The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-08-06
OUR FORTIFICATIONS.
The Character and Armament of the
Defenses on the Gulf Coast.
An Almost Unprotected Line in Case
Of Foreign War.
The Recommendations Of the Engineers as
to the Requirements Of the Differ
ent Forts s-Work that Should
be Commenced at Once.
TSpecjal TO The Democrat ]


WASHINGTON, Aug. 5.-There are few per-
sons in this country, with the exception of
military men and sailors, who are aware of
the almost utterly defenseless condition of
our Gulf coast in the event of a foreign war
with even third-rate maritime power. This
is matter Of deep interest to all OF the
American people-it is a serious matter, and
should be thoroughly understood by every
one who takes pride or interest in the honor
Of his country and the safety OF the common
wealth.
It Is believed that plain statement Of the
facts in the case will present this subject in
the most practical light to the public, and
best subserve the object Of this article, which
is to impress upon the people the danger
In fact the certainty-of tremendous losses
In life and property, should we become in
yolved In war before the forts on the gulf
coast receive ornaments capable Of coping
with those that will be brought against them
by the foreign power or powers with whom
we may be involved.
NEW ORLEANS.
This great commercial city OF the South, a
city which has brilliant future before it, is
defended on the south by Forts jackson and
st. Philip, located on the right and left banks
respectively OF the Mississippi river, about
one hundred miles below the city.
These forts are naturally very strong, and
with proper armament they, with the assis-
tance Of torpedoes, are capable of holding the
passage of the river against the fleets of the
world. But armed as they are now, with
smooth bores and rifles of small calibre, 1t
will be an easy matter for modern iron OF
steel clad vessels to force their way by them
The officers Of the Engineer and Ordnance
Corps have done all that men could do with
the limited appropriation allowed by Con
gress to put these works in proper state Of
defense. The engineers have worked jealous
~ to improve the construction of the forts,
and the ordnance officers have furnished the
best guns they could provide with the money
allowed them for construction.
Among these are the fifteeninch Rodman
smooth bored guns, carrying q projectile
weighing $50 pounds-excellent guns, at the
time they were built, for battering or racking
vessel.
The Chief Of Engineers, in his last tabu-
lated report OF the armament OF the fortifica-
tions, states that works will probably be
ready by June 80, 1877 for twenty twelve
inch rined guns at Fort st. Philip; also for
nine ten-inch rifles at each OF the forts
Works will soon be ready for sixteen ten-inch
rifles and ten flank defense howitzers at Fort
jackson. The entire number of twelve-inch
guns required at Fort jackson is thirty-four,
and at Fort st. Philip twenty-nine, ITO fully
arm each work when completed in accord-
ance with notifications approved by the Sec
retary of War"
The armaments, therefore, Of these two
forts, when completed in accordance with the
above approval OF the War Secretary, will be
as follows:
Mz= 12-inch 1o-irch s-inch Flank
Rifles. Rifles. Rifles. How.
Fort j Jackson ---.--- 81 9 Ii 10
Fort St. st Philip % 8
Be it remembered that the above table
merely represents the proposed armaments
when money is appropriated to make tie
rifles modestly suggested by the engineers
At the present rate Of appruprihting money
for Notifications it may be years before these
rifles can be supplied, and in the meantime
the enemy may be upon ns and destroy in d
lew hours property OF sufficient value to arm
AL the forts in the country. Some non-mili-
tary spectators imagine hat the torpedo can
oil Itself do all the work when the proper time
comes. All military men know that the tor
pedo assists the gun and that the gun pro-
tects the torpedo.
The fort is the place where the operator,
with his delicate scientific iicapparatuS securely
housed, can, with almost absolute certainty,
explode his torpedo whenever it can do most
damage to the enemy. Without the protec-
ton Of the gun, a landing pa ty would, in ad-
vance OF the vessel, SOON disturb the plans OF
the operator
New Orleans may be approached on the
east through the Rigoiets and Lake Pont-
chartrain, and OF this there l. danger If Ship
Island be invested. The chief Of engineers
recommends seven 10-inch rifles thirteen
8-inch rifles Tor 1214-nch ritlrs) and eight
flank howitzers for Fort Pike. Its total
armament now consists of eight old howitz-
ers, which have been there for about fifty
Years, and so eaten with rust are they
(being neglected on account OF being con
demned) that ii any man were bold enough to
lire one OF them Off, he would receive more in-
jury than the enemy. In fact, If all Of them
We're to be fired at once they would scarcely
disturb the cranes and alllgators in the adj
lacent swamps. ldenticaly he same recon-
mendation is made for Fori Macnmb, at Pass
Chef Menteur, and it also has eight old 1evolu-
tionary flank defense huwnzers iii 1t which
for the past half century have been charged
only with the ordure OF owls and bats, who
doubtless retire into them by day to r. fleet on
what fine and safe country this Is.
", Eleven ten-inch rifles are recommended by
the engineer for Fort Livingston, Baratarla,
La. This fort is also blessed with the same
number eight Of historic bat-iraps. yclept
Hank defense nowitzers, utterly worthless
and not lit to be fired single round.
Such, in short, is the couditiun of the de-
lenses (2 OF New Orleans. 1t is a national
Disgrace, and for Heavens sake let 1t be REM
euled as soon as possible.
SHIP ISLAND. @=Mrm1@.m"
We came very Lear to q fight with Spain
Just after the Viiginius affair-Inuch nearer
Than the great mass Of the people had any
laea Of. 1t would have been a very popular
light along the gulf coast, aud thousands Of
Men there were aching for it.. All, however, |
of the seafariDg people and the people who
ilved near our defenseless fortitications were
keenly alive to our depiorable condition in
regard to suitable guns for contest with IRON
clads. Everybody wanted to fight and the
tocsin OF war would have been welcomed along |
The entire coast: but everybody sighed that
We We're so lily prepared IN cope with even
Such y,nxror nain Thav ynncfAd IN net \