about weather phenomena. For other uses, see Hurricane (disambiguation), Typhoon (disambiguation) and Tropical storm (disambiguation). Hurricane Ivan viewed from the International Space Station, September 2004. NASA photo by Edward Fincke. In meteorology, a tropical cyclone (or tropical storm, typhoon or hurricane, depending on strength and location) is... hurricanes would continue to transform the contour of the coast, and the Willoughby holdings, for more than a century. Although official records of Hampton Roads weather go back only to 1871 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). Events January - April January 18 - The member-states of the North German Confederation unite into a single nation-state known as the German Empire. The King of Prussia is declared the first German Emperor as Wilhelm I of... 1871 when the The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is an agency of the United States Department of Commerce. NOAA operates a network of weather satellites, the National Weather Service, the National Hurricane Center, and cooperates with the National Ice Center. Mission National Weather Service meteorologists preparing a forecast, early 20th century... National Weather Service was established in downtown Norfolk, records of earlier storms have been located in ships' logs, newspaper accounts, history books and writings of early settlers.

Residents of colonial coastal Virginia were very much aware of the weather. To people who lived near the water and derived much of their livelihood from the sea, a tropical storm was a noteworthy event. During a This article is about weather phenomena. For other uses, see Hurricane (disambiguation), Typhoon (disambiguation) and Tropical storm (disambiguation). Hurricane Ivan viewed from the International Space Station, September 2004. NASA photo by Edward Fincke. In meteorology, a tropical cyclone (or tropical storm, typhoon or hurricane, depending on strength and location) is... hurricane in Events While in debtors prison, John Cleland writes Fanny Hill (Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure). Released from prison, the book was published in London. Immediately, the Church of England asked the British Secretary of State to stop the progress of this vile Book, which is an open insult... 1749, the Chesapeake Bay The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States. It lies off the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by Virginia and Maryland. The Chesapeake Bays watershed covers 64,000 mi (165,800 km ) in the District of Columbia and parts of six states: New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware... Chesapeake Bay rose 15 feet above normal, sand spit was washed up at Sewell's Point and, with the help of The Great Coastal Hurricane of 1806, Willoughby Spit was formed. The area of water now located between Sewell’s Point and Willoughby Spit is known as Willoughby Bay.

A strategic Civil War location

Sewell's Point’s location at the mouth of Hampton Roads proved to be a strategic location during the early portion of the The American Civil War was fought in the United States from 1861 until 1865 between the United States – forces coming mostly from the 23 northern states of the Union – and the newly-formed Confederate States of America, which consisted of 11 southern states that had declared their secession... Civil War.

Battle of Sewell's Point

The first skirmish in Virginia, the little-known Battle of Sewell's Point, was fought on May 18 is the 138th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (139th in leap years). There are 227 days remaining. Events 1593 - Playwright Thomas Kyds accusations of heresy lead to an arrest warrant for Christopher Marlowe. 1652 - Rhode Island passes the first law in North America making... May 18-19, 1861 is a common year starting on Tuesday. Events January January 1 - Benito Juárez captures Mexico City January 2 - Friedrich Wilhelm IV of Prussia dies and is succeeded by Wilhelm I January 3 - American Civil War: Delaware votes not to secede from the United States January 9 - Mississippi... 1861, on ground now occupied by the US Naval Station Norfolk. The events leading up to the initial engagement on Virginia soil had moved with whirlwind rapidity.

Events leading onto the Battle

On December 20 is the 354th day of the year (355th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. There are 11 days remaining. Events 1522 - Suleiman the Magnificent accepts the surrender of the surviving Knights of Rhodes, who are allowed to evacuate. They eventually re-settle on Malta and become known... December 20, 1860 is the leap year starting on Sunday. Events March March 6 - Abraham Lincoln speaks against slavery in New Haven, Connecticut April April 3 - The Pony Express makes its first run. May May 1 - A chondrite type meteorite fell to earth in Muskingum County, Ohio near the town of New... 1860, State nickname: Palmetto State Other U.S. States Capital Columbia Largest city Columbia Governor Mark Sanford Official languages English Area 82,965 km² (40th) - Land 78,051 km² - Water 4,915 km² (6%) Population (2000) - Population 4,012,012 (26th) - Density 51.45 /km... South Carolina became the first state to secede from the Union. Four months later, on April 12 is the 102nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (103rd in leap years). There are 263 days remaining. Events 467 - Anthemius is elevated to Emperor of the Western Roman Empire 1606 - The Union Flag is adopted as the national flag of Great Britain. 1633 - The formal... April 12, 1861 is a common year starting on Tuesday. Events January January 1 - Benito Juárez captures Mexico City January 2 - Friedrich Wilhelm IV of Prussia dies and is succeeded by Wilhelm I January 3 - American Civil War: Delaware votes not to secede from the United States January 9 - Mississippi... 1861, troops of that state opened fire on Fort Sumter in Charleston is an American city located in Charleston County, South Carolina. The city was founded as Charlestown or Charles Towne, Carolina in 1670, and moved to its present location in 1690, when it had a population of 1200 and was the fifth largest city in North America. It adopted its... Charleston's harbor. Five days later, Virginia became the eighth Southern state to withdraw from the This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. If an article link referred you here, you might want to go back and fix it to point directly to the intended page. A Union is a single entity which... Union, and join the newly formed National Motto Deo Vindice ( Latin: Under God our Vindicator) Official language English de facto nationwide Various European and Native American languages regionallyweeeeeeeeeeeeeeee Capital Montgomery, Alabama February 4, 1861– May 29, 1861 Richmond, Virginia May 29, 1861– April 9, 1865 Danville, Virginia April 3– April 10, 1865fo realllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll... Confederacy.

