The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-03-11

p6rm4ncoL
substituted for them. This opinion has grown cut Of or
derives IT'S principal support ftom the brilliant and pro
raetsd defence OF sebastcpol y works thrown up on
professional reputation calculated to do great harm
can weather 20 that the accuracy q their Gre viii
be oistarbsd By the motion on the wave, may stand
ne:ier to the defensive works tnsn would Dc nsa'osa
used and the increased accuracy Of 6-e due TO steady
deck, earthworks battered at shor. ranges w,od be
promptly reduced. Hol!cw shot which break harmless
" against the masonry Of permanent work. from the
6re steamer At close distance penetrate deeply tho
cured laps sssroy ns s. Of soa ssot hs
r1on Of which much less in the more sohd and dura
BILE rampant OF the peTosn w1fk tnau ~ tns loosely
ble for tho engineer now H. hc 20 increase the strength
Of the permanent works as to keep paSe with tse To-
ersafed destrusiveEess OF artillery.
rbe oregong diGor in respects from those
contained report ef the Chief Engineer add The d
ddence with which dssent from any opn of his on
such subjects has only been overcome ~ the nscesr
views
Referring 70 the ssti mates contained in the repo-t Of
TIE Chief Ecgneer for the amount CT appropriation
which will required for the several WORKS therein
have The honor to be, very respectfully, your ODE
dent servsnt, JEFF'N DAVIS, Secretary o. Wa.
Hon. J. q. BRJsB1, President OF the Sena'e
ENGINEER DEPARTMENT,
WASHINGTON, Feb. IA, 1866
sRA resolution Of the Senate Of the 1ith iaasn., in
relation additional fcr6cstions for New York harbor
having been cent to this o,s fer report have he ha
nor to sub ait what follows:-
The resolution requests the Secretary OF War to re
port TO TIE senate whether any, aod any, Wis., adj
tona orifcaticnk necessary Tor tee proper deteo
and Of ns city sna na ooF o. a Ns TD'a ana
There two distinct channels 20 the interior cf ths
harbor with drsught enough in each for the largest yes
sells Of namely 1stThe entrance at the SOUTH be
tween Sancy Hook and Lcng Island; 2d-That at the
east, BY the way of LOug Island sornd
cue which can ts followed by land force oniy but
which is short and easy as TO need defence no. less
sbaJ, briefly mention the ext ting fostiesa ions on
each route ar those required in adlitiou-
l. PASSAGE SANDY HooK.-rae defsncee most remote
Narrow about miles below the 10 point of the
city. There consis of Forts Hs milton and Lafayette,
the Ling rsnd slde and batteriss HUDSON and Norton
staten Island-an frished aud Ell sient works. On
the Staten Is and side there is moreover work ia
gress called Fort Rch ,nd and thsre Is ne 10 ad
clifton at his passage. the repair perhaps the recoa
srucion almost ef Fort Tompsin', work esgun Oy the
State Of New York in 1910, hut never finished.
Quite the point Of the city, aud rs second
line the defence of this passage, there lortihca
tons GovsrncT's, Bedlows and Els islands Ia tbs
general service, and suitably armed in case of danger,
Castle Clinton Castle Gs-cen). I. occupies good p,
sition Iay soon &c put IN Sooa eanaoni aae MADE 70
permanent ortica'iens have been proposed to De ed
70 this second line.
TIE lever harbor that is to say, al that broaa waer
iyr between the Narrcws and Sandy Hook of the
test roads.eads the Atlantic COASTS entirely with
out dsences its entrance being open 10 enemy
to ourselves and Its possession by superior naval
pNwer, which could nos be disputed, would eie:s
perfect blockade OF the city Throughout all seasons Of ts
year
On studying this subject thirty sre years sgo
the beard OF engineers regarded the Importance Of closing
The purpose IN adj n to he works /, be ees.ea dSrng
upon Sandy Hook Itself large casenated fors,
10 b founded upon shoals outside Of the Hook estimated
to cost each 81, ESQ COO
Minute surveys since made o, those SD as afford
many reasons to dsuot their STABILITY that il hiss been
found necessary 70 conne the projects for defence .
