The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-12-11

gress, describing the system briefly in its application
TO the several parts Of the coast.
The board has been comprised Of officers of hiei
rank in the corps Of engineers together with Genera
Bernard during the thirteen fourteen years he wa
in this country.
Ia pursuance Of resolution of the House Of Re
representatives. Of April 8, 1910, a report from this De
partment was made on the twelfth day Of MAY in III.
same year, transmitting from a board Of officer
assembled for the purpose of considering the subject
which contains a very full view of the system 10
briei compass, and geographically arranged. II ex.
hipits the various works deemed necessary along The
Atlantic coast, and along that Of the gulf Of Mexico
and the order Of their relative Importance in
TO the time Of their construction with estimates of the
expense OF each, and of the aggrel ate cost The
same board also reported upon another plan Of defence
submitted by distinguished military comma nder and
gave their reasons at large, why it ough, not TO BE-
substituted for that already mentioned, which had
been presented by joint commission Of naval and mill
tary officers
Tothe formation Of that system the greatest mill
tary talent and experience Of the country have been
devoted, and il would i'll become one whose preten-
sons TO either are limited To attempt a comparison
OF u with any, or TO sustain il by any views Of his
own. II may be remarked, however that, so far as
the Judgment OF Congress can be gathered from its
acts, and so far intelligent public opinion has
been expressed, they both to be decidedly ia fla
vor OF the system which has been deliberately
sidered, and SO long matured and it may now be re-
garded as the settled policy of the country
me elements OF that system are, first naval forces;
second Notifications; and third, interior communca-
tons.
As TO the first, independent of all other considera.
lions, II Is supposed that floating batteries Of any de-
scrption that are to remain stationary at the
points cannot be expected because the aggregate
pense OF providing and maintaining the large force
that would be required for the points on our
coast, would be beyond our means. An inconsider-
able force at each point would be wholly to
IN he uuht he
defence Of few, only, of the most important would
neither answer the expectations Of the country nor
fulfil the obligations Of the Government A navy
which would carry the into every sea where the
enemys commerce was to be found, would efectuaIly
keer him from coast by rendering his presence ne
cessary elsewhere For the defence of nets and har
bors whose entrances are shallow, Glars of steam
vessels of light draft would doubtless form neces-
sary part OF our Defence and where the nIes are nu-
merops, such vessels would be Indispensable Bu,
where large number of enemy's ships can find har-
bors OF easy access, and sufficiently capacous to con-
tain them, they cannot be successfully met by an infe
rior force; and there is probability of our com
peting with several European nations in the magni.
iude OF their naval establishments the only resource
left US Is, in terrifying haIbors and roadsteds
The second element of defence consists, therefore
in permanent Notifications While they are more eff
ectual for Defence in certain POSITIONS than floating
forces, they are less expensive in constructions more
durable, and requiring an outlay in repairs utterly in
sgnlncant, when compared with the expense of main
tanning ships, and renewing them.
They deemed Indispensable for the purposes of
covering the military and naval depots and all other
public or private establishments which would invite
the enterprise the cupdy ola foe and of GLIDING
him from strong POSITIONS where his naval superiority
might enable him to maintain himself and from which
he might make incuIsions into the interior or as all
an extensive line of coast.
The positions deemed necessary to be occupied by
Notifications along the whole Atlantic coast from
Passamaquoddy bay TO Cape Florida and along the
gulf, from that cape TO the mouth of the Sabine were
indicated in the report before mentioned with the
reasons for their selection the extent and nature of
the required works. and their expense. AS the exc
cution OF all these works could not be simultaneous
the order of succession regulated by reference
the value of the object to be covered the nation
to an enemy its exposure by isolation its accessible
lity, depending on distance, time, or climate; the
means, source, and time of obtaining succor, and,
finally, the condition of existing defences The or.
der thus established has been adhered TO with few
exceptions, occasioned by different views ON the part
of Congress. Great progress in the execution of the
system has already been made, Of which the details
are given in the reports Of the Ordnance and Enpi.
neer Bureaus Most of the works of primary impor-
lance including the largest and most ex pensive are
nearly completed About Sl4, 900 900 have been ex-
pended, and 80 900 600 more will finish all but those
deemed of MINOR importance, and which NAV be
postponed without rsking serious conseq uences
More extended remarks upon the system of national
defence but particularly that part of il depending
on forthcaons are rendered unnecessary by an able
and comprehensive report on this subject prepared by
my immediate predecessor, in pursuance Of a resou-
lion of the Senate of the Sd Of March, IS4l and
which will be transmitted to that body. Concurring
generally in the views expressed in that report no adj
iition to their strength could re made by any observa
ions Of the undersigned As the system cannot be
what has been commenced should be com
Dleed, and the works intended for the remote
southern portion of territory, particularly re-
luire attention. Indications are already made of
designs of the worst character against that region in
he event OF hoses from certain quarter to which
We cannot be nsensibe. The estimates submitted,
With the means on hand, for the completion of the
works at Beaufort, and the mouth Of the Cape Fear
liver, IN North Carolina, at Charleston, Savannah,
md st. Augustine, will furnish adequate defepces TO
hose places In consequence Of the delay that will
necessarily attend the completion of Fort Calhoun in
Hampton Roads, the efectual defence of that position
would require that strong feld-work should be
hrown up at Willoughby point in the event of hos
lie appearances; and an appropriation Of $50 600 at
his time for that purpose, would be important as it's
APPLICATION would be suspended until required by cir
On the gulf coast, Pensacola, Mobile,
bay, and most OF the avenues to New Orleans are
fortified In relation to the Notifications on both these
sections of coast is believed to be our first duty as
is certainly the strongest desire of this Department
% place the existing works in state of perfect eci
ency IN the shortest possible time and to this end
such means have been asked, as, without making ex-
brilliant demands upon the treasury will allow the
abor to be carried on vigorously. The winter season
IS known TO be the most favorable to such operations
IN the laitudes where these works are situated and il
should be improved. Indeed, unless appropriations
made before the month of February, no use can be
made of them in those attitudes within year from
The time they asked. To provide for the points
still remaining unprotected in the event Of hosiles
being threatened before the system of Notifications is
complete, resort TO steam vessels Of light draught
will be necessary and in reference to some Of them
where Notifications would not avail MS area iy ndi-
Gated, that species Of defence will be Indispensable
Five Of these in the gulf of Mexico and seven on the
southern part ofthe Atlantic coast are deemed neces-
sary by the Chief Engineer Their use, however,
will be greatly aided by the existence Of defended
points neal at hand, under which the vessels could
rendezvous, and which would, at the same time pro-
tect the harbors for the service Of our military and
marine A annfonriaion NJ ssh0 ON Ear