Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-05-27
For the present. the estimate made BY The Engineer de-

aIonp the coast of South Carolina a siiial eothIu'
nicaion extends South on the Savannah EiVer rs lar
"a ST. Iobn's in East Florida Owing to these passages,
The civ of Savannah like Charleston, is liable 10 be up.
nroaced by other than the harbor river and
its deenccs must consequently have relation to these
lesser as we'll as to the principal channels.
The distance from the mouth of Wassaw sound, or
even Ossabaw sound (both to the southwest Of Savan-
ver the city, not much greater than from the
mouth Of the river and an enterprise may be conducted
the whole distance by water, part Of the way by wa
ter and part by land from either or both AS in the
of like channels in the negh5orhood Of Charleston,
it cannot now be determined where they can be deeno
ed most advantageousy 1t is to be hoped, however,
that the localities will permit the detences to be paceu
the onels of the sounds; because the detcnces
thus placed will the double purpose OF guarning
the city of Savannah and covering these huroofs' WHICH
in time Of war, cannot but be very useful! -. :,
The defence Of Savannah river is by no means oilhcu'
fort on Cockspur island, lying just within the MOUTH
and, perhaps for additional security announcer on IyoeH
island, which forms the Southern cape at Tue uncuo
of the river with the ocean, would eltectualy preVcnl
the passauc Of vessels up the channc and cover Inc
| anchorage wing between Tybee and Cochspur: The
existing Fort jackson, standing about lour mics De-
low the CITY, should be maintained as sccond barrier:
both as rrspects The main channel and The passages
which come into the river from the South; which last
would no, be at all controlled by works Cockspur or
Tybce. fort projected for CocksPur island Is estimated
ut $4,000. To defend iycce sland may require
600 and $50 900 would put Fort Jackson in an ETH
Gent state making total of $G7O,O00 South OF the
Savannah are WasSap sound, OsSaba'o sound, st. CANA
rine S sound at the mouth of the Midway river Sdpeo
sound, Dolby Inlet, 4amaha sound at the moutn OF Inc
great river Of the name; st. Stnond Sound al the
mouth of Bufnlo creek; ST. .3ndrc,oS sUund at the uni
ted mouths of the Sca and Sanla rivers, and Cum6er.
tanG sound at the mouth of the ST. hlarys river All
these communications with the ocean are highly i'm
porant US regards the line of interior navigation, and
several o: tcm anrding access to excellent harbors
The last especially is known TO be navgable ny the
largest soops of and merchantmen; aud two or three
of the others are believed tn be but little, if at all ic.
cf bar Ot
age
probably easily dc!ensble by forts aud Others may
require the aid of floating depnces. In important prIn
cipe in relation to the defensive system of the whole
Southern ooast; namely tat on coast possessing lew
arbor it is al the time the more necessary 10 pre-
them all for our own use, and the more easy 10
deprive enemy Of that shelter which is nearly inds-
pensable continuousan close blockade. This prln-
cipe is enforced touching this particular part Of the
Southern coast by the two following weighy consider
ATOMS its from the nearest naval rendrZ-
vous, the Chesapeake, which is Oh mean 6OO miles dis
tant and to leeward both as to wind and current and
its being close upon the arboad hand They enter the
Atlantic, Of the great cocousc of vessels passing at all
seasons through the Florida channel.
While, therefore, this part Of the coast, from the con-
centraon of vessels here is in great need OF protection
of Sort naval aid be extended to it only with
difficulty and at the risk Of being cut off from all retreat
by superior enemy.
Accurate and minute surveys, which will enable our
vessels, whether driven by enemy or by stress OF
weather, slun the dangers which beset the navigation
of these harbnrs and properly arranged dcences 10 CO.
yer them when arrived seem to be Indispensable. 1t is
worthy of remark, besides, that when these harbors
shall be fortified the operation of investing the coast and
watching the great outlet Of commerce through the Flo
riia passage will be difficult and hazardous one to an
enemy whose part perseverance or skill can avail
TO nlanlain att uninterrupted blockade, 10 avoid the
occasional shpwreck of his cruisers; while the part
Of small vessels of and pvacers, the same sort
Of supervision will at all times be easy aud safe.
