The Sun.
London, England, 1854-07-13 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE DAILY NEWS.

SIR, —I read in your columns of yesterday an excel-
lent article on gun-boats. To myself, particularly, the
discussing the subject of the necessity— now more than
ever—existing for gun boats, tempts me to venture on
urging you not to abandon so vital an arm to a fleet
employed in a line of an enemy's coasts, studded with
islinds, and affording shelter to formidable flotillas of
heavily-armed gun-boats. In steam we are superior in
its appliances to vessels of war to Russia ; and let it be
waged in every legitimate form by which the notice of
the Admiralty can be drawn, the immense advantages
a fleet must possess in a very numerous flotilla—say 100
gun-vessels, in three divisions each vessel with
one 68-pounder long gun, on an angle with the keel,
so fitted that it can be fought as a bow or as a
stern gun, by the slide running from within eight
feet of the stern and within eight feet of the stern-
post or rudder head (leading the yoke lines, or tiller
ropes, when engaging astern, amidships). The slide,
or we may term it the ways, for this fore-and-aft shift-
ing the gun, must be strongly supported. When, by
reason of a very narrow channel, a fire astern with a
waiving of, say four points, muzzles right or muzzles
left, may be necessary, the boat will not need to be
worked or her head brought round, requiring a consider-
able sweep; we shall merely have to shift the fighting
bolt by taking out the forelock secured through the
beam below and always cle4r, run her in by the reliev-
ing tackle, wind, or turn her; muzzle aft, when about
amidships, hook on the side tackles, run her to the
point or lower the bolt, or unship the forelock below,
breach with the after breaching to the lines forward,
back her in, &c., and the division or subdivision form
line abreast, engaging from stern guns, without having
lost ground or time.

These boats should be very wide in their flooring, and,
with coals, 250 or 300 rounds, anchors, chains, &c., need
never draw any more than five feet, or less ; no mast,
merely an ensign staff.

These are the craft for an advance or reconnoitring
force, always, by their screws, able to precede heavier
vessels, and if troops are to be landed, each boat could
either take troops on board, where the depth of water
would allow of gun-boats being used, or a flat or troop-
boat be in tow of each gun-boat.
A commodore to command the flotilla ; first, or red
division ; second, or white division; third, or blue divi-
sion--by commanders. Each boat commanded by a
lieutenant ; the divisional force to be subdivided, and the
senior lieutenant in command of it : a medical staff on
board the commodore, with a gig always in readiness.
The object of this light or guerilla force is to avoid
rendering the vessels being a mark for the enemy.
How very seldom were our gun-boats, in 1809, up the
Scheldt, ever struck : they were as low in the water as a
ship's launch—in fact,!the men were the most prominent
objects for the French artillerymen.
We had on that unfortunate expedition eighty-four
or more gun-boats :—they were armed with a long
light 24-pounder forward, on a line with the keel ;
a 24-pounder carronade on a circle aft ; pulled
24 sweeps, or oars, shipped in grummets to iron
towlers (all objectionable iu the event of being hit by
shot) ; and would show their saucy noses—ay, and did so,
very often—under the enemy's dykes, up his creeks, and
might have laid there perdue for 24 hours, hard abreast,
but for our masts. This force caused the enemy more
real annoyance than all the mighty armament on the
lazy waters of the Scheldt.

From recollections of that time of day I certainly
then considered the low—or, as it was termed, shovel-
nosed bow—a good plan. It was, in fact, an inclined
platform, coppered, over which the long gun was run
out to the very trunnions ; but such bows would not be
so to a steam gun-boat. In a night approach the oars
were noisy, and the rig inconvenient.
I give this description of a flotilla as it was, 45 years
back, that we may have one as it ought to be, bearing
in mind speed, armament, and, as highly essential, the
lightest possible draught of water—five feet maximum
—and let each boat be commissioned by an officer under
Admiralty appointment. —I am, sir, &c.,
Sunderland, July 7. FLOTILLA.