Canal water came from a dam on the James River six miles upstream. Battery Creek, under the present railroad bridge, did not flow into the canal as it does today. The river is calm and deeper here because of a canal dam two-thirds of a mile downstream, which allowed boats to use the river while still being pulled by mules. The scene included a carriage on the Blue Ridge Turnpike, Battery Creek, two bridges, the James River, the Kanawha Canal, and the towpath with two mules pulling a canal boat.