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will supply the garrisons needed; and it may be shown that it is a service to which militia are better adapted than to any other. The prominent defect of a militia force results from the impossibility of so training the men to field movements in the brief period of their service, as to give them any confidence in themselves as manœuvrers in the face of regular troops. The little they learn merely suffices to show them that it is but little; every attempt of the kind proving, by the disorders that they know not how to avoid, how much greater would be the disorder if in the face of an enemy and under fire.

Without the knowledge to be obtained only by long and laborious practice, the militiaman feels that he is no match, in the field, for the regular soldier, and it would not be surprising should he desire to avoid an encounter. But there is no such difficulty in the service of fixed batteries; the militiaman has there to be taught merely the service of a single gun, than which nothing can be more simple. He must learn to use the rammer and the sponge, the handspike and the linstock; to load and to run to battery, to trail and to fire; these are all. Each of these operations is of the utmost simplicity, depending on individual action and not on concert, and they may all be taught in a very short time. There is no manoeuvring, no marching, no wheeling. The squad of one gun may be marched to another, but the service of both is the same. Even the art of pointing cannon is to an American militiaman an art of easy attainment, from the skill that all our countrymen acquire in the use of fire-arms, "drawing sight" or "aiming" being the same art, modified only by the difference in the gun.

The mode of applying this force may be illustrated by the case of any of our cities on the seaboard, The forts and batteries being put in perfect condition, should be garrisoned by a small body of regular artillery, such as a moderate military force could supply, and sufficient for the preservation of the public property, and to afford indispensable daily guards. To these should be added two or three men of the ordnance department, especially charged with the condition of the armament and ammunition, and two or three engineer soldiers, whose sole duty it would be to attend to the condition of the fortifications, keeping every part in a state of perfect repair. In certain important works, however, that would be liable to a violent assault, or exposed to siege, or to analogous operations, it would be necessary, especially on the approach of a war, to keep up a more considerable body of regular troops. The volunteer force of the city should then be divided into detachments, if possible, without disturbing their company organization, and should be assigned to the several works according to the war garrisons required at each-from four to six men, according to circumstances, being allowed to each gun. The larger works might require ten, fifteen, or even twenty companies; the smaller ones, two, three, or more companies; and in some cases even a platoon might suffice. Being thus occupied, each portion of the city force would have its definite alarm post, and should be often taken to it and there exercised in all the duties of its garrison, and more especially in the service of its batteries, and in its defence against assault. The multiplicity of steamboats in all the cities would enable the volunteers to reach even the most distant alarm posts in a short time. In order that all these troops may become expert in their duty, one of the works most convenient to the city, beside being the alarm post of some particular portion of the volunteers, should, during peace, be the ordinary school of drill for all; and in this the detachments should in turns assemble and exercise.

Beside the mere manual of the gun and battery, there should be frequent target practice, as being not only necessary in teaching the proper use of the battery, but as imparting interest and excitement to the service.

It might be necessary for a time to submit the volunteers to the drill of a competent officer or non-commissioned officer of the regular artillery; and in particular, to conduct the practice with shot and shells under such inspection.

The portion of the military force of the city not stationed in the fixed batteries would constitute, under an impending attack, a reserve posted either in one or several bodies, according to circumstances, ready to cover exposed points, to co-operate in offensive movements, or to relieve exhausted garrisons: this portion having connected with it the mounted force, the field artillery, and the heavy movable guns.

This appropriation of the volunteer force to the immediate defence of the city would operate in the most favorable way upon that force, superadding to the impulses of patriotism every feeling connected with family property and social and civil relations; and, while making military service the first of duties, relieving it of hardship and privation.

The organization of volunteer force here contemplated may comprehend the whole maritime frontier, and be applicable, also, at the more populous points upon the inland borders.

This arrangement, while it might be an enduring one, would be the least expensive by far of any that would be efficient.

The days of exercise drill and encampment should be fixed and invariable, in order that they may the less interfere with the private occupations of the volunteers. During an impending attack, greater or less portions should be constantly at their posts; but still the service in the batteries would comprise but a very small portion of the year.

According to the value of the interests to be defended, and the extent of the works to be occupied, would be the rank of the chief command, which should be intrusted to an officer of the regular army, whose control might often be extended, advantageously, over a certain extent of seaboard to the right and left, constituting a maritime department.

