Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-05-20
TWenty-fourth Cong.ess--ast sess'
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR.

TWenty-f0uHtll Cong.ess--ast sess.
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR
(Continucd.) :,
II ia an incon,estble principle in military SCIENCE ana
fully illustrated by military history aas e ops in
mode Of waging war; although strictly ae1eas'Ve one ~
its origin and its object is, to permit us ne ol
lie within our borders and that lae oes' niou
that which longest sustains an offensive all'tSoe.
own case war be excluded from our tetf'tory oy
bv for6cations and we assume the offensive, VITA
the greatest portion of mankind, oay lhroush our
The construction Of the former secures the means OF
ating equippng, and repairing the latter, anu eases
unincumbered with duties which it Unexpectedly PERFORMS
to the full exercise of great and appropriate iunctons
In accordance with these principles what, ID general
terms is the extent to which the Government may oe
called on to prepare itself in forying the coast anu IN
building up the navy! =, 49,.
of the latter generation hence toitIcai events ay
force the nation to place herself more nearly on 'evel
with some Of the greatest or maritime powers Ut Tue
prevalence of peaceful relations may restrict the gro"t
of the navy to that demanded by the increase, ana
extensive of our commercial interests: But, whatever
NAV be the amount Of enlargement OF the naval force
progressive and regular or by sudden EXPANSION its in
crease will involve corresponding extension IN inc
number or strength Of the ortcaions, because these
must be adequate to their object OF themselves ana must
consequently be- with exceptions, III Numerous ana
as strong while the navy is small, when the navy
shall have attained its maximum a considerable or,
largement of the naval force might build up naval
Establishments thereby in rasns tie importance OF
certain positions, calling for stronger deences.
The growth Of the country in wealth and numbers,
will convert certain places presenting ao induce.
ments to the enterprise Of an army INTO rich ana popu
lous cities But, with the exception OF these cases. ana
such as these may be assumed that good system OF
Notifications applied now to the maritime ir"ner, Will
be equal to its object in all future times. =.
Conceivng unnecessary to enlarge further on his
part of the subject remarks will be oesed the
ipHu
eQtions
The most important Of these cosHunications in refer
ence system Of defence, are FIRST SUCH as serve TO
sustain in all its activity, that portion oi domestic com
merce which, without their aid would be interrupted
By state Of war; and, second, such as serve nes'ees
their great original purposes, to conduct iron Tue i'
ror to the theatre of war; necessary suPPes anu "y
relief The first, which nre among the most important
national concerns of this nature LIE parallel TO- ana not
far from the coast the second, which, when 'ney cross
the great natural wall between the East aud the
coast and sometimes nearly quite parallel TO IT, but
generally fall nearly at ri iit angles to the line OF tpe
seaboard into the great estuares, where IN some cases.
their products arrested, wResce In others, they
flow or ninge with those of the first To fulfil the OBJ
ject of the first mentioned lines of communication,
is obviously necessary to prevent an eeeny from
reaching them through any Of the numerous inets from
the sea which they traverse including, OF course, tae
great nlcs wherein these unite with the Communications
coming from the interior The security Of the coastwise
line therefore, involves the security of the ether and Is
in great measure indispensable to it. From SUCH con.
siderations have been already presented, 1t inferred
that for the security here required must as IN The
case of cities harbors naval &c look 10
Notifications. But fortunately hoppens, as will appear
in the sequel that wherever bothohects exist the WORKS
necessary for the may otea, IT not always De MADE
TO accomplish both In reference to system OF defence
for the protection of these lines Of communication,
must be observed that from the facility with which they
may broken up and the serious evils kere
on they offer the enemy great Inducements TO enter
prises Of that nature. An aqueduc inclined plane,
tde-lock dam, an embankment blown up, is the work
Of an hour; and yet would interrupt the CATION per-
haps for months.
The necessity Of a regular army, in time Of
peace is q principle we'll established by legisasoa.
The importance Of we'll organized militia is incident to
the nature of institutions, we'll understood by the
people duly appreciated by the Government and 6nry
illustrated in our history. Nothing therefore, need be
said on these Subjects considered as general principles
1t may, however, in succeeding part OF THIS connu'
ncaton, be deemed proper to hazard conjecture or two
touching the expedency Of peculiar OF gani2aton OF
the latter.
Before going farther is proper to be more explicit
as to the in which the terms "aary add "ortyf-
eations" have been employed
BY the term macy, only that portion OF OCT military
marine which is capable Of moving in safety 1pon the
ocean, and transferring itself speedily to cDons
smeant Floating batteries gunboats steam bakeries,
&c. these and indeed all other modes Of defence which
restricted sphere Of action tied dowa to local
defence, and produced chiefly in cases where the To-
caes deny to Notifications their best action, are regard
ed as auxiliary to Publications. and falling within The
same category. Under the term "forti6catons. used
expressive security afforded thereby the seaboard
have been included permanent and temporary forlca
tions the auxlarles just mentioned and both fixed and
floating distractions to channels.
The circumstances which must govern in framing
system Of Notifications
Isl. The Importance Of the objects 10 be defended
Great naval establishments, great cities &c invite 10
greater preparation the part Of the enemy and de-
mand corresponding means Of resistance.
3D. The natural advantages or disadvantages of the
position to be fortified II will often happen that the de-
fence of position of great consequence be effected
much less value II will not follow, therefore, that the
expense of Notifications will be proporona,e to the i'm
portance object though it indispensable that the
strength should be.
Some places will be exposed only capture by assault;
others By sese others to reduction by cannonade bonn
bardment or blockade; and some 10 combination of
any or all these modes If the enemy against which
fory be unprovided with artillery, The mode Of forti
flying becomes peculiar.
4sG Whatever may be the circumstances, il is of vi
tai importance that all the works should be fully ade
ouatc to the object and that they should, with
small garrison, be perfectly safe from coup de main
Proceeding now to concise description of the mari.
time frontier considered whole The several sections
will be afterwards separately examined, applying, as
we go to the several POSITIONS the works already pro-
ected and pointing OUT as far as practicable such as
rema 10 be planned The seacoast of the T. States is
comprised within the 9th aud 10th degrees Of north la
tude and spreads over "a degrees of longitude The
general direction of that part which lies the Atlantic
north of the peninsula of Florida is N. N E. and S S.
w This peninsula stretches out from the continent
10 direction little east Of SOUTH while that part which