A few weeks later that spring, US General-in-Chief Winfield Scott Winfield Scott (June 13, 1786 – May 29, 1866) was a United States general, diplomat, and presidential candidate. Some historians rate him the ablest American general of his time. Scott was born on his familys farm near Petersburg, Virginia. He attended the College of William & Mary... Winfield Scott proposed to President Abraham Lincoln ( February 12, 1809 – April 15, 1865), sometimes called Abe Lincoln and nicknamed Honest Abe, the Rail Splitter, and the Great Emancipateer, was the 16th ( 1861– 1865) President of the United States, and the first president from the Republican Party. Lincoln staunchly opposed the expansion of slavery... Lincoln a plan to bring the states back into the This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. If an article link referred you here, you might want to go back and fix it to point directly to the intended page. A Union is a single entity which... Union: cut the Confederacy off from the rest of the world instead of attacking its army in Virginia.

His plan was to blockade the Confederacy's coastline and control the Length 6,270 km Elevation of the source 450 m Average discharge 16,200 m³/s Area watershed 2,980,000 km² Origin Lake Itasca Mouth Gulf of Mexico Basin countries United States (98.5%) Canada (1.5%) This page is about the river in the United States; for other... Mississippi River valley with gunboats. Lincoln ordered a blockade of the southern seaboard from the South Carolina line to the Rio Grande on April 19 is the 109th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (110th in leap years). There are 256 days remaining. Events 1012 - Martyrdom of St Alphege in Greenwich, London. 1529 - At the Diet of Speyer a group of rulers (German: Fürst) and independent cities (German: Reichsstadt... April 19 and on April 27 is the 117th day of the year (118th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 248 days remaining. Events 1124 - David becomes King of Scotland. 1296 - Battle of Dunbar: The Scots are defeated by Edward I of England. 1509 - Pope Julius II places the Italian state of... April 27 extended it to include the State nickname: Tar Heel State Other U.S. States Capital Raleigh Largest city Charlotte Governor Michael Easley Official languages English Area 139,509 km² (28th) - Land 126,256 km² - Water 13,227 km² (9.5%) Population (2000) - Population 8,049,313 (11th) - Density 63... North Carolina and Virginia coasts. On April 20 is the 110th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (111th in leap years). There are 255 days remaining. Events 1653 - Oliver Cromwell disbands the British Parliament. 1657 - Jews of New Amsterdam (later New York City) granted freedom of religion. 1689 - The former King James II of... April 20 the This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. If an article link referred you here, you might want to go back and fix it to point directly to the intended page. A Union is a single entity which... Union Navy burned and evacuated the Aerial View of the Norfolk Naval Shipyard The Norfolk Naval Shipyard, often called the Norfolk Navy Yard, is a U.S. Navy facility in Portsmouth, Virginia, for building, remodeling, and repairing the Navys ships. It is located on the Elizabeth River just a short distance upriver from its mouth... Norfolk Navy Yard, destroying nine ships in the process, leaving only Fort Monroe at Old Point Comfort as the last bastion of the United States in Tidewater Virginia.

Occupation of Norfolk gave the Confederacy its only major shipyard and thousands of heavy guns, but they held it for only one year. CS Brigadier General Walter Gwynn, who commanded the Confederate defenses around Norfolk, erected batteries at Sewell's Point, both to protect Norfolk and to control Hampton Roads.

The Union dispatched a fleet to Hampton Roads to enforce the blockade, and on May 18-19 Federal gunboats exchanged fire with the batteries at Sewell's Point, resulting in little damage to either side.

The Battle Itself

Stewart's "History of Norfolk County, Virginia" (1902), contains a detailed account of the Battle of Sewell’s Point that took place one month later.

There were no fatalities on either side. The only person wounded was a Confederate private who was struck by a fragment of a bursting shell. Subsequently the Sewell’s Point batteries were under fire many times, but they were never silenced or captured in combat. And, later, when Confederate forces evacuated Norfolk on May 10 is the 130th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (131st in leap years). There are 235 days remaining. Events 1200-1899 1291 - Scottish nobles recognize the authority of King Edward I of England. 1497 - Amerigo Vespucci allegedly leaves Cádiz for his first voyage to the... May 10, Events January-March January 10 - End of term for John Gately Downey, 7th Governor of California. He is succeeded by Amasa Leland Stanford. January 30 - The first American ironclad warship, the USS Monitor is launched. February 1 - Julia Ward Howes Battle Hymn of the Republic is published for the... 1862, they were abandoned.

