The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-04-11

communicated 70 ths paper the erection Of fort
Coney leland preferable 10 the extensive and costly
fortress proposed be built the northern point Of
Sandy Hook. Other works Of different kinds have been
talked Of by different officers Of intelligence and ability
be made at various points Of the harbor well for the
exterior interior defence thereof General Toten
In his report Of 1851 states that the Notifications
mentioned In the above table all those ''inteuded
70 be built Tor the defence of the har of New York.
Entirely different OF resisting naval attacks have
iron floating battery yet unfinished In the building yard
at Hoboken, 1t Is mantsiped BY some will, If IL Is
finished, equipped and manned, Of itself render the in
gress OF the most powerful hostile fleet through the Mar
impossible. Others regard this much boased bat
terry O humbug. We have been unable to ascertain
but little with respect TO it, nsomuch great secresy is
Observed and admission into the building yard TO inspect
IL has been inhibited The most know OF 1t is
rived from the very liberal appropriations made by Con-
gress for several years past for its construction. Steam
and eal gunboats and formidable wooden floating bate
cs may also In case OF war; be readily constructed for
hsrbor defence.
Excepting the so.called ssMorton defencesn the SUD.
posed line Of which is Indicated in the map by the letters
A, b, G, d. no complete system Of defence against land
attacks has been officially proposed since those projected
IN the Of 1872 by Generals Gadsden and Swift be-
hind and contiguous to Brooklyn. Major Chase some two
years since adverted TO the necessity Of some such de-
fences in official reports, and likewise the columns
this paper, and We informed, by article recently
published in the Philadelphia Press that several years ago
that eminent and able officer, Captain Alden Partridge
formerly Superintendent Of the United States Military
Academy at West Point, delivered in this city elaborate
lectures in relation 10 It's deences against attack by
land which, is stated, suggested "earhworksn similar
those proposed by Lieut. Morton last year. and recon-.
mended by the Secretary of War TO Congress at last
sion.
We understand Lieut.. Ms plan to be series OF earth
work redoubs, placed mile from each other extending
from Fort Hamilton, within shot of the coast
and nearly parallel to ii and bordering Jamaica bay and
thence the head Of Flushing bay. The line on the
map indicating their location is hat coniectura
learn the exact proposed location has not been dis
Closed TO prevent specuators from orestaDg the gov
erDnept in relation to the sites Of the redoubts II
tended ultimately to connect the several redoubts by
continuous line of embankment with an exterior fosse
but such work will be necessary till war is mpend
ing and can then be promptly effected by the militia In the
field Tor the defence of the city 1t ssupposed the Of
these earthwok rodoubs including the cost of the SITES
will not exceed $3.50 600, being about SIG 800 each.
The adoption Of the system Of land defences proposed
docs mot affect any wise the policy or mpocy OF the
attacks. Each system depends upon its merits and
demerits II is not perceived why hostility 70 sys
tenn should be displayed by the friends and advocates OF
the other The object of each is wholly dissmlar The
one s TO resist naval assaults the other TO enable
militia TO repe attacks made by land with greater certain
ty Of victory, and less loss Of life. Both may only
important, but both equally necessary
The defences proposed against invason by land ad
vocaed upon the ground that the harbor defences against
naval attacks do not, though ample for barbor Defence
In any degree secure against such attacks by land
afford aid in repeing them On the other hand, the ad
vocates OF the all suncebcy Of the system Of castle
haTbor lorthcaos contend that prudent enemy would
venture TO land upon either shore Of Long sland
the northern the Sound and attempt to march
upon the cities OF Brooklyn and New York. They insist IL
would 0e violation OF the fundamental military prnc
pies observed by all wise generals, leave for
tress in the rear" They aege that IL such landing was
made in The Sound the Of Long Island
ward OF Willets Point, the invading enemy would in
marching upon Brooklyn leave the fort about TO be erect
a that point on the OF their right flank aud II the
Landing was nj GraveseDd bay in such march, Fort Ham
ton would be left on the rear OF their left flank and
either case the enemy would be exposed aacks in the
rear and liable to be cut of in attempting to return
their ships On tho other hand, IL conicnded that the
defence OF our cities by attacks Of militia salyng
from Fort Willet Fort Hamilton upon the rear OF the
invading army is . soecism, based upon an exploded
maxim dsregarded by every successful general OF the
present century and that cncounterng the invading
my in front is more like Defence than attacks their
rear Ana further, that II militia wero aided by
henchmcnts OF any kind, fallen trees, stone, cotton
bales, or OF earth only the probability OF repulsng the
Zoe wouu De increased and especially In the suggested
aitacks upon the roar" militia would not the aid
Of any such works.
But no part OF the object of these notes do
than present facts and data in relation TO the dofcnces
against naval assaults and also those against attacks by
land The relative and advantages OF both systems
have been discussed in several Of the prints OF this city
within the last few months, and sometimes in
calculated rather to confuse and mcad than enlghten
the reader We leave the parsans OF both systems TO
maintain their respective sides In their own way.
Inc ioft Al sandy Hook is not yet commenced beyond
the erection Of wharf and a few temporary framc
buildings for storage and for the Ulcers clerks work
men 10 De employed In It's construction The fort at viii
let's Pont has not yet been commenced. Doubts have
existed Win many (not of tho Engineer corps) In rela
on TO the expedency of constructing the costly fortress
at sandy HOOK, az contemplated; not merely the
ground that u would be of little practical utility at this
time, but also because Of the possibility that may be-