Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1841-12-27


in certain positions than floating batteries they
are less expensive, more durable, and require an
outlay in repairs utterly insignificant, wten com
pared with the expense Of maintaining ships and
renewing them.
! The positions along coasts where F0rthca-
cations are deemed necessary have been lndltneh
! in former reports. An order of construction iouh-
ded on their relative importance and iinnlneice,
was carly established and has been adhered TO-
Great progress in the execution OF the system mas
! been made, aud most of the works OF primary
importance, including the largest and most e&pen-
sve, are nearly completed. About Sl4,UOO,Uuu
have been expended, and $4,000 600 more viii
finish all but those deemed of minor importance,
aud which may he postponed without rskInS Sc
riOus consequences.
The Secretary urges the vigorous prosecution OF
the system TO completion, aud the policy OF ma
king early appropriations, so that the Southern
works can he prosecuted during the present win
er. Five sIeam vessels Of light dranght on the
Gull OF Mexico and to serve on the Southern part
oil the Ailnnc coast deemed necessary by
the Chief Engineer. New works at Willuughby
Point, on Hampton Roads, Cumberland Sound,
and ST. Simon's Sound Georga, g. Pelican Island,
and Pasnn Heron, near Mobile, are recommended.
The Report continues:
A third element Of great importance in the
consideration of the de(ences Of the sea coast aud
OF the northern and northwestern frontiers, con-
ssts in the facility and rapdty Of interior COM
and incapable Of being perverted to any purpose
Of conquest Il feature which comments them 10
every friend OF our institutions The facility al.
iorded by the ocean TO movements for purposes OF
attack, is met by !ncility of movement on IalId,
furnished 10y the triumphs of genius and art IN
the application OF steam-power, TO land carriage,
aud in the construction of heightened lines of ca
nails The speed with which troops can be NOV.
ed, obvates the necessity OF enbodyin large mas
SEES OF 'iien mt any points aud the amount OF force
required for the defence Of any given post would,
consequently, he diminished in proportion to tie
reduction, in the time necessary 10 concentrate II.
The whole force along the whole line may be rem
dered available for the defence OF any point IN
that line; while, without such means of commit
nicalion, separate army would be required at
cuch city, harbur or military post, that Was 10 he
defended. This may be illustrated hy facts with
in the knowledge of all. Troops may now be
brought from New York to the city Of Washing o.
ton III eighteen hours, in condition requiring lit
tie or no rcpose TO fit them for immediate action.
And the whole physical force OF the populous
country between those points may be concenlra
ted at any intermediate place in a few hours
Were Phnde phn ;iSsaied or threatened IL move
meht of nIilitary force from Pitishurg, which but
IL short time since would have occupied from TWEEN
y To twenty-five days, could now be accomplish
ell IN five. Similar Illustrators are furnished by
various railroads aud canals in different paris OF
Tie county And us the great secret OF success
IN war is supposed 20 Toe the ability to oppose the
many 10 the few, it il evident that, in any defer-
siye operations, we shall be able 10 compete with
aud 10 conquer any probable force that an invading
enemy could bring agalns, that portion of our ter
rItury which is nersecled by these interior com
munlcatipus. Another consequence Of NO little
moment flows from the same cause tie power 10
defend ourselves with armies OF very diminished
numerical force compared with those which
have heretofore been necessary in national
Conflicts or those which usually employed OF
the European continent.
The facilities afforded by canals and railroad:
to collect, with any desirable expedition the sup
pies OF an army fiom a country Astounding will
them, and 10 transport them to the proper points
VII render large depois unnecessary. An obIec
3 OF attack to an enemy is thus removed and TN
consequences OF the capture of lnrge collections
munitions war; or ofsubsistence by hostile force
thus enabled TO maintain itself, are obvinle!.
= lhe expense OF military operations will be re
:. duced beyond any present means of exact calcu
: laton, by the same facilities. During the last wa
i with Great Britain the cost of transportation lrol
I New York 10 Plashure, Suckeu's larlor or But
e ialo was from five TO twelve dollars per hundred
The present cost TO PIaltsburg is thirty cents, an
e TO the other points named, sixty cents per hun
0 dred. A twelve-pouuder, which, at III, cheape,
e rate could not have been carried to Buffalo TO
: less than TWO hundred dollars may now he trans
= ported TO the same point IN one fifth or one eight
I OF the time, for twenty four dollars In ever
q point of view in which these works can be con
= sdered, their cost is much actually added I
Tie defensive means OF the nalion, without an
e expense TO the General Government other tina
Il the subscriptions it has authorized TO n few {
n them and II may be affirmed. without eXaggeru
ton, that the aggregate OF saving, in any uiur
3 war which we may lie engaged, in the conpara
lively small amount OF military force that will
# necessary i0r defence, and in the cIenpness c
4 transportation afforded by railroads and cana
/, now in existence, will he equal 10 the cost G
u their construction. If, them the making of lhes
u works has been premature or improvident, in re
/. ference TO the means OF the States that UNDER 90
/. them, and has involved them in pecunary emba
j. rassmenls, the National Government should NJ
o complain of an enterprise that has placed thes
n ncalcuable advantages in lis hands and, if
e cannot relieve, will at least synpalliize in the m
= fortunes which have resulted from such efforts
10 The Secretary urges the establishment ofa NJ
1t lonal Foundry for cannon, giving urgent reason
e therefor
The Office of Civil Superintendent in the M
l. rional Arnory nj Springfield, Mass. has been lie
= vacant 10y the present Administration and beir
e, regarded MS USELESS if not worse, lis abolition
If recommended.
nj An increase OF force in the Ordnance Office
,e required depot for Powder not wanted for i'm
mediate use, is recommended Tie olIowir
l. recommendations Of the Qnartermaster Genera
al are specially urged upon the attention OF Con
r. gress:
ID The recommendation of military road with
r our acknowledged Limits, to supply subsistence
m aud other stores Forts Kent aud Fui field in II
II, State of Maine. Circumstances of n peculi
m character seem to demand that no time should
IS lost in the commencement OF this work.
90 The establishment OF strong fort at Fou Br
n dy, with commodious barracks, commanding Il
or communication with Lake Superior seems al!
ms Indispensable
Aud post on the Missouri frontier, south
u Fort LeavenworIh, is neccssary in cnnnrcllC
l. with The plan OF defence for that portion of OF
u. territory.
e. The propriety of commencing the erection