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

morrill, by tne ioit'S,
| .ns,sr and Portsmouth, ..,a
T' rvevs of these harbors have not been handed
IN and no plans have been formed Tor tneir defence
harbor may be suitably defended IT is thought
h the occupation of Gurnet point and at no great ex
nse while is thought that 10 fortify Provinceto~n
rbor in such way as 10 cover vessels takins s'r!ti
th rein and the time 10 deprive enemy OF all
sr anchorage, will involve considerable expense pro-
baby no nearer estimate be formed at present ta
that offered by the Engineer department, Whch gave
81 5000 to Plymouth and $60O,G0O to Prov'ncetoWn
Should the canal above mentioned be executru' IL WIN
be necessary to place small work at each q" us QUILTS
10 prevent the obstruction of the by which Tile
transit Of vessels in and Of the canal must o.
ps!ed
Tha oo,s, he,wren Cape Cod and Cape iiateras dit
fore g,on m. Northeastern srclion in possessing fewer
habnrs in having bat little rocky ana slea' P'Do"
of sandy shore wherein it resembles The son' I'll Sec
, in lie mer climate and its clearer atmosphere; and
:. dtrars from all the other portions in the deplh ana
magnitude of its interior and sounds, and IN me o
lance 10 which deep tide navigation extends up It's nu
| merous large rivers
The crcuit of the coast moi including the shores OF
the great bnys measures $50 miles, while straight line
fio one Of the above-naed capcs 10 the other, inca
sures about $40 miles r.
Cod lie the islands OF Nantucket anu Martin l'I
vn,d which with several smaller islands the South,
and the projection Of Cape hlalebar the East, enclose
Mdr,ha's Vineyard sound. The channels through this
sound being sufficient tor merchant vessels, and one o.
allowing
no, only the Constant track of coasng vessels but, ow
ing TO the relative situation OF Long Island sound and
Narraranse roads, and TO the existence OF two toera
bly sale harLors convenient distances East OF Gay
besd-naulely 1arpaun sound and Holmes hole-tllc
sound is generally aimed by all Eastern vessels arrr
ing ION foreign voyages in the .empcsuous months
There are certain difficulties, however, attending the
navigation of this sound, arising from the want OF
ha,,,o near The eastern extremity, which have suggest
ed the prnjcct Of an artificial harbor at the northeast
po:n, Of Nantucket Island Besides these harbnrs on
the direct route through the sound there are the har
bors of Nantucket, Edgartown, and Falmouth
In addition TO The many thousand vessels which pass
this water annually. Of which there sometimes forty
or fifty portion containing the most valuable cargoes
to be seen in the harbors awaiting change OF wind,
there is supposed 10 be at least 40OO tons OF spPng
owned in the of this sound, and employed IN the
whale fishery If this portion Of the coast is to be de-
Tended all it be BY orthcalions for there is no
population scarcely except that Of the towns and this is
believed to be entirely without military organization
prva,ecr might into either OF these harborS and cap
ture destroy, levy contributions at pleasure 2oOOUO
duars may perhaps suffice for The defence oal these
places against the Kind Of enterprises to which they are
exposed.
Buz:ard'S Iay.--lnterposcd between the island OF
alas Vineyard and the main. the Elizabeth is
lands bounding Buzzards bay The South. This bay,
although importance leading to the proposed canal
to Barnstable bay, covering the ourlslng town OF
New Bedford and being oi the natural habors to
b. used by an enemy in forcing the blockade of Nara
ganse roads, cannot be defended by ortcallons owing
10 its great breadth.
Nce Bedford and Fairharen harLor.-No survey has
been made of this harbor, which two Of the most
Furnishing towns 1t is certainly deiensble and prota-
bly, for tho assumed by the Eng department,
namely S0O0 900 dollars.
Nar.ogansu bay.-The properties of this great road
stead will be here advcred very briefly; more minute
information may be obtained by reference 10 reports of
lS20 and 1871.
1t is the only hatbor the coast accessible with
northwest wind, which is tie most common and violent
= ,ipfcf fran
W Ia S. S. W. round by the east, for entering
both Boston and New York habors while this hnrbor
can be entered with all winds from northwest TO east
round by tho west it follows that while we possess this
habor vessels may be certain Of making shelter on this
part of the coast with any wind that blow, except
ing only between N. N. ". and n. w. From this STA
ton the navigation Of Long Island sound, and especial
~ the communication between that sound and Buzzads
bay or Marthas Vineyard sound may be we'll protected
The blockade Of the excellent ha Dor and naval station Of
New London, will be rendered difficult. From this Sta
ton the navy will command soutiwardy, as from Hamp
Ton roads, nurhwardy the great inward curve OF the
coast between Cape Cod and Cape Hatterns The iniu
Of which command the blockadng operations
of enemy will be apparent, when il considered that
the only harbos of refuge he can have will be the Della
ware, GARDENERS and Buzzards bays, and that it is far
from certain that improvements in the auxaries of for
tihcations may not deprive him of these also.
If Narrugunsett bay without defence, an enemy
would occupy il without difficulty, and, by the aid Of
val superiority, form odgncnt in Rhode Island for
the VIZ Occupying The island alone, connect.
ing herewith the position of Tiverton heights, oppo-
site the northern extremity Of The island position
which is Of 'front.' easy to secure and impossible
70 turn, he might defy all the forces Of the Eastern
States drive the United States to vast expense Of blood
and treasure and while this position OF his troops would
keep in alarm and motion all The population OF the East
feipned expeditions against New York, through Long
Island sound, or against Southern cities, would
equally alarm The country in that direction; and thus
although he might do no more than menace, 1t is dhcut
to estimate the embarrassment and expense into which
Io. 4 Ih
Of old FORTS some Of which never finished, Fort
Wolcott and Fort Green tile only retained i'll the
projected system OF defence.
The project of defence proposed by the Board Of
Engineers conteGiplaies for the middle channr on
Brcnton's point, strong fort (now well advanced)
with out-works; another strong fort and out works
on the Dumpngs; smaller fort Rose island and the
repair aud modification of Fort Wolcolt and Fort Green
The eastern passage is already shut by the permanent
bridge at Rowland ferry. As to the western passage
three modes present themselves: ls reducing the depth
Of by artificial ledge, as, while the passage
shall be free for merchant vessels, TO prevent
the passage Of ships Of war; I'd, relying forhca-
,ons alone TO close the channel; Sd, resortng, in
part and in part to the other mode just mentioned
Being the least expensive and most certain, the estimate
was founded on the first.
The total cost Of The rSgansett detcnces Is est
mated at 81, 0.O,C0O.
Gardincrs hay-This mos. valuable harbor 10 enc,
my investing this part of the coast is probably not de-
fensble by Notifications alone. II has not been survey
Cd however, and at distant day it will be an interest
ing question, whether by steain5atterlcs or some SINH
lar means, under the protection Of and aided by
cations its defence may not be accomplished The me-
cessy fer certifying this hay will be evident, should
the rail road through Long Island, in contemplation
(perlaps in progrcssD be constructed.
The engineer department has assumed the probable
cost Of the works ut S4G0 COO.
Sag Ilardor, fe0 York, and Stonington, Conneecut-
Neither Of these have been surveyed with reference TO
defence The first is possessed of considerable TONNAGE
and the second. besides being largely engaged in
melce is about to be tho termination of rulroad from
Boston 100000 may be assigned to the frat, and
$200,u00 to the other.
.fc,o London hn,bor--is very important 10 the COM
merce of Long Island sound, and, port of easy
cess having great depth Of wafer, very rarely freezing