Battle of Hampton Roads

The famous Battle of Hampton Roads Conflict American Civil War Date March 8, 1862 – March 9, 1862 Place Off Sewells Point, near the mouth of Hampton Roads, United States of America Confederate States of America Commanders John L. Worden Franklin Buchanan Catesby R. Jones Strength 1 ironclad, 3 wooden warships... Battle of Hampton Roads took place off Sewell's Point in Hampton Roads, Virginia 1858 Hampton Roads is the name of both a body of water and the land areas which surround it in southeastern Virginia in the United States. Officially known as the Norfolk-Virginia Beach-Newport News Metropolitan Area, the Hampton Roads area has a population about 1.6... Hampton Roads on March 8 is the 67th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (68th in Leap years). There are 298 days remaining. Events 1618 - Johannes Kepler discovers the third law of planetary motion (he soon rejects the idea after some initial calculations were made but later on May 15 confirms... March 8- March 9 is the 68th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (69th in Leap years). There are 297 days remaining. Events 1276 - Augsburg becomes an Imperial Free City 1765 - After a public campaign by the writer Voltaire, judges in Paris posthumously exonerate Jean Calas of murdering his son... 9, Events January-March January 10 - End of term for John Gately Downey, 7th Governor of California. He is succeeded by Amasa Leland Stanford. January 30 - The first American ironclad warship, the USS Monitor is launched. February 1 - Julia Ward Howes Battle Hymn of the Republic is published for the... 1862.

USS Monitor was an ironclad warship of the United States Navy. She is most famous for her participation in the first-ever naval battle between two ironclad warships, the Battle of Hampton Roads on March 9, 1862 during the American Civil War, in which Monitor fought the ironclad Virginia of... USS Monitor of the Union Navy faced CSS Virginia was an ironclad warship of the Confederate States Navy during the American Civil War. She was one of the participants in the Battle of Hampton Roads in March, 1862 opposite the USS Monitor. The battle is chiefly significant in naval history as the first battle between two powered... CSS Virginia of the Categories: Stub | American Civil War | Confederate States Navy ... Confederate States Navy.

The battle, which was inconclusive, is chiefly significant in naval history as the first battle between two powered Ironclad warships, frequently shortened to just ironclads, were ships sheathed with thick iron plates for protection. The first uses of iron for naval protection occurred in the Far East in the 16th century, but the heyday of the ironclad came in the mid-19th century, when ironclads supplanted wooden ships... ironclad warships, which came to be known as Ironclad warships, frequently shortened to just ironclads, were ships sheathed with thick iron plates for protection. The first uses of iron for naval protection occurred in the Far East in the 16th century, but the heyday of the ironclad came in the mid-19th century, when ironclads supplanted wooden ships... ironclads.

Abraham Lincoln and the bombardment of Sewell's Point

On June 5, 1862, President Lincoln, with his Cabinet Secretaries Edwin McMasters Stanton (December 19, 1814 - December 24, 1869), born in Steubenville, Ohio, was an American political figure, prominent in the American Civil War and in the Reconstruction era. After graduating from Kenyon College in 1833, he was admitted to the Ohio bar in 1835. He was appointed as United... Stanton and Salmon Portland Chase (January 13, 1808–May 7, 1873) was an American politician and jurist in the Civil War era who served as Chief Justice of the United States and previously as U.S. Treasury Secretary under Abraham Lincoln. Biography Chase was born in Cornish, New Hampshire, and lost... Chase on board, proceeded to Hampton Roads on steamer Miami to personally direct the stalled Peninsular Campaign. The following day, Lincoln directed gunboat operations in the The James River is the name of several rivers in the United States. James River (North Dakota, South Dakota) James River (Virginia) This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. If an article link referred you here, you... James River and the bombardment of Sewell’s Point by the blockading squadron in the five days he acted as Commander-in-Chief in the field.

On June 8, 1862, USS Monitor was an ironclad warship of the United States Navy. She is most famous for her participation in the first-ever naval battle between two ironclad warships, the Battle of Hampton Roads on March 9, 1862 during the American Civil War, in which Monitor fought the ironclad Virginia of... Monitor, Dacotah, Naugatuck, Seminole, and Susquehanna by direction of the President "-shelled Confederate batteries at Sewell's Point, Virginia, as Flag Officer L. M. Goldsborough reported, "mainly with the view of ascertaining the practicability of landing a body of troops thereabouts" to move on Norfolk. Whatever rumors President Lincoln had received about Confederates abandoning Norfolk were now confirmed; a tug deserted and brought news that the evacuation was well underway and that CSS Virginia was an ironclad warship of the Confederate States Navy during the American Civil War. She was one of the participants in the Battle of Hampton Roads in March, 1862 opposite the USS Monitor. The battle is chiefly significant in naval history as the first battle between two powered... CSS Virginia, with her accompanying small gunboats, planned to proceed up the James River or York River can refer to: The York River in Virginia in the United States. The York River in Maine in the United States The York River in Ontario in Canada This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title... York River.

