The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-07-01

many and ap, pupils. We should then have force
ready for action at any Time
These things should be done Immediately The enemy VIII
not land long by the insciepcy OF our deences
they force passage in boats to the city BY these &C.
fences we shall FIRST cut of approach by water ana,
secondly shall force the enemy to land at some dis
lance from the city, and then infantry must be re-
lied upon 10 do the rest AS to harbor derences we
coincide with MAJOR Barnard in his conclusions that our
city inadequatey defended that it will probably
DO the FIRST point OF attack that It is the imperative
duty OF the government to take measures for its secury
LAND ATTACK.
Surprising these harbor deences then to be made ell
ciont the enemy seeing the folly OF attempting to force
hs woy to the city by water viii attempt to dsenbark
troops OF practicable point and thus make land
ATTACK AS We have already stated, this done during
HE Revolutionary War a. Gravesend Bay. But the forts
which have already suggested would com nand that
bay and the landing would have TO be made, therefore,
somewhere on the coast OF Long Island. During the
season landing would be practicable
almost anywhere on the Long Island coast, aud
there many bays and harbors where troops could be
disem0a4ked at all selsons. The topography OF Long
Island sdmIraby favors such landing, and is almost
uneouaski for military manouvres Large and produc-
tire TAI there with supply Of food moro than
SUFFICIENT far the number of troops required to attack
New York Roads from all parts OF the Island concea-
terAt Brooklyn ana afford every facility for the march
on army with few opportunities for harassipg or de-
hyirg 1t. Nov, If such landing and such 3 msrch
were attempted by the enemy, how could they be dc.
fea.ed9
Before answering this question i, may be
well to notice the remark Of Major Bar
rard that no such landing would be attempted in
the face OF our infantry II harbor were properly
fortified aud that If IL were attempted would DO
eucceesful
II We consider tho forces which England might bring
against u.s. the with which shs could the
landing Of her troops with the broadsdcs OF her feet i.
cannot be doubted that sush landng could DO made
Nor could Il he prevented by navy. At present
entire navy is by strong enough TO cope with
an English fleet and when remember many poFga
would have TO be protected, wholly in part
by cur ships of.war, 1t is evident tina, our
entire navy could not spared to defend NeS York
even IL were thus doieasble. Nor could hundreds of
thousands of t.oops DO collected herein Of at
tack-o defend the Island Many troops would be needed
for defence elsewhere. Our policy in the would ba
Offensive well defensive, and troops would be
qu;red for Canada, and Tor the British West Indesy
nefa2'e points at which we should certainly strike
Neither could afford 10 risk pitched battle with such
troops as we could com uand such battle would
fought with zoo great odds against II we lost we
would lose everything if gaiued, would gain very
little. Tue British troops would reemoarS under the
fire OF the feet, and await achievements to make
a eeclnd ettempt.
PROPOSED FORTIFIED WORKS.
Then even II we gained ouch victory, would have
m III aha r'H~tHnsn' ""---- ieoomnionued On mo
noy he Secretary OF War; has We should do In 1868
and wha. ought by ali means t. do pe~-yz, erect
line Of works across the Island,
To defend the Island Lieutenant Morton proposes lhs,
line Of fortified works be erected extending from
Hamilton to the head OF Flushing bay This line ia
marked, on the accompanying map, by the letters A.
g, aud its IS Indicated By dotted lines. The
arguments IN favor o. hs Ike of works that it viii
discourage any attack by land ana that n suoh A.
tack should be made, could not be successful These
works, in conjunction with eli 3ent harbor defence
would make our city mpTegnatle.
The proposed line OF works should be, according "a
Lieutenant Mortons pl,n, divided into three divisions
J.s e6te le0gh is hrteen miles, ana it completely iso
lates Bloaklyn from any point where fleet land
troopE. Each extremity Of each division viii rest upon
water and each is separated from the other tina,
troops cannot capture all by oatdApking II will bs
noticed that General scott defended Washington by
similar sefies Of works along the Potomac heights.
The frat proposed division is miles long, and runs
from For, Hamilton east 10 Jamaica bay fronting
wards Grayesend bay and Coney Island. (AtoB)
Tho sec nd division northeast four miles, and
borders the marshes of Jamaica bay. (B C) This d
vision &c he fitted to resist gunoolt attacks, and prevent
the dessrkaton Of troops within cannon range
The third division &c to Dl TO from Jamsloa bay
north to the head of Flushing bay, and defend the sp
proaches from any point the Atlantic Sound
The pecuarities OF these decDres that ouy foul
Eve noies or the line will have be defended at any
time and that in its construction valuable farm land
nor building lois win have TO be purchased bu; only
bare, woody hiltops, sandy low ground aud wild
meadows and marches.
Ia the erection OF the necessary redoubs the volunteers
Of our city aud those auartered might employed
They would think this work far preferable the dull
routine OF barr & aud lie aud they would gain much
ptao.os knowledge and experience Useful to them
elsewhere. Whist the Twelfth and Sixty ninth did &c
well Arlington Heights their brother soldiers can
OIL Lorg I5;and.
We lubniit that these suggestions are worthy Of the
consideration Of the government end that ocers should
be sent 10 survey Long Island the shores our
bor, AID begin Immediately the work Of making New
York imprce nable II we have a with England oa
heuds should DO ready for IT, The way TO avert
such to show England that we are fully prepared
10 meet il. AID that successfully,