Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-05-13

dictionary batteries have done in country against
is to be observed that the great object of our ort
cnons is to exclude naval force from Gu! natooL
This end they ought fully to answer ana IN 'h's PROV
lem. there are two conditions to be fulfilled:
Is That they be ubIe resist any naval 'hat
will probably be placed against mem, anu H. ,,;u
ID Tim, they be also able to resist any coup &c Ha'H
=. aa,,i,Je . ,yb;cb might be attempted by land.
An omen battery, under many circumstances, might
G6 the first condition. but not the second and there
fre ,hes. works should be cosed and regularly con-
sructcd Its to be denied that the proper bounda-
~ between the magnitude and nature Of the works ne
cc,.,rv 10 attain the objects indicated, and those re-
oured to resist successfully formal investment, will
sometimes become matter OF doubt nor mat circun-
stances NAV not be stated which might induce un enemy
to omen his trenches against of these works. because
its capacity for defence not greater ihatcapacy
however, will, relation to the question under consoe1a'
ton has far intimate connexion win the mag
nitude than with the form Of the works. because II u-
necessarily large they entail upon the country serious
evil in the increased means for their defence, indie
pcndenty the additional expense III their construction
it is principally therefore, in the latter point OF view that
! have presented the doubts winch nave e"Piesseo
upon this point.
Among the hypothetical cases heretofore stated oy
the Board Of Engineers, one which supposed thal an
army Of twenty thoussndnen might be assembled upon
of the TANKS of coast, and that We ought TO DC
prepared every important point, TO resist The hrst
sLuck of such force. | have already glanced at the
reasons geographical political, fnancIa and Pruden.
any enemy will hereafter project enterprise of this
magnitude certain in lis expense 80 uncertain IN It's
result and SO dsproporoned 10 any object which could
probably he attained Aud the suggestion which was
made by tine Board, of defending the " OF washington
by works erected near the mouth OF the fatuxent, pro-
ceeds upon similar views Our navy, our hnung bate
rics our means Of communication and concentration,
seem far better adapted TO the defence OF this cl-
ty than forts at the distance Of nearly nifty miles, whose
principal effect if enemy resolved upon the en-
terprse would be TO compel him to make dcour IN his
expedition or which would send him 10 some part OF the
coast Of The bay between the Paluxent and Annapolis
into the Potomac, where his descent would De unlher
rured and where he would be but little if any further
from Washington, than at the head OF navigation OF INC
Patu1ent.
Even during the last war, when the navy Of Great
Britain rode upon the ocean, but one serious
attempt made to force an entrance into foF'ncd
harbor and that unsuccessful The greatest posi-
Bile force which be brought and the greatest possible
resistance which be applied do not constitute
practical rule for the construction Of our fixed dcfrnccs
Moral considerations must also have weight. Probab-
litirs must be examined. The power Of the permanent
batteries Of the elements of security So are the
dangers Of dispersion, and shpwrcck and all the haz
ards Of distant expedition these must operate on
the councils of any country medtatng such an enter
PRISE the efforts Of our navy, the corporation OF TIC
floating decnces, and the troops which may be ready 10
meet tie enemy upon his debarkatLon or march.
In submitting these reflections, am DESTROYS only OF
dschurging the duty confded 10 am grutird That
the whole subject will be presented for the
Of Congress in systematic iurm and that the principles
of its future prosecution now be settled The plan
originally devised was recommended upon great cons
deIatoD and the time its nitiatory were
adopted calculated for the state of the country We
had Just out of severe struggle and had felt the
want of adequate preparation, and, above oil, we had
seen and depored The circumstances which gave the
enemy undisturbed possession of the Chesapeake, and
its disastrous consequences And il WIS to be expected
that arrangements for future defence should be plan
ned upon the then existing state OF things. nuglne
IN Ina
Because therefore, some of our works. from the won
derful advancement of the country in all the elements
of power, and from the development of of
annoyance, larger than found necessary at this
time, still this does not bring into question the wisdom
Of the original measure And it is, they most
valuable and useful but the experience have acquired
may be proftably employed in re.e1smning the plans
proposed for the prosecution OF the system, and III nqnr
inr whether the change which has taken place in the
condition Of the country, will not justify corresponding
change in the nature OF our preparations aud whether
VIC may not depend more upon floating and less upon
stationary offences
war, we have nearly doubled in our population, and all
our other have probably increased IN still
grcacr ratio Certainly Of the facilities and means
of defence augmented beyond any rational cIPecta-
tons The power Of transporting troops and munitions
Of war; has already opened new views upon this SUBJECT
and such is the progress and probable extent OF the new
system Of inercommunlcntI"n, that tho time Will snon
when almost any amount oi i'lysca force may be
thrown i'll few hours, upon any point threatened by an
enemy. Nashville may succor New Orleans in sixty
hours Cincinnati may aid Charleston in about The
time Pittsburg will require lu hours to
cye Baltimore and troops from that city and from Boston
may leave each place in the morning, and meet in New
York in the evening This wonderful capacity for move
mcnt increases, in effect some OF the most important
elements Of national power. II ncutralzcs Of the
great advantages Of asSaing force, choosing its point
Of attack and possessing the necessary means Of reach
ing it. Drtachments LIABLE under former cIrcumstan
ces, TO be cut off in detail may now be concentrated
1, opI OF he nc
buad may be brought together, and, after accomplish
ing the object of their concenraonb be returned to their
stuons in time TO repcl any attack mcdatrd against
then
The improvements which are making in the appca-
ton of steam have furnished another important
agent in the work OF national protection There
be but little doubt that floating batteries propelled BY
this agent, will be among the most efficient means uf
coast defence. In large csuaries, such the Bays
of New York. of the Delaware, and of the Chesa-
peake they will be found ndispensabc and one OF the
most important advantages TO be anticipated from the
works al Old Point Comfort is the security they will at.
ford the floating batteries atng with them, and
which will find secure shelter in Hampton Roads.
hostile cr about TO enter the Chesapeake would GER
tsinly calculate the Of annoyance to which it
would be exposed by these formidable vcssrls. During
calm they would take distant position ensuTing their
own safety while, with their heavy guns, they might
cripple and destroy the enemy and their power of mo-
ton would enable tem under almost all circumstances,
to approach the fleet and 10 retire, when necessary,
where they could not be pursued. think it doubtful!
whether squadron would anchor in the Chesapeake or
proceed ii, if competent number Of these batteries
were maintained and placed in proper positions
These considerations may we'll lead Us 10 doubt The
necessity of such extensive permanent works, while
their existence at the time the system was adopted
usies the views which then prevailed and, without
advancing any rash conjecture may anticipate such
improvements in this branch Of the public service as
will make it the most efficient Of coast defence
These vessels, properly constructed, may become float
ing forts almost equal 10 permanent Notifications their
power Of annoyance and Defence and in other advana
ges far superior 10 them Being transferable defences,
they be united upon any point, and few Of them
be thus enabled to protect various places. We have