It was planned that when the Virginia came out, as she had on the 7th, the Union fleet would retire with the Monitor in the rear hoping to draw the powerful but under-engined warship into deep water where she might be rammed by high speed steamers. The bombardment uncovered reduced but still considerable strength at Sewell's Point. The Virginia came out but not far enough to be rammed.

Two days later President Lincoln, still acting as Commander-in-Chief, directed Flag Officer Goldsborough: "If you have tolerable confidence that you can successfully contend with the Merrimac [Lincoln and the North used the ships' former name] without the help of the Galena and two accompanying gunboats, send the Galena and two gunboats up the James River at once to support General McClellan." This division power afloat by the President silenced two shore batteries and forced gunboats CSS Jamestown and CSS Patrick Henry to return up the James River.

On June 9 is the 160th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (161st in leap years), with 205 days remaining. Events 68 - Roman Emperor Nero commits suicide, imploring his secretary Epaphroditus to slit his throat to evade a Senate-imposed death by flogging. 1534 - Jacques Cartier is the first... June 9, 1862, President Lincoln himself, after talking to pilots and studying charts, reconnoitered to the eastward of Sewell's Point and found a suitably unfortified landing site near Willoughby Point. The troops embarked in transports that night. The next morning they landed near the site selected by the President. The latter, still afloat, from his "command ship" Miami ordered the Monitor to reconnoiter Sewell's Point to learn if the batteries were still manned. When he found the works abandoned, President Lincoln ordered Major General Wool's troops to march on Norfolk, where they arrived late on the afternoon of the 10th.

On June 10, 1862, Norfolk Navy Yard was set afire before being evacuated by Confederate forces in a general withdrawal up the peninsula to defend Richmond. Union troops crossed Hampton Roads from Fort Monroe, landed at Ocean View, and captured Norfolk. With the entire area back under Union control, the isolated batteries at Sewell’s Point lost their importance and were abandoned. For the remainder of the 19th century, the area was largely undeveloped and sparsely populated.

Sewell's Point in the 20th century

Early in the 20th century, two developments at Sewell’s Point would have a long-lasting effect on its role in US history. Each laid the groundwork for founding of what was to become the world’s largest naval base.

The first could be described as a civilian battle, one of competition, between the growing railroad and industrial powers. The other had its beginning as a civilian celebration. These were the building of the The Virginian Railway (AAR reporting mark VGN) was a Class 1 railroad located in Virginia and West Virginia in the United States. The VGN was created to transport high quality smokeless bituminous coal from southern West Virginia to port at Hampton Roads. Founders William N. Page and Henry H. Rogers... Virginian Railway and the The Jamestown Exposition was one of the many worlds fairs and expositions that were popular in the United States early part of the 20th century. It was held from April 26 to December 1, 1907, at Sewells Point on Hampton Roads, near Norfolk, Virginia, and commemorated the 300th... Jamestown Exposition.

Building the Virginian Railway

In the mid-1890s, William Nelson Page (January 6, 1854–March 7, 1932), was a United States civil engineer, entrepreneur, capitalist, businessman, and industrialist. Page was one of the leading developers of West Virginias rich bituminous coal fields in the late 19th and early 20th century, as well as being deeply involved... William N. Page, a The term civil engineer refers to an individual who practices civil engineering. Originally the term civil engineer worked on public works projects and was contrasted with the military engineer, who worked on armaments and defenses. Over time, civil engineering has spun off a variety of fields e.g. architectural engineering... civil engineer who had previously worked building the The Chesapeake and Ohio Railway (C&O) was a Class 1 railroad formed in 1869 in Virginia from many smaller railroads begun in the 19th century. Headquartered in USA, in 1972, it became part of the Chessie System, which was the creation of Hays T. Watkins, Jr., then president... Chesapeake and Ohio Railway (C&O) had a dream. He knew of rich untapped Bituminous coal Bituminous coal is a soft coal containing a tar-like substance called bitumen. It is of better quality than lignite coal but of poorer quality than anthracite coal. When used for many industrial processes, bituminous coal must first be coked to remove the bitumen. Coked bituminous coal (usually... bituminous coal fields lying between the The New River Valley is the name of the region in the vicinity of the New River in the U.S. states of West Virginia, Virginia, and North Carolina. It was one of the first frontier areas in the United States, and was key to encouraging western expansion. The first... New River Valley and the lower The Guyandotte River is a tributary of the Ohio River, approximately 166 mi (267 km) long, in southwestern West Virginia in the United States. It drains an area of the Appalachian Mountains south of the Ohio between the watersheds of the Kanawha River to the northeast and the Big Sandy... Guyandotte River in southern State nickname: Mountain State Other U.S. States Capital Charleston Largest city Charleston Governor Joe Manchin Official languages None Area 62,809 km² (41st) - Land 62,436 km² - Water 376 km² (0.6%) Population (2000) - Population 1,808,344 (37th) - Density 29.0 /km... West Virginia in an area not yet reached by the C&O and its major competitor, the Norfolk and Western Railway (AAR reporting mark: NW), a US class 1 railroad, was formed by more than 200 railroad mergers between 1838 and 1982. It had headquarters and Roanoke, Virginia for most of its 150 year existence. The company was famous for manufacturing steam locomotives in-house at the... Norfolk & Western Railway (N&W).

