The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-02-20
DEPENcEs OF new york HAnBon.
Most Of the Forts in RuinOus C0ndttiOn
and Poorly Armed-Wherc is All the
Money Gomez


Most Of the Forts in Ruinous Condition
ma NIP. Poorly s Armed Where is All the
New York Hersld.l
Secretary Cameron, head OF the War
Department, accompanied by strong
party OF distinguished generals, scien-
title officers, their wives and friends,
went down the bay yesterday to make
an inspection of the harbor defences.
Am ong those who participated In this
pleasant excursion were Gen. Sherman,
Gen. Hancock and staff, Gen. John
Newton. Gen. J. B. Fry, Col. Audenried,
of Gen. Sherman's staff, Assistant
Quartermaster General sawtelle, Lieut..
Col. Frederick Grant and others. A
few. invited guests and q number OF
ladies were also there. Among the
latter was Mrs. Frederick Grant. SEN
ator Sherman was also Of the party.
The party boarded the government
steamer Henry Smith, Captain Balsey,
at the foot of Twenty-fourth street,
North River, and by half-past ten
o'clock were bowling down stream at a
good rate. The points visited were Fort
Columbus, Bedloe's Island, Fort Ham
ilton, Sandy Hook and Fort Wadswerth.
At Fort Columbus Secretary Cameron
and the military magnates who accom-
pHhAEa haLA DOW SALSGtttL StSSIubtGd
work, whose walls would shake even to
the revetments IL a heavy piece of mod
ern. siege artillery were discharged
within the compass OF its peri
meter. There were embrasures
whose cheeks, IL used in q.
heavy cannonade, would open like the
jaws OF death and expose The gunners
to certain destruction. Columbiads of
small calibre, capable Of throwing
nothing more formidable than spheri-
cal shot from smooth bored gun, were
at this poiat the only obstacle to an en-
emy's entering the harbor and Smelling
long as he might wish. Bedole's Island,
which is naturally intended as good
thanking support to Fort Columbus,
is neither armed nor fortified in
way that would prevent the small
est war sloop now in use from clear
ing its parapets OF both men and guns
with q few well.directed rounds. AT
Fort Hamilton the tracings Of q fine
work were viewed; but it Is wholly out
OF repair, and not prepared ia any de-
gree to risk the shock Of artillery such
as Is used In our day. The earth works
which cover its seward flank are the
only redeeming feature it possesses.
Here, indeed, II the barbette batteries
were properly armed with heavy rifled
guns, New York would have service
able work; but, like the other forts, it
is provided with useless smooth bore
pieces. The twenty-inch Columbiads
showed that our artillerists are capable
OF founding successfully guns that can
carry half ton shot with q velocity OF
at least 1900 feet per second, and
1t only needs the application Of a
good system of ritiing to make them a
fpeal II a h In -ri IL
worth Is the most formidable fortress in
the harbor. 1t has all the advantages
Of good position and remarkably fine
lines. In common with everything else
in the department Of harbor defen ces,
1t is falling to ruin for want OF proper
garrison and appropriations to finish
the work as 1t was first intended. The
insignificant number of troops that are
quartered in this and the other for
tresses are entirely too small to be of
any practical use in preserving the
places from going slowly but surely to
ruins. There are only two remedies for
strength OF the regular army or let the
National Guard take charge of the
harbor forts.
AT Sandy Hook fort, another strong
place on which large sums Of public
money have been spent just to let it |
sink into the earth. the party witnessed
three experimental shots from an eight
inch rifle gun at a target placed mile
off. The practice was exceedingly good,
and the velocity, as shown by the cleo
tro-b allistic machine, was over 400 feet
per second. A Hotchkiss revolving can
non was also tried with satisfactory
results. The troops turned out under
arms to receive the Secretary of War
and the General commanding the army,
saluting at different points with the
customary number Of guns. The party
returned to the city at half-past 7
o'clock.
HIT HAM AGAIN