Sandy Hook being proposed TO crest thereon Ut ong
permanent fertilization, fer which work appropriations
TIE y er such woK to sh he 10 see bsrSsr
up from IN eneys occupation relates not alone 70 the
maintain throughout al OF the year, bat h
aes also to the landing place x,thn eight miles Of tne
Navy Yard snd Brooklyn heights, that its possession
would allow bin to tale advantage Of at any moment.
The short and easy route for apd o-cs, before
toned, is from this landing in Gravesend bay, whi,h
though quite practicable while covered By feet in t1e
bay would be very hazardous if not impr AcHc,ble
enterprise the enemys feet excluded by for fcs
coaa. Of Long Island lie covered by shallow bays aud
marshes that landing in any portion OF 1t would hs-dy
be undertaken In the ace Ct defensive thai
short time would spffce 10 prepare.
fort en- Sandy Hook, Which, By the range of It's own
fro and that OF batteries aaoa ana ashoe unier its
protection would al the part Of toe oae-
harbor would also ntrbute materially TO the iefence
Of the passage shoU feet attempt 10 force its way
to The city AMI Navy Yard since tie main chip chan
mel including GedEeys channel, passes within effective
Targe.
.. PASSAGE nY TUE East RIVER FROM LONG ISLAND
defeaded
strong work, nearly completed, rhrog's Neck at
marrow pass in the Eastver Aoout SIX eea or els atesn
miles rom the city.
proposed in addition to erect fort on the Lag
Island side Of the Ess river and opposite Fur. S.huyle
The two forts viii afford very secure defence !, inst
channel.
But these two forts, besides a.ing the water
passage, vl have very controlling asten any
tempt upon Brooklyn heights the navy .rd by sui
force moving Long Islsad from landing Ell her is
north south shore since any number Of own
troops arriving from the ceud under their cover
auk mr. raa al nv IN
dition march on tie main lind down upos the sly
from isndlng distant come twenty aes, which y 'ss
forts would compel with the ord sbe Spuyeu Ddy Eel
creek in front and very populous country 10 the
would oe quite OUT Of tie question.
Even Fort Schuyler alone partially accom- p!ishes the
objects long it holds the channels sac Tbe
construction of fort the opposite shore may in
jurouy be postponed and IL Of less pressing Importance
therefore than sandy flock.
The complete system permanent deten,es for New
York barbor requires then the erection of the wing
Fort Tom pkins Staten island and fort on the Eas.
river opposite Fort Schuyler.
Should there be no special reasons f,r DESIRING tae
earliest possible completion of the system opsra
tons may De restricted t, the first position e51ve
named The total cost of the fort projected Cor Sandy
Hook ia estimated, at present prices NJ 81 500 00o and
appropriation should be granted OF $3.50, 00) ia
order TO secure certain aoan OF efficiency at sn early
day
Any particular concern as TO the condition of our 70
reign relations should however the co pmsncsm.o
Of both the other WORKS without delay by appopds
ton Of not less thar $4,000 for eash The cost Of
building Fort Tompks has not been calculated, becs1se
the extest to which the old strusture and the old re
rails may now be used only be known tbs work
advances. The cost roughly estimated NJ $50 900
many years ago, in ,uding repairs then repaired 70
adjacent batteries The battery repairs have siocs bee1
made but ] am Of opinion that, with the difference
prices placing these ruins in state Of Ell sien:y d.
msnded By tho position and the objest cannot oe
down st q less cost III an $500 600.
The estimate made thirty years since, for the work t.
stand opposite Fort Schuyler 1886 900 The rise In
prices Of labor and materials sio,e should rsiss this
esimae 70 $3.50, 600 To se;spi.uiate:-
J. This report 'rnmeuss the commencement of f,rt
on Sandy Hook, by appropriation Of $3.50 600; total
cost 81, 500 coo.
2. Tie commencement Of replirs on For. Tompkins,
Staten asd, ~ an appropriation Of $780, 0o0 toal cost
$4,000.
3 Tie conn encement of fort oppoai.e Fort
Schuyler the East river, by an apnropria alton OF
$50, COO, total cost $3.50, 600.
The above works to begun in the order Of arrange
ment--the fret mentioned without delay. In Of
supposed urgency, Gil to be tegan at once
This resort sso sends the restoration 20 the de-