I know this is WAY off the folkie track, but there aer enough of you who love history, and enough of you who live on or near the eastern coast of the USA, that I thought somebody might have some hints where to look. I have a friend interested in the shipping routes from New Orleans to the Richmond Virginia area (Norfolk, Newport News, etc will do just fine). She's doing research for a historical novel that takes place in 1827. She wants to know if the preferred route was coastwise, around Florida, or was it more common to sail to a Carribean port in more of a triangular route? Any website suggestions, or book titles? Any help will be appreciated. Thanks, Mary