While the bigger railroads which were busy developing nearby areas and shipping Coal Coal is a fossil fuel extracted from the ground either by underground mining, open-pit mining or strip mining. It is a readily combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock. It is composed primarily of carbon and hydrocarbons, along with assorted other elements, including sulfur. Often associated with the... coal via rail to Hampton Roads, he formed a plan. To take advantage of the undeveloped coal lands, Page enlisted several friends as investors to help purchase the land. In 1898, he acquired a small logging railroad, and converted and expanded it to become the intrastate (within West Virginia only) Deepwater Railway. The new short-line railroad planned to connect with the existing lines of the C&O along the The Kanawha River is a tributary of the Ohio River, approximately 97 miles (156 km) long, in the U.S. state of West Virginia. The longest inland waterway in West Virginia, it has formed a significant industrial region of the state since the middle of the 19th century. It is... Kanawha River at Deepwater and the N&W at Matoaka.

As Page developed his The Deepwater Railway was formed in 1898 as an intrastate short-line railroad located in West Virginia in the United States by William N. Page, a civil engineer and entrepreneur. In 1896, Page had formed a small logging railroad, the Loup Creek & Deepwater (LC&D) which formed the... Deepwater Railway, he ran into a wall in negotiating to make connections and share favorable rates with either of the larger railroads. It was later revealed that the leaders of both the C&O and the N&W considered the territory to be potentially theirs for future growth. They secretly agreed to refuse to negotiate with Page and his upstart Deepwater Railway.

Page didn't give up as apparently was anticipated. Instead, he stubbornly continued building his Deepwater Railroad, to the increasing puzzlement of the two big railroads. They were unaware that one of Page's investors, who were silent partners in the venture, was financier and industrialist Henry Huttleston Rogers (January 29, 1840 – May 19, 1909), was a United States capitalist, businessman, industrialist, financier, and philanthropist. He was one of the key men in John D. Rockefellers Standard Oil Trust. He later developed the Virginian Railway, while one of his Standard Oil associates, Henry Morrison... Henry Huttleston Rogers, a millionaire who had made his initial fortune as one of the key men with the Standard Oil was an oil refining organization founded by John D. Rockefeller (1839-1937) and partners beginning in 1863. Borrowing heavily to expand his business, he drew five big refineries including the business concern of Henry Morrison Flagler into one firm, Rockefeller, Andrews & Flagler. By 1868 he headed the... Standard Oil Trust. Rogers wasn't about to have the investment foiled by the big railroads. Instead, he and Page set about secretly planning and securing their own route out of the mountains, all the way east across Virginia to Hampton Roads!

A separate company, the The Tidewater Railway was formed in 1904 as an intrastate railroad located in Virginia in the United States by William N. Page, a civil engineer and entrepreneur and his silent partner, millionaire industrialist Henry Huttleston Rogers of Standard Oil fame. It was formed with the intention of creating an outlet... Tidewater Railway, was formed in Virginia for the portion to be in that state. Both planning and land acquisition were done largely in secret. One group of 35 surveyors posing as fishermen (on a Sunday in February!) mapped out a crossing of the The New River may refer to: The New River, a man-made watercourse in England The New River that flows into the Atlantic Ocean in southeastern North Carolina in the United States. The New River, a tributary of the Cumberland River, in Tennessee. The New River, a tributary of the... New River at Glen Lyn is a town located in Giles County, Virginia. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 151. Geography Glen Lyn is located at 37°2223 North, 80°5139 West (37.373080, -80.860906)1. According to the United States Census Bureau, the... Glen Lyn, Virginia, as well as the adjacent portion of the line from West Virginia through Narrows is a town located in Giles County, Virginia. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 2,111. Geography Narrows is located at 37°1955 North, 80°4831 West (37.331818, -80.808477)1. According to the United States Census Bureau, the town... Narrows, Virginia. The new line essentially followed the valley of the The Roanoke River is a river in southern Virginia and northeastern North Carolina in the United States, approximately 410 mi (660 km) long. A major river of the southeastern United States, it drains a largely rural area of the coastal plain from the eastern edge of the Appalachian Mountains southeast... Roanoke River through the Blue Ridge Mountains (NPS) Most of the rocks that form the Blue Ridge Mountains, United States, are ancient granitic and metamorphosed volcanic formations, some exceeding one billion years in age. The slow, steady forces of wind, water, and chemical decomposition have reduced the Blue Ridge from Sierra-like proportions to... Blue Ridge Mountains, and then was to run almost due east to the Hampton Roads area.

Deals were quietly struck with the various communities all along the way. Perhaps most notable of all of these communities, was Norfolk, which was home-turf for the established Norfolk & Western Railway and its coal pier at Lambert's Point. Access to Hampton Roads frontage with enough adjoining land to build a new coal pier was crucial to the whole scheme. Undeveloped land was located at Sewell's Point where the Page-Rogers interests purchased 1000 feet of frontage on Hampton Roads, and adjoining land. To facilitate building of the new railroad, Norfolk provided a right-of-way extending virtually completely around the city to reach Sewell's Point.