Nnlhing better can be doae than 10 assume
$500 00C the average cost OF defending each OF The
| nine entrances, giving II total Of 81 600 0u0.
! The Board of Engineers have not examined the coast
from the mouth Of The st. Marys to Pensacola; but in
order that the chain OF defence for the coast may De here
exhibited unbroken the estimates Of the Engineer de-
partmcnt of the places and positions intermediate be-
tween Cumberland sound and Pensacola, will be insert
ed ST. Augustine, $50 900; Key West aud Tortugns,
So 900 200. Charlotte srbor, Espru Santa bay, APpa
achicola Apalacbe bay ST, Josephs bay St Rosa bay,
! together, 81 ,J0C 600.
| GULF OF MEXICO FRONTIER.
The resemblance Of this par, of the coast TO that which
have denomnatcd the Southern sectiOn is striking
We may indeed, refer to the description herein given
Of the principal features of the latter true drnca
ton Of this In respect 10 the a'ion OF the coast to the
Interior there is, however, the greatest difference be-
tween these two portions Of the maritime frontier: for
while about eigh-nlhs Of the whole territory Of the
United States in sense, tributary to part only Of
the Gulf Of Mexico portion, in the Southern Seclon Of
the coast not than onc-tenth is connected with
the seaboard by any natural ties. This fact, which
shows the very deep interest which large portion of the
people and The Government have in the security of this
portion is related TO other facts, which hardly leave
alternative the mode of attaining that security.
From the relative phica position of this part Of
the coast and the c'rury Interested in its safety from
the unhealthncss Of the climate nature of the adjacent
country, mixed character OF The inhabitants, it will be
some time before that portion within supporting dis
lance, whose welfare may be endangered by enemy
will from peculiar circumstances lie competent Of ITSELF
TO sustain the assaults q! an exterior foe. Upon the At
lanc seaboard the Alleglanies crowd the people upon
the coast and surround every alapo Of the frontier
with more and dense population; and the
and the interior parallel communication, transmit rapid
aid to the right and Left while the coast of the Gulf
weak in ITSELF and remote from from behind, is
almost inaccessible 10 lateral assistance.
Those reasons, therefore, which tend to establish the
necessity Of organized permanent, and timely
system Of defence Tor the whole scaboard Of the United
States, (sotne OF which advanced in the
Of this commnuicalIon) will apply to this par, Of
it with peculiar force, long any portion Of its sys
| TEN Ofdcicnce is incomplete
II has already bern observed that the Board of Eng
neers have made no examination between Cumberland
sound in Georgia, and Pensacola. There are however
along that SHORE and in the Florida reef several very
important harbors which must be accurately surveyed
Pensacola boy,-The upper arms of this considerable
bay receive the Yellowwater Pea river Middle river
and Escambu river and while the tributaries Of the last
iatetlockng with branches Of tue Alabama and Chatta
hooce, seem 10 mark the courses whereby lat some u
tire day, canals will convey part Of Tie products Of
these rivers to Pensacola the face Of the whole region is
remarkably adapted TO the application of rail roads.
Sarta Rosa sound extends eastward from the lower
part Of this bay into Santa Rosa bay On the west the
lagoons of Pensacola Perddo and Mobile bays, respec
lively, nterlock in such manner TO require but
few miles OF cutting 10 complete navigabe channel
from the first to the last named bay and thence through
existing interior water communication, 10 the city of
New Orleans.
Pensacola bay has rare properties as harbor. 1t is
accessible the largest class of soops Of and
small fgates, and, under favorable circumstances will
admit even large frgates; and there is to hope
that the bar may be permanently deepcued.
The oar is near the coast and the channel through il
is straight and easily hit.