Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1852-06-03
OUR NATIONAL DEFENSES.
NO. ii.
M. Ia.
Principles phich regulate The size Of 'u'

In our last number, having enumeia-
ted The objects for which hostile naval
Iorce might wish to enter our harhor, we,
stated the facts founded OH reason anC
experience, which render fixed prciern
hle 10 floating batteries for sea-coast de-
I.nse, where the points to be defended
could be- covered by fire from them.
In this number we propose TO give a
ew Of Tie leading principles which de-
Iermine The size and strength Of our
worbs, that men oi ordinary intelligence,
without the mid Of professional know
ledge may he able TO see into the pro-
riety Of them and be possessed OF a
good general idea Of our system OF iottI
fca,ions
| Knowing the naraiime force Of the
nations ofthe world. from experience
and reason, we estimate The greatest
force that we may have TO cope with
on the ocean and how many vessels
at the mostwe may expect TO he brought
TO attack any single point, depending
as thnt does on the power OF the enc.
my, The injury he may do us or, The
advantage he may secure TO himself
thereby.
=. From the greatest speed Of vessels,
we have the length Of time they
would be under fire from any point in
passing the number Of shots that can
be fred IRON each piece per hour. we
estimate the number Of shots from
each gun ,ha, may he safely calcula-
ted TO tell Oh the vessels entering.
B From these data from know m effect
Of hot and cold shot and she lis OH
shipping, from the importance OF the
o'sefsion Of any SEM or' or haI bor TO
our enemy and to us,-ihe valCe OF
the public and private property to be
protected, the lines of communica-
on It's possession commands &c, &c
are d, iernin,d d The number and kind
OF guns, requisite, acc riding 10 the
LIST and 2nd principles of defense laid
down in No. 3. OF these articles, to
prevent the enemy from cnt, ring il or
a., least 10 do him more damage tl.an
his success would inillci Oh us.
4. The requisite garrison ard ammuni-
ton TO serve them efficiently; and the
necessary supplies of Quartermas.
ier's, Ordnance and comm isissary
stores for them are then determined
and from these the necessary bor'b-
rroof rooms fer storage: hospitals and
quarters for Tie men.
5. The plan OF The ground and harbor
or channel heInp given, We select the
most advantageous position in which
To- Lace the battery, nnd arrange it,
having regard firstly 10 efficiency Of
fire over the field OF no tile approach /;
secondly, to iaclny for land d. iensr,
and thirdly TO economy in tccurirs
these Objects.
). To make the platforms permanent,
We construct Item Of stone to give
command. We elevate them above the
natural surface oi the ground and to
protect the cannonicrs while serving
them. with Tnrarets of earth or stone
thick enough 10 resist the random fire
OF shipping however exreriiy direct
ed.
]. Since experience has shown that no
formidable land battery was ever sui
dued by shipping under anything like
favorable circumstances lor trial, but
thai success Las often resulted to yes.
s,l- from their landing forces and car
rylng bat,et.es by assault. We there
lore surround these batteries by a wall
oi such beigh, and 81 arranged as to
prevent their being thus taken.
;. When the position il Of sufficient i'm.
porIance to justify it, The enemy m GIN
even land forces enough TO carry the
land fronts hy siege, we therefore
proportion the strength Of these fronts
so that with the most perfect manage
ment on his part and ordinary man
ngeWeni in the defense, The garrison
k.. D. LI
DeighboriDg militia can assemble in
sufficient ioice 20 drive of the ere
my.
Ii will he seen from this that, very far
rom projecting Notifications as grand
'cale for the great purposes Of Strata
~ as European nations have done, we
ave merely provided batteries ayains,
shipping secured IRON curvated fire.
rom coup de mdin, and from capture by
'iege before they can be succourcd BY
he local militia.
Upon these general principles, so In.
ID anu SO evidently according 10 sound
ense- and common senee too-no re-
marks n,e ed be offered. We shall mere
} oHer as All illustration oi their aIpl-
;auon the d, lenses projected Tor Nara
ganseu Bay.
In, possession Of these waters would
be o. great importance to an enemy
J. Because being u salient point on the
general line oi our roast. it would be
good place to lay in wait for our Tor.
eign merchant vessels bound tor Bos
ton or New York, the customs from
the trade Of which alone amount to l3
or IL millions Of dollars.
n I, q. I,-..t.. u t. A. -