With their land and route secured, in 1905 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). Events January-April January 22 - Massacre of Russian demonstrators at the Winter Palace in Saint Petersburg, one of the triggers of the abortive Russian Revolution of 1905. January 26 - The Cullinan Diamond is found near Pretoria, South Africa... 1905, Page (with Rogers' identity still not revealed) began building the rest of the new railroad. By the time the larger railroads finally realized what was happening, their new competitor could not be successfully blocked. Rogers' identity and backing were finally disclosed more than a year later. Early in 1907 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). Events January January 6 - Maria Montessori opens her first school and daycare center for working class children in Rome (Casa dei Bambini in San Lorenzo). January 14 - An earthquake in Kingston, Jamaica kills more than a 1,000... 1907, the Deepwater and Tidewater Railways, still under construction, were combined to become the The Virginian Railway (AAR reporting mark VGN) was a Class 1 railroad located in Virginia and West Virginia in the United States. The VGN was created to transport high quality smokeless bituminous coal from southern West Virginia to port at Hampton Roads. Founders William N. Page and Henry H. Rogers... Virginian Railway (VGN).

Aerial view looking east of Virginian Railway coal piers at Sewell's Point, Virginia. The original 1909 pier is at the left. The larger pier to the right was completed in 1925.

About the same time, the Norfolk portion of the new Virginian Railway tracks had been completed. This proved just in time to serve the The Jamestown Exposition was one of the many worlds fairs and expositions that were popular in the United States early part of the 20th century. It was held from April 26 to December 1, 1907, at Sewells Point on Hampton Roads, near Norfolk, Virginia, and commemorated the 300th... Jamestown Exposition, which was held on land just north of the VGN coal pier site at Sewell's Point, which opened in the spring of 1907.

By using construction techniques not available when the larger railroads had been built about 25 years earlier, and paying for work with Rogers' own personal fortune, the new Virginian Railway was built to the highest standards. An engineering marvel of the day, the final spike in the VGN was driven on January 29 is the 29th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. There are 336 days remaining, (337 in leap years). Events 904 - Sergius III came out of retirement to take over the papacy from the deposed Pope Christopher. 1595 - Romeo and Juliet, a famous play by William Shakespeare... January 29, 1909 was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). Events January – March January 16 - Ernest Shackletons expedition finds the magnetic South Pole. January 28 - United States troops leave Cuba after being there since the Spanish-American War. February 12 - The National Association for the Advancement... 1909.

In April is the fourth month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of four with the length of 30 days. April begins (astrologically) with the sun in the sign of Aries and ends in the sign of Taurus. Astronomically speaking, the sun begins in the constellation of Pisces... April, 1909 was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). Events January – March January 16 - Ernest Shackletons expedition finds the magnetic South Pole. January 28 - United States troops leave Cuba after being there since the Spanish-American War. February 12 - The National Association for the Advancement... 1909, Rogers was feted at Norfolk in celebration of the completion his new "Mountains to the Sea" railroad. He toured the railway’s new $2.5 million coal pier at Sewell's Point and Samuel Langhorne Clemens (November 30, 1835 - April 21, 1910), better known by his pen name Mark Twain, was a famous and popular American humorist, writer and lecturer. At his peak, he was probably the most popular American celebrity of his time. William Faulkner wrote he was the first truly American... Mark Twain spoke at a grand Norfolk banquet.

The Virginian Railway and its terminal location at Sewell’s Point played an important role in 20th century US naval history. Located immediately adjacent to the former Exposition grounds (which became an important Navy facility beginning in 1917) the VGN transported the high quality smokeless bituminous coal favored by the US Navy for its ships.

When the VGN was merged with the Norfolk & Western in 1959, civilian coal loading was shifted to Lambert’s Point, and the Navy purchased the site a few years later. The former VGN Sewell’s Point site is now part of the United States' Naval Station Norfolk.

Jamestown Exposition of 1907

The The Jamestown Exposition was one of the many worlds fairs and expositions that were popular in the United States early part of the 20th century. It was held from April 26 to December 1, 1907, at Sewells Point on Hampton Roads, near Norfolk, Virginia, and commemorated the 300th... Jamestown Exposition was one of the many Worlds Fair is the generic name for various large expositions held since the mid 19th century. The official sanctioning body is the Bureau International des Expositions or BIE. BIE approved fairs are divided into a number of types: universal, and international or specialized. They usually last for between 3... world's fairs and An exposition may be one of the following: In music an exposition is the first of the sections in sonata allegro form. It usually presents two contrasting themes, the first in the tonic key, the second in a related one (perhaps the dominant or relative major). Exposition is French for... expositions that were popular in the United States early part of the 20th century. It was held from April 26 is the 116th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (117th in leap years). There are 249 days remaining. Events 1478 - The Pazzi attack Lorenzo de Medici and kill his brother Giuliano during High Mass in the Florence Cathedral. 1607 - English colonists make landfall at Cape Henry... April 26 to December 1 is the 335th (in leap years the 336th) day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. There are 30 days remaining. Events 1640 - Portugal regains its independence from Spain and João IV of Portugal becomes king. 1822 - Peter I is crowned as Emperor of Brazil. 1824... December 1, 1907 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). Events January January 6 - Maria Montessori opens her first school and daycare center for working class children in Rome (Casa dei Bambini in San Lorenzo). January 14 - An earthquake in Kingston, Jamaica kills more than a 1,000... 1907, at Sewell's Point to commemorate the 300th anniversary of the founding of the Jamestown Settlement.

