The New Student's Reference Work/James River

James River, an important river formed by two streams in the west of Virginia. It runs its entire course in the state, passing Lynchburg and Richmond and widening into an estuary 60 miles before reaching the Atlantic at the southern end of Chesapeake Bay. Its length is 450 miles and for some distance it is navigable for large steamers. Its chief branches are the Appomattox on the right and the Chickahominy on the left. These streams were made famous by the battles which took place there in 1862.