Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1858-12-23
Gun-Boats.

The New York Tnes describing the most Ell
cient class Of vessels, says that the steam gun
beas is wiry li.tls monster. ranging from two
hundred 10 eight hundred tons burden, from four
~ three inches TO twelve feet OF draft carrying
ffom two to sixty-eight or eighty-feur FOUNDER
guns, and making from seven to thirteen knots
with steam power varying from twenty to three
hundred and fny horses. She depends for the
force of her remonstrances more upon the range
and calibre than the number Of her cannon. The
French type gunboat, throwing a ball of eighty
four pounds distance of $500 yards, and lying
- speck upon the water, would thus prove her
self very disagreeable antagonist with vessel
much her superior 10. size aud number Of guns.
OF these vessels we possess not one, against two
hundred in the service Of England, and as large a
number in the navy Of France. Holland herself
counts thiriy-sx, and Austria twenty Of such YES
sells. and they are building in the port Of Fer
rol. in Spain. The French gunboats are construct.
ed on more uniform model than the English, and
are OF at least equal efficiency The English West
India squadron now contains five of these vessels,
and there is reason to believe that larger mum
Der has been dispatched from France TO these wa
ters i will be readily seen that there are very
few place. in this counry, accessible by water
at all. which could not be reached aud annoyed by
vessels from four to twelve feet draft. and carry
ing from two TO six Ixty-eisht or eighty-iour
FOUNDER guns.
1t is obviously the first duty Of our Government
TO provide fleet Of these gunboats, dozen OF
which can be built for the cost Of u line-ofbattle
ship, and to convert all our sailing vessels of war
into steamers
The above brings to mind the proposition which
was made last winter, in n published letter of
MARSHAL PARKS, Eco. Of Norfolk. and which
was alluded to by US in juno or July last. Mr..
Parks proposition was to employ, in time of war,
a. gunboats, for our coast defence. the myrnd Of
small steam propccrs. which are supported in time
Of peace by their employment in towing vessels in
and out Of hnrbors, and the various rivers canals
and inland waters Of the country. Mr.. Parks says
that, in time Of war, one or more guns Of the
heaviest calibrc, could be mounted on the decks
Of these buats IN short time, and at very little
cost Their efficiency would be equally great rs
If they had been originally built for the service
Thus in ease # II sudden attack upon Norfolk, ia
time Of war, thcpropelers in service in and around
that city, and Of tue ad iaccnt waters Of North Car
OHM aud Nirginn, could be gathered at tho Navy
Yard ON twenty four hours notice. and in twelve
hours further time. could be fully equipped for
active aud most eaectual service,
The proposition # Mr. Parks has the very
strong recommendation. that the system he sug
gests, while most effective in time # war, would
be no charge upon Government in timo of peace
tia system y. the country. The entiTo standing
army of the mon. maintained in time Of peace
is ouly ,onle eighteen thousand, while the expert
ence of the Mexican war shows that We can
call into ac,iyc and efficient service "A half million
of yoluntecrs-the best troop, IN the worll-n
the space of n few months Or oxen weeks. Thus
is our country relieved of the immense cost of
huge standing army in fine Of peace, while it j.
as fully and efficiently defended in war by the for
tunate resource Of our volunteer militia.
Why cannot the same policy he inauguracd in
our Naval coast defence, by adopting the ve,y
sensible suggestion Of Mr.. Parks? 1t is very
plain that slight encouragement On the part OF
our Government would insure the building Of se~-
sells. which. While they were scltsupporting in TIE
long interval of peace, would iorm the best imagi-
nable defence during the comparative brief period
of war We eal tho attention Of the Navy De
partment to this subject ~ one worthy the most
careful examination, and lespcak also the atten-
tinn Of our ce'emporarv Of the Tsmss. We should
perhaps adj hat the position ii Nj. F. as Pre>i-
dent Of the tbemarle & Chesapeake Canal, AS
well as Of tie Seaioarl Towing and Transpor,a.
ton Cumnapv; and his i,,. and familiar acauain-
lance with the merchant steam service oftle coun-
try, ent,te lis suggestions = Ies Get and considc
ration.