Early in the 20th century, as the tercentennial neared, leaders in Norfolk began a campaign to have a celebration held there. The Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities had gotten the ball rolling in 1900 by calling for a celebration honoring the establishment of the first permanent English colony in the New World at Jamestown, to be held on the 300th anniversary.

No one thought that the actual isolated and long-abandoned original site of the Jamestown was a village on an island in the James River in Virginia, about 45 miles southeast of where Richmond, Virginia, is now. Both the river and the 1607 settlement there were named for King James I of England who had recently come to the throne then. The Jamestown Settlement... Jamestown Settlement would be suitable. But there was n assumption in many parts of the state that Richmond, the state capital, would be chosen as the site of the celebration, because Jamestown had no facilities for large crowds, and the fort housing the Jamestown Settlement was believed to have been long-ago swallowed by the James River.

Hampton Roads' interest was awakened by an editorial in James M. Thomson's Norfolk Dispatch, on February 4, 1901, proclaiming: "Norfolk is undoubtedly the proper place for the holding of this celebration. Norfolk is today the center of the most populous portion of Virginia, and every historical, business and sentimental reason can be adduced in favor of the celebration taking place here rather than in Richmond."

The Dispatch was an unrelenting champion of Norfolk as the site for the exposition, noting in subsequent editorials that "Richmond has absolutely no claim to the celebration except her location on the James River."

By September, 1901 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). Events January-March January 1 - World celebrates what is regarded as the start of the new century. ( Zero-ists argument that new century should be celebrated in 1900 rejected worldwide). January 1 - The British colonies of New South... 1901, the Norfolk City Council had given support to the project. And in December, 100 prominent residents of Hampton Roads journeyed to Richmond to urge Norfolk as the site. In 1902, the Jamestown Exposition Co. was incorporated. Former Virginia Governor Fitzhugh Lee, son of General For the author of Inherit the Wind and other works, see Robert Edwin Lee. Robert Edward Lee, as a U.S. Army Colonel before the war Robert Edward Lee (January 19, 1807–October 12, 1870) was a career army officer and the most successful general of the Confederate forces... Robert E. Lee, was named its president.

The decision was made to locate the international exposition on a mile-long frontage at Sewell’s Point. The location was politically correct, as it was almost an equal distance from the cities of Norfolk, Portsmouth is an independent city located in Virginia. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 100,565, but a July 1, 2002 Census estimate showed the citys population dropping to 99,790. A Virginia state legislator recently proposed a plan by which Portsmouth would... Portsmouth, Newport News is an independent city located in Virginia. It is on the southeastern end of the Virginia Peninsula, on the north shore of the James River extending to its mouth Hampton Roads. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 180,150. The name of... Newport News and Hampton is an independent city located in Virginia. It is on the southern end of the Virginia Peninsula, bordering on Hampton Roads and Chesapeake Bay. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 146,437. The current City of Hampton was formed from the incorporated town... Hampton. The rural Sewell's Point was also not conveniently located near any one of them. Hard to reach by land, it was more favorably accessible by water, which ultimately proved an asset.

The Jamestown Exposition proved to be a logistical nightmare. Roads had to be built to the site. Piers had to be constructed for moving supplies to exposition buildings. Hotels had to be raised to handle the exposition visitors, almost 3 million by the November closing. Bad weather slowed everything.

Another major setback was the death of Fitzhugh Lee. He died while in This article is about the region in the United States of America. For other uses, see New England (disambiguation). Modern New England, the six northeastern-most states of the United States, indicated by red The New England region of the United States is located in the northeastern corner of the... New England drumming up trade for the celebration. Henry St. George Tucker, another former Virginia governor, succeeded him. Norfolk businessman David Lowenberg ran most of the operation as director general.

Opening day had its share of headaches. Only a fifth of the electric lights could be turned on, and the Warpath recreation area was far from ready. Construction of the government pier left much of the ground in the center of the exposition muddy soup.

But in time, things improved and the event became spectacular. Planners asked each state of the union to contribute a house to celebrate its history and industry. Lack of interest or funds prevented participation by all, but 21 states funded houses, which bore their names: Pennsylvania House, Virginia House, New Hampshire House, North Carolina House, etc. During the exposition, days were set aside to honor the states individually. The governor of the state usually appeared to greet visitors to the state's house. Thirteen of the state houses can still be seen on Dillingham Boulevard at the Naval Station Norfolk, on what has been called "Admiral's Row." Many of them are now residences of high-ranking Navy officers.

