The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-11-21
INTERESTING ARMY INTELLIGENCE.
Preparations for the Departure Of Troops
for the Pacific.
THE MILITARY DEFENCES OF NEW YORK,
3d., &C., &c.

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THE MILITARY DEFENCEs OF NEW YORK,
3d., &C., sc.
Within few days force of between five and six
hundred Of the United States troops at present STA
toned at Governors Island will leave this port for
California, where their presence is considered neces
sary by the general government to suppress the In
dian disturbances in the interior of that State Their
baggage and camp equipage is already prepared for
shipment, and each company will take with them
two thousand rounds of ball cartridge. The whole
force, consisting Of the following companies, have
been placed under the command of Brevet Lieut..
COL J. M. Washington and Major G. s. Merchant,
who at present in this city awaiting the hour Of
depayture:-
Capt and Brevet 1t, Col. NJ. Burke,)
Brevet Capt. II. b. Field, Company l.
Second Lieut.. r. Chandler,
Capt and BTevet r ret Major G. Taylor, Company A.
Capt and Beyst Major F. O. Company D.
Capt and Brevet Major VIM. Austine, Company X.
Brevet Capt. Ii. B. Judd Companies L and M.
First Lieut.. VIM. A. Winder, Company G..
Second Lieut. @. s. Winder Company FL.
First Lieutenant S. L. Fremont goes out with the
force as quartermaster; First Lieutenant Lucien
Loeser, as commissioner; and First Lieutenant
James A. Hardie, as adjutant. Major General Wool
who is in command of the eastern division of the
army, is now in New York experimenting the de-
parture Of these troops. 1t may be matter OF In
terest to the public to know that the companies
abovenamed compose the third regiment, whose
bravery and important services during the Mexican
war obtained for them the title OF I" The gay and
gallant Third" Among the distinguished who
have been in command of it, we may mention the
names of Colonel Bragg, Major Sherman, Major
Ringgold, who was killed at Palo Alto, and Colonel
Steptoe. It's present gallant and experienced COM
mander, Colonel Washington, was at the battle of
Buena Vista, and in every subsequent engagement
up to the taking Of the city of Mexico and Of the
officers under him, Captain Burke, Majors Taylor,
Wyse, Austine, Captains Judd, Field, Lieutenants
Wm. A. Winder, Fremont, and Smith, were in
active service in that campaign, and fought in
nearly every battle. The headquarters of this
regiment is at San Francisco but the whole
force will not be stationed there as Col Washington
has received orders to leave three companies at San
tiago On his way. There are at present in Cafor
na the fourth and second regiments of infantry and
two companies Of artillery.
Governors Island, after the departure of these
troops, will be under the command of Major Spring.
Major Thornton Of he Ordinance Department, and
Capt Lowell. It is one of the best military stations
on this continent and the plan of its Notifications Is
unsurpassed BY very few, if any in the world. The
barracks are situated in the centre Of the island and
are defended by four massive walls and deep fosse,
the approaches to which are placed Immediately un-
der the range of At each angle of this square
is a bas!on, go constructed as TO command the en-
trance leading into the barracks, and beyond the
osse is curtain breast work. about forty or fifty
feet from tie fortified walls or rampsrts. La the
event Of an attack upon the barracks this is the first
point which besiaging force wonll have to
carry, and after passing it and descending into the
fosse they would be subjected to terrible fire from
the rmparts. Two thousand men are considered
sufficient for oil the purposes of defence, and these
could maintain it against force Of ten times their
number. Some idea could be formed of its terribly
effective character destructive power, from the
fact that this city could be destroyed in less than
fortyeght hours by its cannon and it would be next
too impossible for hostile fleet to approach within
two miles of it without incurrng the risk Of certain
destruction. Once, however, in the hands of an
enemy, New York could be utterly destroyed
Besides the barracks which is the principal strong
circular structure fifty Or sixty feet high Castle
Williams, we informed by inscription over the
entrance, was commenced in 1907, and finished in
1871 1t is veil furnished with port holes but as o
it occupies very low rank. The several stories are
entered by two circular staircases, constructed Of
stone and enclosed in towerlike structures. These
Of coursa are erected in the court yard interior
of the fort. The apartments have arohed ceilings
but the only communication between them is wood
en- platform, which a chance ball or shell could
easily tear down. From this brief description il
may be seen that Castle William does not add
much to the military strength Of Governors
Island.
The ordnance yard is situated on the side oppo-
site New York, and is well stocked with arms and
ammunition. There are two buildings Of consider
able size filed with pistols, swords, musket, aud
rifles, Of the best description; and the yard itself
is literally covered with canncns, mortars, shells,
and balls. The total value of all the arms and am
munition on the island amounts to $l,173,O09 20,
and the number of shells and cannon bal s
piled 10 pyramids ia about one hundred thousand.
Forty-seven thousand teninch shells. each weighing
eighty. eight pounds, were shipped from Governors
Island to the siege Of Vera Cruz; and of these forty
having been used In fact, threefourths of the sup
plies for our army in Mexico were sent from this sta
ton; and such is the effective condition Of our coun-
Ivy on war footing, that army Of seven hundred
thousand men could at any moment befally equipped
end the field from the United States arsenals.
New York alone could turn out, at few hours no.
tice, force of fifty thousand drilled men. 1t may
be sad however, in reply to these facts, that in the
hour Of need the men would not be forthcoming. To
this only reply that when our general govern
ment advertised for soldiers at the beginning Of the
Mexican war, hardly month had elapsed before
three hundred thousand offered themselves; and SO
anxious we're some CT them TO ght for their country,
that It was said some regiments tried to purchase
the privilege Of fighting from others which were so
fortunate as to be accepted Here is something for
the monarchica governments Of Europe to ponder
upon. In this country we have but to advertise for