The New York herald., 1877-02-15

OUR RUINOUS DEFENCES.

Secretary Cameron, head OF the War Department,
accompanied by strong party of distinguished gen.
erals scientific officers, their wives and friends. went
down the Bay yesterday to make an inspection Of
the harbor defences Among those who participated
in this pleasant excursion were General Sherman,
General Hancock and stan General John Newton, Gen
eral j. u. Fry, Colonel Audcnried OF General Shcr-
mans stan, Assistant Quartcrmaster General Saw
tce, Lieutenant Colonel Frederick Grant and others.
few invited guests and number OF ladies also
there. Among the latter Mrs. Frederick Grant.
Senator Sherman was also OF the party
The party boarded tho government steamer Henry
Smith, Captain Balsey at the loot Of Twenty fourth
street. North River, and by halpast ten O'Clock
bowling down stream mt good rate The points visited
Fort Columbus, Bcdloc's Island, Fort Hamilton,
Sandy Hook anu Fort Wadsworth
Al Fort Columbus Secretary Cameron and the mill
tary magnates who accompanied him saw a circular
casematcd work, whose walls would shake the
rcvctmcnts II heavy piece OF modern siege artillery
were discharged within the compass OF its pcrimcter
There embrasures whose cheeks, II used IN a
heavy cannonadc. would open like the jaws OF death
bmis OF small csiibrc, capable OF throwing
nothing more formidable than spherical
shot from smooth bored gun. were at thus
point the only obstacle TO an encmy's entering the
harbor and shclling Now York, Brooklyn or Jersey
CITY, as long as. hc might wish Bedolc's Island,
woich 10 naturally Intended rs good nankng support
to Fort Columbus, Is neither armed nor fortified in
way that would prevent the smallest war sloop now
In from clearing ITS parapcts Of both men and
with lew well directed rounds Al Fort Hamilton,
the tracings OF fine work were viewed; but II Is
wholly ont repair and not prepared In any degree
to resist the shock OF artillery such AS used In our
day. The earth works which cover Its scaward flank
are the only redceming feature 1t possesses here,
indeed " the barbctie batteries we're properly armed
with heavy rned guns, New York would have "A
able work but, Ike the other forts. II is provided
with useless smooth bore pieces. The twenty inch
Coumbad showed that our urtl criss are capable of
founding successfully guns tha, can carry a
hall ton shot with velocity OF at least
l200 feet per second, and II ouly needs the
application OF good system OF rling to make them
truly formidable weapon Fort Wadsworth is the
most formidable fortress the harDor IL has all tho
Ines In common with everything else In the depart
ment CT harbor dcenccs, u Is falling TO rum tor
of proper garrison and appropriations to 1nish tho
work as 1t was FIRST intended The Insignificant mum.
Der of troops that quartcrcd Ia thls tho hor
entirely small To be OF any practical
use preserving tho places from gong slowly but
surely to ruins There are only two remedies
evil cthor TO largely increase the strength OF the
regular or let the National Guard take chargo
the harbor forts.
AZ Sandy Hook fort, another strong place on which
sums OF public money have been spent Just lot
sink into the earth, tho party Witnessed three cxper
mental shots from an cight-inch RHO gun at u target
placed milo OIL The practices was exceedingly good
and the velocity, as shown by the electro Dalnsiic
machine was over 400 feet per second. Iotchkiss
revolving cannon also tried with satisfactory
results The troops turned out under receive
tho Secretary OF War aud the General NJ tho
army, salutug at different points with the customary
number oil guns The party returned TO the city at
half-past seven O'Clock.
To-day the party will visit Willctt's Point Fort
Schuyler, and there be leisure tho Navy Yard where
retary Cameron and friends will return TO Washington
tomorrow.