The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1863-05-09
OUR HAREOR DEFENCEs.
New Method Proposed for the Defence Of
New York Harbor, by john wyatt

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New York Harbor, by john wyatt
Reed.
intended TO represent, general way, the mode pro-
posed for the defence the hsbor against the attack OF
an enemy's feet.
The dvergng lines at various portssandy Ho K, the
Dry Romer beacon forts tho Narrows and at the
pr posed earthworks the Staten and Long Island
Shores we'll at Robbins' reefindcste the lines OF
Ere TO which hostile feet would be subjected in endea
vorpg force entrance In the face of these deences
To assist tho land defences and to be ready for any
emergency heavy floating batteries (see ettcrs and
By should be stationed in the lowor bay These should
be armed with fifteen inch smooth bore guns, for short
range and ten eleven inch rifles, for long range
vice. The fifteen inch guns should throw solid shot at
low veocites in order TO smash and strip of enemy
armcr rather than TO pierce H. while the and eleven
inch rifles might be ared with full charges 70 com
action at long range simultaneously with the
my. who would doubtless be armed with this class OF
ordnance.
These gunboas batteries should not be used az
ram, TO be effective, should be built and speeded for
this special purpose The engines and boilers those
batteries should be placed well under the water limo and
they should be provided with compartments, to be food
cd previous going into action 10 lower tho weasel
to "fghtng trim"
these batteries shouid be safely moorsd n the "oss
shoe under the leo Of Sandy Hook As a. the enemy
heaves In sight Of the batteries @ should be moved
to APPOINT covering the intersection or the South and
Gedney channel. The enemy would OF course
wait FOR calm day and q food tide before
attempting 10 force an entrance. Battery D should,
therefore, be anchored BY spring cables or about the
point indicated In the chart, command both en-
frances In oil probability this battery would be sunk
by the concentrated IRE OF the enemy Tho Drew should
therefore, be beautifully supplied with life prsssrvers,
and the mattresses for the wounded should be stued
with cork shavings, 90 ~ to form each raft In OF
need.
The floating battery marked should take up her rst
position as shown tho map in Gedneys channel sup
porting the fort Sandy Hsok and rang the channel
Should the enemy follow tho Swasn channel then Slip
ping her cables should make for her second position
at the point OF junction OF the 6wash and Gedney chan
nes, thus raking both. Should The enemy succeed In
forcing the primary obstacles and DO making for tho Mar
rows, then battery A, after few broadsides, should
retro under the guns Of the forts commanding the
Nsrrows. taking up her third and final position
nearly opposite the Quarantine ground ssss the
land batteries represented by the divegng lines the
map or course, X not sunk disabled battery should
initiate her proceedings rereAtng by the Swash channel
By reference to the map series Of black dots placed
rous forts These dots intended to represent submerged
iron buoys,o or floats supporting heavy wrought iron
chains. each buoy held in place by two heavy anchors
and placed thirty forty feet apart. By placing these
floating distractions obque the channel they will
less resistance TO the tides and enemy's could
thus strike them fairly with any Speed they would
be found very dicut Meanwhile, the enemy
entangled among them would be detained helpessy
der the guns the forts Added this each float might
be provided with pole bowsprft, extending under
water and Furnished with torpedo, 70 be discharged
contact with an enemy's vessel. 4n
Tho principal novelties connected with this plan Of de-
fence sre the proposed cast iron forts the bsaccns
tho cast iron embrasures In the proposed now earth
works. and the plan for anchoriug only instead Of other
wise fixing the distractions for delaying enemy under
the guns Of the various and psopossd Tho
limits Of this article viii not permit detailed dsscrp.
ton Of tho mode employed for floating the chains but
the chief object 70 be attained BY th method may b.
briefly referred 70.
IL will DO seen on examining the chart that Is not
proposed to place in the channels any obstruc
tons TO the currents other than those already existing
Romer and Robbins reef beacons ON Of the
tendency such structures possess Of changing the tidal
streams and producing shoals and sandbars In places
where they did not previously exist
Several schemes are anoat. and have received some
recommending the placing Of iron towers built
piles, each side Of the channel below the Narows,
and another consisting Of series Of booms chains,
fastened piles may be mentioned But Let the opinion
Of Of New York pilots who understand the capri
cious nature OF our continually changing channel be
taken to the effect Of such schemes carried out and
there little doubt that this would b the We would
hear Of them. Il 10 dangerous matter 70 tinker with
any channel, much less liable injury
Let hope them that whatever may be the plan Of de-
fence adopted tho channe-that precious artery which
supplies life 10 cy-may remain unmolesed; other
may discover when,too late that while endeavor-
ing keep enemy outside Of doors have forever
shut in ourselves.
As regards the defences for the East river similar
plan 10 that just described, the works TO at
willests Point, would be found equally effective
According TO this plan hostile fleet would be exposed
FIRE from other or the batteries for space Of
nearly nine miles.
The Yron-ciad Frigste Roanoks-Ths
Vessel Almost Ready fer Servics-Hsr
Formidable Armor, Turrets AID Ma
chinery-Hsr Magazine and Shell
Rooms, &C., Sc.
In tho OF few days the iron clad frgste
Roanoke which destined 70 protect the harbor Of New
York from the attacks Of all enemies, either domestic
foreign will DO finally ready for SERVICE and in Wow OF
the very deep interest which ID taken In nor successful
completion. short sketch OF her progress up 70 the
present time viii certainly be deemed acceptable By
readers. This immense battery lies at present .. the
Navy Yard fitting OUT It is said, for short cruise
Before proceeding TO give detailed description OF the
oanoks the carly history Of the vessel is proper to DO
rccounted:-
The Roanoke Of the Ave steam fgates built In
1885, consisting q tho Niagara, Wabash, Minnesota Colo
RADIO and Roapoke A aha atands she the ahp
In the navy Her first cost $500 ooo and after few
months service flagship the Home Squadron she
repaired cost Of $500 600 Some time aer that, amer
e service. she again 10 New York. and was put
In good shape again at cost Of about s<o oo Her last
service was In bringing the Japanese from Aspn-
wall IL WINS found after her operations in Hamp.
toa Roads that would require about 500 900 70