The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-04-18
REpoRT ON HARBoR DEFENCE
(coNcLuDED.)


under Admiral Baudin, on the castle OF 81. Juan
d'Ulloa at Vera Cruz, and which is frequently ad-
duced as instance Of the nefciency oil iortihca-
tons.
The Mexicans brought nineteen guns only into ac
tion and many of these Of small callber there
being only one 24-pounder and the remainder con-
ssting twelve 10 and lS-pounders, with one Spoun
der These reduced into "a Founders, the smallest
size of guns generally used on shipboard make the
nineteen equivalent to twelve guns.
The French ships mounted 1873 guns, or, comput-
ing only broadside, "a guns, and sea mortars.
The Mexicans permitted the French to be towed
by armed steamers into position, without molesung
them, and the firing commenced on the part OF the
assailants Early in the action shell from the heet
caused the explosion of magazine in the CASTLE
which dismounted three of the IS guns The French
fired $50 shot and Shells and but for the explosion
caused by the negligence of the besieged, there Is
nothing to account for the surrender of the fort The
exaggerated statements of injury inflicted on inc
walls by horizontal shells are not sustained py inc OF
fetal report of the engineer oil the expediuoh, a.
though the works were built Of stone much softer
than any used in such works in the United States
"Of 1877 guns found in the fort, l02 were MOI SCI
yiceable--29 only having been dsmounIed ny inc
French fire. The heaviest injury was sustained 10
the batteries where the explosion took piace an
accident that cannot occur from like causes in our
forts The works were out Of Order the guns OLD ana
neglected. and the garrison mex erienced ana isno
rant of military defences. No idea oil taxing tne
place was entertained by the admiral in this attack
he designed TO weaken the defences somewhat-to
dispirt and annoy the garrison, preparatory TO gen
eral assault at night But the culpable inconceva-
BILE neglect Of the Mexicans rendered further efforts
on his part unnecessary Only sixteen guns were en-
gagged in the fight and such I" the neficiency oil
their fire. that although three French rigates were
struck in their bulls about 300 times they lost out
80 men, in killed and wounded. Tie lPhegene
hulled l6O times, and yet put 10 men were nur.
Very few therefore, Of these 160 balls could have pass
ed through her sides and yel IN proportion to the guns
engaged the loss Of ,h, French hee was upwards OF
four tunes many as that OF the English al liaal-
gar Few, If any, OF the guns exposed TO the drec'
action of the French broadside, were dsmounted or
silenced, which continued TO IRE till the end OF
the action. Ofthe2 % guns dismounted, 5were blown
up and the remainder were on the opposite SIDE OF
the work. and struck by shot or shells which had pass
ed over he walls facing the ships From the position
taken by the French, only 10 guns were actually |
brough, 10 hear against them from the foIt. had
the Mexicans th,own their powder into the sea, or
carried il 10 their barracks, and every man. making
pillow Of keg, slept through The whole cannonade,
las might have been done sateyD In their quarters
10 the curtain classmates the castle OF st. Juan Vi
loa would have, doubt not, been as competent TO
resist the projected assault il was when the French
first arrived before IT..
Numerous other cases are FINISHED by history, Of
\ character still more favorable to our post on; but
We do not how it is possible to avoid the deduc-
ton from ". at have referred TO- that fixed bat
eries on shore resist the attacks OF ships, even
with more numerous and heavy armament, if pro-
pery planned, and managed with ordinary bravery
and skill
For large cities, therefore, naval depo,s, &C. stu
ated in harbors not too great 10 extent TO admit OF good
defence the entrance, would still rely, for the
mos, part, on permanent fortfcations though, even
here, fewer frs will be required, and The defence
more complete, should the plan we shall recommend
succeed according to expe, talon.
There is however, another class, consisting of i'm
portant establishments situated at distance up some
river or bay as the Delaware, Chesapeake, &c., too
wide to be commanded by batteries upon the shores
The reliance must from the nature OF the case, be
floating defence; and, if of the kind hitherto propos-
ed of a magnitude at least equal to that the enemy
may bring. This would involve great expense, more |
than il is likely shall be able to bear for many
years to come Such, indeed are the faults of the
old system of floating deences it has been suggested
by high authority that it will be better to give up
the bay the enemy, combining our defences to the
more important harbors and rivers that discharge INTO
the bay.' A glance, however, at the map, will show
that to erect the necessary forts these rivers and
harbors and which, after ALL will prove but partially
effective would far transcend the entire cost OF de-
Tending the important points along the whole extent
of the coast by the plan Of Mr. Stevens, now brought
forward.
where floating defences of some kind indispensa
ble Broad sounds or roadsteads, and harbors with
wide entrances, where deep soundngs may be carr-
ed at distance from the shores greater than efec-
tive gun range, will present such situations and here
there is no alternative. The question, therefore,
which presents itself is what shall be the description
Of this floating defence to be employed Gun boats,
under certain favorable circumstances, as in calm,
and in harbors containing shoals and shallow ipets
might sorely harrass, if not destroy, enemys fleet
But experience satisfies that ii let of this class of
vessels cannot be safely relied to resist the fire of
q combined fleet. 1t is difficult to keep them in an
effective position, they easily scattered by storms,
and cannot advance or recede with suhclent rapidly
against more active vessels.
Floating batteries, containing more guns, and hav-
ing thicker sides buwarks than gun boats, are re-
commended by some, as superior to Inc latter. hey
must, however, be strong and massive, and conse-
ousn,ly unwledy and incapable OF sudden change of
place so as to advance defeated foe or " evade
victorious one. The application of steam would is
true, obviate degree, this objection; but then
it would be difficult TO construct them, on the plan
suggested in such way to protect their wheels and
machinery from shot that might in a moment, place
them a condition utterly helpless and useless. It
has been propo ed 10 build these batteries with very
thick wooden bulwarks, shot proof, and resembling
in construction batteries on shore But against the
large bomb of late years introduced into the
armament of ships il i doubtful If this excess OF
thickness is a material vantage. The protection
from solid shot, afforded by their massive sides, is
probable will he more than counterhaanced by the
greater injury horizontal shells Gas the Paixhan shee
would inhic by lodging in the timber, and produc-
ing terrible rayages by bursting. In the attack on
Gibraltar, the floating batteries were made proof
against cold ot, and was thought 10y the construc
tor against hot shot too, which, being bur deep IN
closely jointed tmbers, could scarcely communicate
flame; aud which, if occurring might by means OF
fire engines be subdued The decks, too, are covered
with roof of sloplng mbers and YET nine OF these
floating batteries were burnt by hot shot from the
suofe A few bomb ketcbes, armed with heavy sea
mortars in the invading fleet, would constrain the
foang batteries quit The position selected for ra
ing ffe on the enemy, and abandon their concerra
ted array, in malna aiming which, their effectiveness
depended .
The naval CONSTRUCTOR Mr.. Humphreys, has est-
mated the Of Of the heavy floating batteries
proposed by General Gaines in his plan OF national
defence, with her tow boats, &C., at 81 400,OOJ-
more than enough to construct ten war steamers on
Stevens's plan, which would be ten times as etec-
tive. .t