Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-05-31

iof s1 which invariably attack men unac
cn,,omed to military life and Inc ,n,anp of do
ttI;shmcuts; the frequent movement OF W.
nosptai r tine camp their homes, and from Inc
!acnhs -. ,h camp and the cost OF camping iurnnufe'
.;,s requirements, &c, which Ia tne saue !oi
ha eampairn as for year; regarding all these thngs,
| tIe cost Of 4 nlitiiilah euhho' W '>e 49, $1,000
$3.50 per man tor SIX months.
mentioned points, the maritime frontier being without de
s.ncp will therefore cost, in campaign OF sX months,
900. In strict justice, there should be cdaco 10
his expense which is believed 10 he much undersateo'
amongst other things, the luss Of me and the dlmnu
ton Of valuable prodncl rrsulting from drawing ON 81
considerable PORTION efficient labor from its most pro-
,able pursuits. This, besides being heavy tax oil III
t,yduals is L real loss to the nation -,
II would be utterly vain to attempt an estimate OF inc
los, TO III. nation from the dreadful mortality Which
roges in the camps of suddenly exposed 10 The ID
tguss and prvations of 4 military HE. =.
rhe total expense of constructing the Notifications Al
the ten places before mentioned WILL amount 10
See table E..
The purrisons of these fur6cations may consist OF
Lie same number of regular truops in time vi war as IN
time of peace the remainder being furnished by the
militia held in readiness 10 'hruw themselves ,n;o
the forts OIL the first appearance Ut an enemy ny s
arrangement 500 regulars and 32UIO militia, either
within the works or in SNAIL corps, advantageous
positions, making in all 35,GS6 men, would suffice,
I'd ,94 being kept in readiness to march when Call
ed upon.
We should therefore, have only 35,056 to pay and
support instead Of O7 600, aud the expense would be
ST. 1870 500 instead Of coo. The difference,
namely sic 800, being only 49, l5G less than the
whole cost Of these dernces. Ii follows tia, the
pense Of their erection would lie nearly compensated oy
the saving they would in sins campaign OF six
months. 49,
is proper TO add that although the expense of these
works will be great, that expense is to be re-
ncwcd while with troops on the contrary, the e1-
prnsc is annually repeated, if not increased, until the
end Uf the Brsldrs the disbursements tor lortIhca
lions made in time peace slowly and TO an extent
country. ARMIES most wante6, and must ce paia'
in per,ds of the greatest emergency, when e ooihay
sources OF revenue dried up, and when the treasury
can only BIZ Supplied by resort 10 means The most bur-
densuu,c and dsag!eeaGle 10 the people.
The defence Of The maritime frontier by permanent for
tca:ons and the disbursements for their constr uction
will thus tend to 4 real and positive economy.
The vulnerable points being reduced TO small num-
Der, instead Of awaiting attack every point, and
holding ourselves everywhere IN readiness 10 repel IT,
shall force All enemy to direct his assaults against
those few which, being we'll understood by US, will of
course, have received timely preparation. There can
be doubt that such state ct things will make ad
versary reluctant to risk his expeditions; and, there
FORE lhut shall not only be better able to resist but
also less frequently called on to do so.
Some prominent military writer's have opposed the
principle of forying IN extensive land truntier but
none have ever disputed the necessity of forying ma
Rhine border the practice Of every nation, ancient and
MODERN hus been The in this respect. On land
frontier, good, experienced and numerous infantry,
may, in cases, dispense with Notifications, but
though disciplined troops may cover frontier without
the aid Of Notifications, undsc plined troops cannot
On maritime frontier, however, description of
troops supply the place of strong batteries disposed
upon the Vulnerable points. The uncertainty Of The
point which enemy may direct his attack; the sud-
denness with which he may reach it, and the powerful
which he concentrate at distance, out OF
reach and knowledge, suddenly, and at The very
moment of attack require that every important mid be
prepared to rcpel his attempt rctard it until reinforce
ments arrive and adequate Of resistance be
organized. BY land, are acquainted with the mo-
tons Of enemy; but the is vast plain, with
out obstacle, where his movements made out of our
sight; where trace is left of his path, and where
know nothing OF his approach until he is within reuch
of the eye. In word, unless the vulnerable points OF
seaboad covered by permanent Notifications, their
only chance Of safety must depend the issue OF
battle, always uncertain, when the best discipn
ed most experienced, and best appointed troops have
made all possible preparation for the combat.
As for the garsons which these forts will require in
time Of war; small portion, about equal in number to
the peace garrsons should be Of regular troops the
mainder OF militia, practiscd in the aneuvres and drill
of great guns; it being indispensable that The greatest
part of the troops required for The defence and service
Of The seacoas, iortfculions should be of artillery.
This brings US to suggestion or two in relation to the
organization of the militia forces. Instead o! the pre-
Sc mt small portion Of artillery allowed in the militia
gauza,ou the States might, with great advantage, in
the proportion Of that force, in the vicinity of
each of the exposed parts of the coast 10 be equ
valent 10 the exgencies and armament of the works.
substituting for the usual field exercises infantry
actual drill and practice in the batteries The number
of militia artillery in each would be determined by
the number oguns applied to the defence parlicu
lar place. As movement on the part of the
enemy should threaten the frontier Of the State this
force should throw itself into the forts, and remain
long the precise point of attack should be undeer
mined In most parts Of the seaboard it would be I'D
visabe have also, considerable body of militia horse
artillery being very useful in all cases, and
aording defence always applicable aguiasL minor and
predatory enterprises This force might, in part be
drawn from the ordinary proportion Of cavalry.
IT. with general system Of permanent Publications
and naval establishments conncc. system of into
communication BY land and water adapted both to
the defence and to the commercial relations Of The
try; if these add we'll constituted regular army
and militia perfect in lis organization, the nation will
not only completely secure its territory from invasion
and insult, but will preserve its institutions from those
violent shocks and revolutions which have frequently
in every age and in every country, been incident TO
state of war.
Tables A, d, c. and D, following, contain the works
constituting the proposed defensive system for the mari
time frontier, arranged in four classes.
Table E. exhibits comparison of the cost OF defend
ing certain important parts Of the coast without fohca
tons and with the aid of the projected works !
Table shows possible concentration Of militia
forces in eleven days a! Boston, Newport R. l.; New
York, Philadelphia Baltimore, Norfolk, Charleston, S.
G.; Savannah, Geo; and New Orleans.
HoRTuERS FRONTIER.
Not having been The subject Of particular care and
study i, is with diidence that few words are thrown
out the subject of the defence of the frontier which
separates the United States from the English possessions
The first questions that arise these Is the puliti
cal condition Of the country lying the other side of
the country in question, Wig: the condition of colonies
Of trans Atlantic power, 10 remain unaltered? Or
are these colonies - become independent nations' Or
any other important change 10 be wrought in their po
li,cal relations? These questions bear directly upon
the matter 10 hand. A generation hence and there |
may be no room for jealousy and watchulness
along that line thnn there is along the imaginary
lines which SepaTate continuous States. Within
same period the Canudas may have assumed the al-
ude Of independent and separate States, and although
The u States may recognise in these Northern neghbors
youth OF much promise and vigor, the period when