Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1852-05-27
OUR NATIONAL DEFENSES.
No IL


cations, in rational defense. What was
stated is no doubt generally kiown.-
1 But ar impressions are abroad that mill
iary men aIe apt to exaggerate their
importance, il has become doubtful in
The popular estimation whether in these
days Of "Progress" they are really Of
use, or whether they are not obsolete
ideas Of by-gone generations TO which
| profession bOok-wOrms and theorists
cling with accustomed tenaci,y, il seem
ed well TO give general idea oi their
exact value in the estimation Of students
Of the science and art Of modern war
fare.
\ According to this they are regarded
as means ol economizing blood and
treasure, by enabling at comparatively
inferior expense smaller force TO de-
fend any desirable position with advan-
tage against greater. Without going
minutely into the various and complex
questions necessary to determine when
and where they ought to be erected, it
was said that when they could be placed
IN the most convenient routes ofapproach
for an enemy wishing to reach some
point Of the country where he would be
able to do serious mischief at less cx.
'penses than it would cost TO put an equal
check on his movements by means Of
men, they could be ndvantageousy en-
ployed. Let us now add that the in
stances in which this can be done are
| in general not few, nor is the economy
they may effect IN the defense Of any
nations frontier, by any means small, az
small as the uniniormed are apt TO i'm.
H agine. To show this, and TO contradict
the notions Of a large class of general
though not very studious readers, by re-
ference to the opinions and practise OF
all the great captains Of the present age.
would be quite easy, we imagine quite
superfluous, with most of cur readers
The ideas are SO simple and commend
themselves SO manfestly to the common
sense Of all, that a single quotation on
this poin, should suffice. Napoleon, the
greatest Captain Of this or any other
age, il he who according to common be-
lief taught nations the folly Of erecting
Notifications for the defense oi their
frontiers. Without citing his own ex-
ample to prove the contrary, let us listen
TO General Jomini who better than other
military author has appIchendcd the
principles oil modern warfare as taught
and exemplifed in the school Of .his
great Master. In his Pricis de I art de
la gtem Vol. Up. 336, he says "li il be
true tha a place is rarely OF itself an in
surmoun,able obstacle TO the march ofan
hostile army, 1t incon,cstably embarras-
ses its movements. conpcls it to make
deiac hmen,s and to take round about
ways in i,s advance on the other hand
It lavors the army which holds it by
giving it the opposite advantages; It
secures its marches, favors the debouche
of its columns, if upon river; covers
its magazines, its hanks, and It's move
ments; aud finally in case Of necessity
affords refuge in case of disastcr."-
We cannot think further quotation ne
cessary and therefore close in the very
words OF this oracle Of modern warfare.
'Forlresses have, therefore, n manifest
influence on Military operations, but the
ar, Of constructing, attacking and de-
tending them is special one apper,ain-
/ ing 10 the engineer"
Il As stated in our last, our western
frontier has some slight Notifications,
erected at important points for military
occupation, sufficient L. resist an indian
force unprovided with artillery. On our
i Canada and Lake frontier, Fort Mont
gomery at the outlet Of lake Champlain
is on an important line OF invasion for
military force from Canada. Ii ia not
| yet in condition ior service. On the
Lakes at Oswego, Sacketts Harbor, Nj
agara, Buffalo, Detroit, Fort Gratiot
and Fort Mackinaw are small slight
works. Into the propriety ofstrengthen-
ing these deienscs forbear to 60 il is,
however, manifest, that important po-
litical considerations enter into this ques-
! ton.
Il As to the northeastern as we'll as the
i south western boundaries nothing no.
ticeable has been done. Our sea-board
has been that frontier which we have
considered most exposed, and 10 the Sc.
curity of which we have directed our
earliest attention. And now let us see,
for this purpose what has been done2
/ Under General Washington's admin
istration by an act Of Mar. 20. 1894 pro-
vided "That under the direction Of the
President Of the United States the fol-
lowing ports and HarboIs be fortified,
TO wit: Port Hampshire in the district
Of Name Portsmouth n. Ii. Glouces-
ter, Salem, Marblehcad, and Boston
Mass. Newport, II. |. New London
Conn. New York, Philadelphia Pa
Wilmington Del Baltimore Md; Nor
folk and Alexandria Va; Cape Fear
river and Ocracock Inlet, N. c.; Charles
ton and Georgetown, S. c.; and Savan-
nah and st. Marys, Ga. Another act Of
May o, 1894 added Annapolis to the
above list.
I'm 1898. in the midst oi indignities