Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1861-12-03
The Defences Of oaunda.
MON tho n. Y. Tlmos !

As far as we know there are only couple
OF Fortresses in the province that are at pres
ent in a defensive condition. One Is the
Caps Diamond citadel OF Quebec, with which
every American traveller is familiar. L is
without doubt thestrongest fortress in Amer
ica-the strongest, possibly, In ihe world, af.
ter those of Gibraltar and Oronstadt. The
citadel Is built on the highest point of Cape
Diamond, al an elevation Of $50 feet above
the st. Lawrence, and on the river side the
cliffs rise perpendicularly irom the water. On
all other sides the city IS so fortified by gla-
cis, wallis trenches, and other works Of de-
fence that hostile approach is deemed Inn
possible by the best British authorities ON
military science. The city is also walled en-
tirely around, and Is also protected by Mar
tello towers Of which ihele are four encir-
cling Quebec at equal distances from each
other. The citadel Of Quebec is always kept
Ia condition Of perfect repair, but the out
works-that Is the walls and works about
tbs city-hRYe been allowed OF late 20 fall
into ruin. In the event of war, the defence
Of the city would not be undertaken, as it
would require fifteen or twenty thousand men
70 man the walls, aud the defenseiof the cita-
bel would answer al needful purposes. For
this, a garrison Of one thous0nd men, it is as
serted, would be amply sufficient
There is always stored in the citadel Of
Quebec sufficient provisions to last it's gar.
Tison fer siege OF seven years. II also
contains an immense quantity Of war ma
terial, and to th is quantity very unusual
additions have been made during the pres
ent summer. The old guns have been ex-
changed for FiHed Armstrong cannon, Of
the largest size, and every thing that pru.
denoe and fOrethought could do has been
done to place the citadel Of Quebec in a
thorough stale of efficiency. As an Illus
tratien Of the strength Of this place it may
be mentioned that in 1775, Montgomery,
the American General, succeeded in reach
ing 1t when the garrison was almost desi-
t0te Of military force, and the whole
strength Of the Province only numbered
500 men. The siege vas q signal failure
In the first assault, as in those renewed
during subsequent years, the Americans
were driven back and their General killed,
while the British are said to We lost only
one officer and seventeen men in killed and
WouT ded. Another insurmOuntable obsta-
Gle to the investment Of Quebec is the cli-
mate. For seven months Of the year it
would be impossible for & hostile army to
find provisions or to eneamp in the vicinity
Of Quebec. The thermometer falls ss low
ss 40 degrees below zero, and the inhsbit-
ants themselves have to lay in their pro-
visions before the Indictment season sets in
The only other fortresses in Canada Wor-
thy Of consideration are those on Navy
Point and Point Henry, which command
the harbor Of Kingston. Fort Henry is the
! principal work Of defence. There are also
several msrtellO towers near it, and ss q
military post Kingston is the strongest
I place in Canada after Quebec. These forts
/ il must be remembered, have always been
kept in servioesble condition, and if the
resolution to which the military authori-
ties have come, merely relates to their in
speotion, the Aot is simply one which is
performed with great regularity 81 least
once year. It is proper TO add that on
ST. Helen's Island, opposite Montreal, a
regiment Of soldiers is usually stationed
Large quantities of ammunition are als1
stored there, and the Island might be used
to great advantage in the defence Of Mon
treal the principal city Of the Canadas.