The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1805-08-20
PLAN OF NEFPNcr

o"-h Is tne h'nation o. our country that whe-
Their we engage in war or continue in oe,ce
we.!rem To require fome fort of force f,r our
proteStion on the water. Should war be orr Int
n"w '"ou'u we oihsrw'fe be able TO repel the in
""h,trabIe assreihons thatwould be made on a,ir
coat: ononId we Continue in peace, hall we
not fill be expofcd TO the agitations of Fnrone-
an wars? Our harbours may be bio, L,iad h.,
privaseers: an armed vefel nav enter our Inv
or even our riversi the MARTIAL NAV filrnmon a
polie co'n'tatus aereea5ly to the law of the Iar
Con2refs 20 demand our inpreifed E.a,nrn. or
drive her beyond the limits of our iurifji4on
in thefe and variety of other cafes. wba, Other
reiources could we employ, to preferys our
rights or redrcis our wrongs?
Ahe defence of our country on the water.
muit extend o'two Objects he defence OF our
eo0Ifj, and or our rf1ery. BY tie co4n, we
mean 10 include the flores Of the BAYS. as wei
Let the defence of our rivers be entrufsed 70
artillery on the land, and to heavy ealiies on tine
wafrr.-in sdjuiting the atting points OF the ar
ti'iefy, it VIII be Becefary TO feleet narrow and
contracted pdiies on the rivers, WHERE. n, armed
vehel would he mott expofed TO ,he;r ATTACKS.
ihoi' iItnations being once felv6ted, oDDoGtr
points on the river mutt be fxeluooT. To 1--WE =
greater command Of both fdes os TIE chappsl
1t will be Heceflary, to have mere than one Of
tho'e points prepared on the Iargctl rivers. In
the i'aai rivers, iuch as Elizabeth rive., one of
theie mutations Will be fu'hclenT. Herr !, is not
promoted to cred forts with conaant guards, irt
merely to put up Temporary sa.terv. for th..
immediate Judgment Of The piece of ordinance.
MOI ihaii this piece Remain ,oa.tantlv Fixed up-
or ITS battery; but removed 20 zach d:adnce
"Nhin the Interior, that II may be eali!v rr4nf-
ported upon its elliGg carriage to it's te,no-
rary ttasiOn. a piece that carries 10 II. viii
command more than ole in eAtent. II ,ddi
ton 10 iheie heavy pieces, It will s TRY .
provide fna!ier pieces carrying & Or !hs. fsr.
n'h'd wlth travelling forges for heating re5- Ii OF
Afi'.. With theft the artillery COR paAy NAV
pnri'ie The route Of the armed vefiel, continu-
,,a'iv harrais and often deeroy her.
The heavy gaIlies are to be built very if,alIow.
and capable of retiring into loy water
they are to BE armed with heavy piece of ar
tIiiery in tie Dough. Thefe are 10 puriue the
enemy or retreat from them according to the.
! exigencv of the occafon.
body oi infantry mnft always We ready ION
| 'hore to cover the artillery. The sFst1 of theft.
! arrangements would heaftoniilling TO tn ofe. who
| 7re unacquaited with the operations of war.
they were confpicuoufy exhibited on feveral
occahons during our revolution and particu-
| larly in an attack uponthe Britini OF Gwynn's
| Hand : conducted by artillery asoDe. itationed
| c,~
| On that occaGon the Wo6Ie Earl of Dunmore
was Obliged toretreat before the glllantry and
| XIII of caIu,nniatcd rebels
For the defence of our bays and fea-coafts,
heavy artillery on land aud heavy gal!iss on the
water are IN Inadequate rcfource. Hence If
| nay b. necefIary tn provide few armed vcc-
iels Of greater burden. Let one frir,te. for in.
fance, be aligned to every fate or diticf in the
| Union, which borders OIL the hay or ocean one
TOR Georgia, one for S. Carolina N. Carolina
viii not admit of fuch \ protection: one for
Virginia one for Maryland: one for the De-
laware Bay, &c.
The number Of thefe frieates will ofcourfe he
proportioasd TO their peculiar ufe. They are
intended to guard our harbours and orr coats.
and not to eOnvoy our merchant veffe!s, or to en-
counter the extenhve navy of the enemy, ilould
we ever be engaged in war.
-.
See our prelens venerable Governors letter in
Lees memoirs.