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The existing fortifications of the sea-coast-including a few useless remains of the revolutionary works, are due to three distinct epochs, namely: 1. Those that grow out of the political agitations attending the French revolution of 1789, and the wars consequent thereon. As all the principal harbors had to be tected at once, the contracted fiscal means of the country required that the works should be small, and they were also generally of a temporary character; but they proved sufficient. France, then a weak naval power, was moreover fully occupied at home, and in pressing her continental campaign.

2. On the approach of the war of 1812, the obvious inadequacy of existing forts led to large appropriations for fortifications, so that when the war broke out there was not a town of any magnitude upon the coast not provided with one or more batteries. Every place within the reach of an enemy's marauding expeditions called for this kind of protection; and there is no doubt that the defences supplied saved the country from great losses. These defences of the second system were also small and weak, and, being built for the sake of present economy, of cheap materials and workmanship, were very perishable. The government, aware of this weakness, called out to their support, during the war, vast bodies of militia at enormous expense-covering these troops with extensive lines of field-works.

3. The war with England being over, the government promptly entered upon a permanent system of coast defence, and to that end constituted a board of engineers, with instructions to make examinations and plans, subject to the revision of the chief engineer, and the sanction of the Secretary of War. And it is this, the third system, that has been ever since 1816 in the course of execution, and is now, as we shall see, well advanced.

Whenever the examinations of the board of engineers included positions for dock yards, naval depots, &c., naval officers of rank and experience were associated with them.

The board devoted several years uninterruptedly to the duty-presenting successive reports, and submitting, first, plans of the fortifications needed at the

most important points. Afterward, they were sufficiently in advance of the execution of the system to apply most of their time to the duties of construction, giving in occasionally additional reports and plans. In rare cases it has happened that plans have been made under the particular direction of the chief engineer, owing to the difficulty, at moments, of drawing the widely dispersed members of the board from their individual trusts.

The board and the chief engineer arranged the defences into classes, according to their view of the relative importance of the proposed works, in the order of time. This order has been generally well observed in the execution of the system, with the exception of some cases in which, by the action of Congress, certain forts were advanced out of the order advised by the board.

For many years grants for fortifications were made, annually, by Congress in a gross sum, which was apportioned according to the discretion of the President. But since March 3, 1821, the appropriations have been specific, the grants for each work being particularly stated. For many years every new fortification has, before being made the object of appropriations, been sanctioned by a special act of Congress upon recommendation of the military committee.

The classes are as follows, giving now merely the names of forts and places: the cost, armament, &c., of the several works executed or projected will be given at the end in proper tables.

Class A includes certain old works of the first and second systems. Some of these are already repaired, some undergoing repairs, and some subject to repair, should a war impend before better works shall have been substituted.

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Eastport, Maine.
Wiscasset, Maine.
. Portland, Maine.
. Portland, Maine.

Portsmouth, New Hampshire.
.Portsmouth, New Hampshire.
Gloucester, Massachusetts.
Salem, Massachusetts.
Salem, Massachusetts.
Marblehead, Massachusetts.
Boston harbor, Massachusetts.
Boston harbor, Massachusetts.
Governor's Island, Massachusetts.
Governor's Island, Massachusetts.
New Bedford, Massachusetts.
Newport, Rhode Island.
Newport, Rhode Island.
New London, Connecticut.
New Haven, Connecticut.
.Governor's Island, New York.
.Governor's Island, New York.
.Governor's Island, New York.
Ellis's Island, New York.
Bedlow's Island, New York.
Staten Island, New York.
Staten Island, New York.
Staten Island, New York.
Staten Island, New York.
Narrows, New York harbor.

Delaware river, Pennsylvania.
..Baltimore harbor, Maryland.
...Annapolis, Maryland.

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Class B includes new works (third system) completed, or so nearly completed as to be able to use all or nearly all their batteries, viz:

Fort Warren..

Adams

Schuyler.

Hamilton

Monroe

Macon.

Caswell

Pulaski.

Pickens.

McRee

Morgan

Pike

. Boston harbor, Massachusetts.
Newport, Rhode Island.

