The weekly mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1861-1862, 1862-02-15
A Coed Take-OG.

ards circular has turned the attention Of
several patriots to the condition Of hArhor
defeRseS on the lakes. A writer who has
given the subject much attention, and ap-
pears 10 be familiar with the nature and
condition Of the defensive works at differ
ent lake ports, communicates the following
to Cleveland paper -
BUFFALO. port is so nearly played
out that It Is Of very little consequence
whether it is taken or not. The bullrusheS
growing on the docks will afford an excel.
lent cOncealment for masked batteries !;
however, in case there are any who feel
sufficient interest in the old town from
early associations to defend it, the prOba-
bilities of hostile ships being shattered on
the breakwater is SD great that Buffalo re-
quires lew defenses other than those that
were provided years ago. Nearly every
body in Buffalo has turned auctioneer, and
the enemy could not hold the city two
days before they would be sold out
knocked down to the highest bidder. -
Then, too, the fatality vt Buffalo creek,
where the coroner is engaged, night and
day, in hooking out cold, unpleasant bod
les, would have an influence in keeping
the foe at a distance. If all the above
means of defense are unavailing, Buffalo
has final resort. Let the city give the
enemy such a reception as they treated
Lincoln TO last spring, and they will get
away as soon as possible and never come
again.
DuNKIRK.-The great de(enses of Dun
kirk are the high price of board and poor
! whisky. In c~se N Z x%i e,nc l1aNIScr, FREQ.
Clements ZouaveS, of Fredonia, would
doubtless run down. Their march from
Fredonia to Dunkirk would be immensely
accelerated if the enemy attack Frcdonia
first.
EME.-The sanguinary lerocity with
which the Erieans once carried OH. a rail-
road war is not forgotten, and will show
all foes what they are to expect, if they
attempt to take the city. They make
things "Trip" when they get agoing. The
United States steamer Michigan lies in the
bay during the winter, and being made OF
iron. would add great weight to the de-
Tense. Some Of the Michigan's officers
play very good hand at Dutch ROuncc,
which would be rendered available in u
hand to hand conflict. Perry'S flag ship
Lawrence. is sunk in Erie harbOr, and
there are such unpleasant associations in
the British mind connected with the ship.
it would be no wonder if the rotten and
watcr-ngged relic of the battle of Lake
Erie would be sufficient in itself TO keep
British fleet from ever rounding the pen
;nsula.
FAIRrokr- Formidable sandbar across
the mouth of Grand River will etfrctually
prevent the entrance of hostile vessels
or anything else. If the enemy take Fair
port, they will have to visit gainesville to
dol for nearly all the buildings that once
constituted the former place have been
moved to gainesville.
MnwAUKEE.-This port is defended BY
three or four daily papers. mounting sew
eral editorial guns Of small calber, ten
barhette." 1t has also an outer line of de.
Tense extending to Grand Haven, Mich
gan, which line all vessels approaching
from the northward are forbidden to cross,
on pain of being blown up by the guns
aforesaid. 1t is also defended by an insti-
tuition called an academy of music, to
which the people would be sure to invite
the enemy Immediately upon his arrival.
His 0nl y escape from such. an affection
will be to keep away. But the principal
defense OF Milwaukee is Booth. Should
the enemy attempt to take it, they would
have to take him with it-a thing no civ
ilized enemy would consent to do. Mil.
waukee, therefore, may be regarded as
comparatively safe.
RACINE. Should tile enetuy attempt to
take this port, he will have to land in skitfs
or fiat boats above and below the harbDr,
which no navigator but fiat would be
fool enough to attempt to enter. The
safety of the place consists chiefly in the
fact that it is the residence of several Hi
nois wildcat bankers. Should the enemy
ury done will be that which it has "dun
'em."
KENosHA.. -Dcfended mainly by natur-
al earthworks, which it is safe to say no
vessel drawing more than six feet Of water
can by any possibility get over.
CHICAGO. Should the enemy ever be
foolish enough to make charge" upon
Chicago, he will undoubtedly be arrested
and brought for trial before the common
council, and as the proceedings will last
till the war is over. there will be no dan
ger of the " charge" being sustained.
CALrMET.-The only port on Lake Mich
igan which cannot be defended.
In relation to the ports on the other
side of the lake. their chief safety consists
in the (act that none of them are worth
taking.