US President Theodore Roosevelt ( October 27, 1858 – January 6, 1919) was the twenty-fifth ( 1901) Vice President and the twenty-sixth ( 1901- 1909) President of the United States, succeeding to the office upon the assassination of William McKinley. At 42, Roosevelt was the youngest person ever to serve as President of... Theodore Roosevelt was an honored guest. Mark Twain and Henry H. Rogers also paid a visit, in the latter's yacht "Kanawha". Twain's humorous talk was partly an introduction of Rear Admiral Purnell F. Harrington, former Commandant of the Norfolk Navy Yard. Said Twain, "In my remarks of welcome of Admiral Harrington, I am not going to give him compliments. Compliments always embarrass a man. You do not know what to say. It does not inspire you with words. There is nothing you can say in answer to a compliment. I have been complimented myself a great many times, and they always embarrass me. I always feel they have not said enough."

Although the exposition was a financial failure, it served an American purpose and one for Norfolk and Hampton Roads.

Perhaps the exposition's most impressive display was on water rather than land. Ships of two squadrons commanded by Admiral Robley Evans formed a continuing presence off Sewell’s Point. The assembly included sixteen battleships, five cruisers, and six destroyers. The fleet remained in Hampton Roads after the exposition closed and became President Roosevelt's The Great White Fleet steaming in column; the USS Kansas at left. The Great White Fleet sent around the world by President of the United States Theodore Roosevelt from December 16, 1907, to February 22, 1909, consisted of sixteen new battleships of the Atlantic Fleet. The battleships were painted white... Great White Fleet, which toured the globe as evidence of the nation's military might.

Nearly every Congressman and Senator of prominence attended the exposition, and Admirals in Norfolk urged the creation of a Naval Base at the exposition site. But nearly 10 years would elapse before the idea, given impetus by World War I, would become a reality.

On June 28, 19l7, President Dr. Thomas Woodrow Wilson ( December 28, 1856 – February 3, 1924) was the 45th state Governor of New Jersey ( 1911- 1913) and later the 28th President of the United States ( 1913- 1921). He was the second Democrat to serve two consecutive terms in the White House ( Andrew Jackson was the... Woodrow Wilson set aside $2.8 million for land purchase and the erection of storehouses and piers for the base. Of the 474 acres (1.9 km²) originally acquired, 367 had been the old Jamestown Exposition grounds. The military property was later expanded considerably. The former Virginian Railway coal piers, land, and an adjacent coal storage facility owned by Norfolk & Western Railway were added in the 1960s and 1970s.

Sewell's Point in the 21st century

According to public information made available by the The United States Navy (USN) is the branch of the United States armed forces responsible for naval operations. The U.S. Navy consists of slightly fewer than 300 ships and over 4,000 operational aircraft. It has over a half million men and women on active or ready reserve duty... U.S. Navy, the facility at Sewell's Point occupies about 4,600 acres (19 km²) of Hampton Roads real estate.

The headquarters of the 5th Naval District, the The Atlantic Fleet of the United States Navy is the part of the Navy responsible for operations in around the Atlantic Ocean. In 2002, the Fleet comprised over 118,000 sailors and Marines serving in 186 ships and 1,300 aircraft, with an area of responsibility ranging over the Atlantic... Atlantic Fleet, the The 2nd Fleet of the United States Navy is responsible in peacetime for training the Atlantic battle fleet in war-fighting skills, developing and evaluating new naval tactics and maintaining theater battle group readiness. It was activated in the aftermath of the World War II, when it was recognised that... 2nd Fleet, and the Supreme Allied Command are there. The Naval Complex includes -1... Norfolk Navy Base as well as other Naval Facilities of the Sewell’s Point Naval Complex.

When the 78 ships and 133 aircraft home ported there are not at sea, they are alongside one of the 14 piers or inside one of the 15 aircraft hangars for repair, refit, training and to provide the ship's or squadron's crew an opportunity to be with their families. The base is home port to aircraft carriers, cruisers, destroyers, large amphibious ships, submarines, and a variety of supply and logistics ships. Port Services controls more than 3,100 ships' movements annually as they arrive and depart their berths. Port facilities extend more than four miles along the waterfront and include some seven miles of pier and wharf space.

It is the largest naval base in the The United States of America — also referred to as the United States, the U.S.A., the U.S., America¹, the States, or (archaically) Columbia — is a federal republic of 50 states located primarily in central North America (with the exception of two states: Alaska and Hawaii... United States and includes a naval air station and other facilities. In fact, based on supported military population, it is the largest military station in the world.

Little could Capt. Seawell have known in the 17th century the importance to the New World his property at "Seawell's Pointe" would one day have.

This article incorporates text from the The public domain comprises the body of all creative works and other knowledge—writing, artwork, music, science, inventions, and others—in which no person or organization has any proprietary interest. (Proprietary interest is typically represented by a copyright or patent.) Such works and inventions are considered part of... public domain The Eleventh Edition of the Encyclopædia Britannica (1911) in many ways represents the sum of knowledge at the beginning of the 20th century. The edition is still often regarded as the greatest edition of the Encyclopædia Britannica, with many articles being up to 10 times the length of... 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica.