Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-05-24

hs1hor an enemy would encounter great opposition
whether his attack were made by and or wafer. Comhg
by the sound, he might land withh len ,iu y, ne vi
~ noon l,le main upon Long Island or upon both and
cnnno into The lower labor lie might, while The works
nm Staten island ure in their present conaon FISK 1or
;nu the nassage of the Narrows rs well Us the nPpr!
works ancoring in the Hudson OF IN Inc Easl FIvei or
W. ,;oLt land in Gravesend bay, eight miles from the
c,v and march directly TO Brooklyn, where he would
Sd the navy yard lying at his mercy, and whence he
might levy contribution or destroy mali The c.ty -
The only mode of resistance would be the expensive,
harrassng and uncertain one, of arrayng large bo-
DIV Of militia upon Harlaem and Brooklyn heights, and
this could he rcsord only in the event. by no means
certain of receiving timely intelligence OF his design
If We for,ify Tnogs' neck and WIkins point, on the
East river and if we complete the works at the Mar
rows making them all too strong 10 be carried by coup
dc main, shall the Of transferring the
ncirhborine militia upon the tanks and rear of enc
my should he march upon Brooklyn while we shall Sc
the advantage should he pursue Inc route by
Hnracnl, besides increasing the lrHSth OF his march 10
twenty miles through an ntersected country.
This arrangement Of defensive works, necessary as 1t
is sill leaves the lower habor open TO an enemy ves-
sels in which harbor safe at all seasons, he could en-
force the srctest blockade; cut off the lines OF interior
communication by the Raritan and avail himself al any
moment Of andng- place in dangerous proximity to
the city and navy yard. In view Of these consIdera-
tioms The Board of Engineers eced additional works,
one for the East bank and another Tor the Middle
ground which would perfect the dctences OF the har.
Dor; compelling an enemy attacking this side, TO
land upon dangerous coast, near thirty miles from his
object and to enforce his blockade by riding on the
sea- with dangerous coast either hand. Before de-
terlnning the works last mentioned the Board went
into much research in order ascertain whether the
sand banks mentioned were Interchangeable; and il was
thought to have hecn very fully proved that there had
been no material change in more than sixty years
This apparent stability Of the shoals encouraged them
to devise the projects referred 10.
Recent surveys it, has been said, have discovered
new channel. If this be SO, II may not be prudent TO
resort the project and may become necessary to de.
wise other means but whatever they may be, they must,
from the nature of the case he very cxpensre and there
will be no great error, probably, in taking the estimated
cost of the projected Batteries the cost of such mode
of defence as may be finally resolved on The cost of
the complete defence Of New York. remaining 10 be in
Cured is according to the estimates, So ,e4.
Delararc bay anil city Of philadelphia coast from
the mou, Of the Hudson 10 the Chesapeake we'll as
that on The south side Of Long Island, is low, sandy,
covered by numerous sandy islands, lying near and
parallel the coast and having besides line De aware,
many ntts and interior basins, but none, excepting The
one named atfordng water enough for going vessels
The Delaware bay ITSELF being wide and full Of shoals,
having an intricate channel and being much INSTRUCTED
BY ice at certain seasons affords very good natural
har bor within reasonable distance of the The al
tical harbor, in course OF constr ucDn near Tape
Henlopen will it is hoped, fully realize the expectations
ofils projectors; in which event. must be securely fur
titled No plans have, however, yet been made with
that oLjec and as 10 the probable cost nothing better
can now be done than TO the con cctural estl-
mate of the Eng neer department, namely $G00,0UO.
The loves, punt at which Philadelphia is deensibe,
is at Pea-pach island about orty-ve miles below That
CITY, \ fort that island, to place the one destroy
cdby fire; fort opposite the Pea Patch, the Della
ware shore temporary work the Jersey Shore 10 DC
thrown up al the commencement of war, and floating
distractions placed in the channel under the fire OF these
works. will ciicctualy Philadelphia, the other i'm
porlant places the river and The outlet OF the canal
connecting The Delaware and Chesapeake bays The
plans and estimates for fort to replace Fort Delaware,
are not completed. Taking the expense thereof al
$6O0O00 the expense of The system, inclusive Of tenn
porary works, will be 81 ,l2I 600.
Chesapeake Bdy.-lhe Board Of Naval Officers and
Engineers intruslcd with the selection of sites for great
Northern and Southern naval dcputs, recommended, in
their joint reports Of 1919 and le2 Durwcls bay, on
James river for the one, and Churlestown Boston,
for The other They also recommended Boston harbor
and NaIagansett bay, at the North and Hampton roads,
at the South as chief naval rendezvous In those
ports the commission entered al large into the consldera
lion of all the matters relating 10 these important OBJ
iects; and reference is now made TO those reports Tor
many very interesting details.
Hampton Roads, .Jamcs Rirer and .NOrt1ik-The
works projected for the defence of these are, Ist tort
and advanced iunellc Old Point Comfort; Cd,
mated battery the Rip Rap shoals; and, Sd, line of
floating distinctions extending across the channel, be-
these works. In The event of great naval drpot
being fixed James river ii ght ultimately be deslru
bic provide additional strength, by adding works on
the positions of Viewpoints News, Nasaway shoals, and
Ctaney island flats Exclusive OF these, the cost of
completing The works is estimated at $723:leS:
The existing fort, viz Folt Norfolk, will aid in the
defence Of the city Of Norfolk and Of the navy yard 1t
is small and inefficient work, but may be made useful
as an accessory TO the general defensive operations.
Hartor Of 81. .3furyS-The central situation, re-
CARDS the Chesapeake Of this fine basin lis relation 10
the Potomac, lis depth Of water, and the facility with
which it may be defended, indicates its fitness har-
Dor Of refuge for the of the bay, and
casiona not constant station during war; for portion
Of tie naval force. survey has been made, but pro-
ects have been formed The Engineer department has
conccured that the cost may be $500 900.
Fatu1ent rirsr-1he more eftcually to protect the
city of Washington from a sudden attack by troops
landed at the head ofnavgalion ihe latuxcnt, and TO
provide additional shelter for vessels, fort has been
planned occupy Point Patience, and another to occu
py Thu,noss point both about six miles from the Chesa
pcakc. Their expense will be $505, COO.
.7nnapotis hu7Lor.-No surveys or plans of defence
have been made The existing works arc very inefficient
The estimate made by the Engineer department, viz
$3.50 GOO, is adopted
Harbo7 Of Baitimorc-The proximity of Baltimore 10
the bay, places That city in dangerous situation In
the present stale Of things an enemy, in few hours
march after easy landing, without being exposed
separation from his fleet make himself master Of that
great commercial empnrium
Baltimore requires for its security t~o forts in the Pa
tapsco at Hawkins point, and the other at the ex
tremc end Of the fiat off Snllerss point. Besides the
advantages which will result Of obiging the enemy
land nj greater distance thereby delaying his march,
gaining time for the arrival Of militia, and preventing
lis turning The defensive positions troops might
cupy will be impossible for him to enddnger The city
lis shipping by direct attack by water. The present
Fort McIcnry, Redoubt Wood, and Covingon battery,
should be retained as a second barrier. Allowing
Sl5OG0O for putting these in efficient state, the
expense will he 81 ,5l7, 900.
Mouth IF Ek Ricrr-1lie completion OF the line Of
communication from the Delaware the waters of the
Chesapeake makes it necessary 10 place fort some
where the mouth Of the Elk in order to prevent an
enemy from destroying, by sudden enterprise, the
works connecting these Communications with the river
There have been surveys made with view 10 esa.
bsh such protection; bu, the Engineer department esli-
mates the cost of suitable fort at S}C00G0.
City IF Washington, Georgetoacu and alexandria
Washington these cities from any attack by wa
ter, and will obge enemy land al fifteen or
eighteen miles from Alexandria, should that city be bis
object 1t will also the very important purpose of