Chapter IX.

The application of the American system of fortification to the defence of New York is presented in this chapter. It is aimed to derive the greatest possible benefit from the existing channel fortifications in masonry, at the Narrows and east river, giving the additional strength they require to perfectly command the water avenues to the city, by means of earth batteries; giving a superabundant security to these arrangements by means of torpedo channel-defences; and to protect the combined triple channel-defences from being attacked in rear by such forces as an enemy might debark on Long Island, and to preclude the possibility of the remaining contingency of such forces avoiding the channel-defences, and marching direct on Brooklyn, a system of intrenched earthwork lines, combined intimately with and comprehending all the defences above mentioned, is proposed to encompass that city.

II.

On the south, on Staten Island, Fort Richmond and Batteries Hudson and Morton, together with the new fort above the former, and that on Sandy Hook, would, if complete and armed, together with the two forts opposite, carry 675 heavy guns, and 876 guns of all kinds.*

I should propose that the beach running southwest below Fort Richmond should be armed with an earth battery. The two batteries above specified should be joined and placed in defensive relations with the new forts on the site of Fort Tompkins by an earthwork that would prevent an enemy that might land on Staten Island from attacking them on their now unprotected rear.

I should object to the further construction of the masonry fort on the site of Old Fort Tompkins. An earthwork, properly combined with the batteries above mentioned, would answer all the purposes of preventing an enemy's force, landed, as supposed, from occupying that point, and from it forcing down into the interior of Fort Richmond, at the foot of the hill.

On the east side of the Narrows I should propose (according to the

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* It may seem extraordinary caution to recommend additional batteries at a point apparently so bountifully fortified. The entrance to Sevastopol harbor itself was defended (in addition to the boom) by not more than 310 guns; the whole of the armament of both the channel forts at the entrance, which carried that number, and the interior forts which commanded the harbor proper, amounted to less than 600 guns. The fortress of Cronstadt itself mounted in all its forts and batteries, according to "Collins' Plan of Cronstadt, from government documents," not quite 580. I admit that the amassing at a single point of attack, such as the Narrows, of nearly as great an armament as that contained in all the works of each of the formidable strongholds in question seems to be sufficient, without recommending more. But it must be recollected that such armament is placed in masonry works, on whose endurance under the rifle-cannon firing of floating batteries, gun-boats, and steel-plated frigates is, to say the least, questionable. It is to provide against the possibility of their being breached, or silenced by such means of attack, that their being reinforced by earthworks is recommended.

N.B.— For comparative statement of strength of New York and foreign military sea-ports; see Appendix, Tables Nos. 1,4,5,6, and 7.

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