.Throg's Neck, New York harbor.
New York harbor, New York.
Old Point Comfort, Virginia.
. Beaufort, North Carolina.
Oak Island, North Carolina.
. Cockspur Island, Georgia.
.Pensacola, Florida.
.Foster's Bank, Florida.
Mobile Point, Alabama.
.Rigolets, Louisiana.

Macomb (formerly Wood).......Chef Menteur, Louisiana.
Battery Bienvenue, Bayou Bienvenue, Louisiana.

Tower Dupré, Bayou Dupré, Louisiana.

Fort Jackson

Livingston

Mississippi river, Louisiana.
Barrataria bay, Louisiana.

Class C includes works now under construction, and more or less advanced, viz:

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Class D includes works, the first to be commenced, arranged in geographical

order, viz

Fort at mouth of Kennebec river, and Fort Scammel, (new,) Portland harbor Maine.

Fort

(new,) Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

Fort Pickering, (new,) Salem; Fort , (new,) Jack's Point, Marblehead; works at Provincetown, and New Bedford, Massachusetts. Fort on Rose island, Narraganset roads, Rhode Island.

Fort on Sandy Hook Point, New York.

Fort on Thomas's Point, Patuxent river, Maryland.

Fort at Proctor's Landing, Louisiana.

Works at Galveston bay, and Brazos Santiago, Texas.

Class E includes works to be commenced after those in Class D, in geographical order, viz:

New Fort Preble, Portland harbor, Maine.

Works at Gloucester; Closing Broad Sound Pass, Boston harbor; works at Gurnet Point, Plymouth, Massachusetts.

Works at Cedar Point, Potomac river, Maryland.

Works at Georgetown, and in Port Royal roads, South Carolina.
Works on Tybee island, Savannah river, Georgia.

Tower at Pass au Heron, Alabama.

Fort at Ship island, Mississippi.

Works at Passa Cavallo, Matagorda bay, Texas.

Class F includes works to be commenced last of all, also in geographical order, viz:

Works at Eastport harbor, Machias, Mount Desert island, Castine, St. George's bay, Damariscotta bay, Broad bay, Sheepscot bay, Hog Island channel, (Portland harbor,) mouth of Saco river, mouth of Kennebunk river, York, Maine.

Works at Newburyport, Beverly, Naugus Head, (Salem,) Fort Sewall, (Marblehead,) Nantasket Head, (Boston harbor,) redoubt on Hog island, (Boston harbor,) Nantucket, Edgartown, Falmouth, Holmes's Hole, Tarpaulin Cove, Massachusetts.

Works at Conanicut island, and works closing west passage of Narraganset roads, Rhode Island.

Fort Griswold, (New London,) works at mouth of Connecticut river, Fort Hale and Fort Wooster, (New Haven,) Connecticut.

Works for harbors and towns between New Haven and New York; works in Gardiner's bay, Long Island sound; works in Sag Harbor; fort on Wilkins's Point, Long Island; redoubt in advance of Fort Tompkins, Staten island, New York.

Fort at Delaware breakwater, Lewes; fort opposite Fort Delaware, Delaware river, Delaware.

Fort on Elk river; works on Hawkins's Point, below Baltimore; fort on Point Patience, Patuxent river; works at St. Mary's, Potomac river, Maryland. Works at Bald Head and Federal Point, Cape Fear river, North Carolina. Works at mouth of Santee river, Bull's bay and other inlets, Stono sound, North Edisto sound, South Edisto sound, St. Helena sound, South Carolina. Works at Wassaw sound, Ossabam sound, St. Catherine's sound, Sapelo sound, Doley inlet, Altamaha sound, St. Simon's sound, St. Andrew's sound, Georgia.

Works at Charlotte harbor, Tampa bay, Apalachicola bay, Apalachie bay, St. Joseph's bay, Santa Rosa bay, Florida.

Works at Perdido bay, Alabama.

Being arranged in the preceding classes, on the principles before stated, it will be seen that those places which are deemed to be least important in the system, and which may be postponed till all others are executed, constitute by far the most numerous class. Within this class (F) there are, no doubt, great differences as to the claim for defences, and in the course of years likely to elapse before any of them can be taken in hand, several may rise in the scale of relative importance.

There are also in class E differences of the same sort, and it is not unlikely

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