Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1852-06-03
OUR NATIONAL DEFENSES.


I system Of Fortifcaiions for sea coast de-
fense.
We saw that Tie war oi 1912 left i'm
pressed on the national mind the neccs-
siry OF Foflicaiions for the defense Of
our sca-hoard; that Congress according.
ly appointed board consisting o. some
OF ur ahlesi military and naval men to
examine and repor, upon the whole sub
iect; that after taking all rrecau uonory
measures for inlormalion-altcr full de-
liberation and diecusslon-lhcy adopted
the present system and that under it
the points il indicates have been taken
up in the order Of their Importance, and
the plans for their defense having been
carefully prepared by board Of Eng =
neers revised by the Chief; approved
/ by The secretaries Of wAr; sanctioned
! by the military committees Of both hou-
scs OF Congress, ana authorized by law,
have been carried into execution, ac
! cording 10 The means provided by an
nual appropriation, under the direction
of The hicf Engineer, and The superv-
sion Of the national legislature.
Let MS now inquire into the principles
upon which these plans have been based.
\ We have already seen that the general
principle that Qualifications are useful
T in certain cases aud for certain purpo,
ses," is sound But stay it not be pos
sible that ours have been planned upon
false principles? ? May they not be bas-
ed OH AM quared notions OF warfare 3
II upon erroneous prlncil les, our Fortii-
cations cannot be expected TO serve
good purpo,e.
II upon anriquatcd notions they ought,
ns tar rs possible, to be revised. But il
olherwse-il il they are based upon the
true nature OF the forces they are TO re-
sist and II C most approved modes OF ap-
satisfied II work is designed in accord
ancc with them, we are sure we are
right and ought to proceed steadily in It's
execution.
The ordinary objects Of hostile entry
in o oar seaports and harbprs, by ma
vi force are
/. In pursuit Of smaller naval forces or
merchant vessels Of our own lying, Or
seeking safety there.
9. To levy Contributions, or, TO rlunder
the Inhabitants o! our sea coast towns.
3. To destroy military and naval stores,
other public property and manulacto-
rcs of articles necessary for naval
equipment and ship building.
A. For the purpose Of landing troops for
uterior operations OF greater or less
magnitude and TO receive these troops
when they wish, or are compelled to
retire.
5. For temporary occupation. as places
Of safety, repair and laying in wait
for our conveys and merchantmen ior
which cruisers could be kept conlinu-
ally on the watch 10 cut every sail
leaving or entering the ncighboring
sea ports.
Our system of Notifications assumes.
|. That TO prcven, entrance and occu-
patton for these purposes we must have
constantly in the way OF hostile approach
batteries OF heavy artillery of such
Strength as 10 be able TO destroy the
cuemy's shipping, or, at least, 10 make
The damage TO ii greater than The gain
he could hope 10 effect by enterance. 2.
Where the entrances to be closed ad-
nit Of being swept from land, these bat
terics, for greater certainty OF being
always found at hand, when required,
ought to be built on land. 3. Where
land batteries can be used they are
greatly more effective than if anoat F;
because their laliorms on laad are im.
moveable, while, alioat, they are sub
iect TO continual motion not only from
the sea but the discharge Of the pieces
themselves. 4. While land batteries
once erected ere always cer,aii, to be
on the SPOT when and where anted, and
while their fire is much more effective
tlan that oi the same 10. and calIber of
guns OF water, they are vastly less LA
bic TO injury from the fire of an enemy's
Slipping. 5. The loss Of lie in action
is incom parably less in a properly con-
siructcd land battery than in one on
water because IN it the men are not
only not crowded, but they are covered
By stone walls or banks OF earth i.upenc-
traI lc to slot. while on ship board they
are crowded together, the sides of the
vessel offer 10 chectual resistance 10
shot and the 81 linters detached by the
ball often kil ard wound more men than
ball itself 6. Hot shot, the terror Of the
most veteran scamcn, capable OF firing
vessel after beng under Il stream OF
water for twenty minutes, single one
Of which striking Il ships powder mag
azine would blow it to atoms-do no
more harm to land batteries than cold
shot. Z. PalXhau shot, that is, shells
fired from cannon like hollow shot di-
rectIy at tie object, penetrate readily
the wooden aud even iron sides oil vcs-
sells aud, bursting within deal death and
destruction around. They are the most
formidable engine Of destruction lor a
A