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the left gun being able to bear also on the firm ground to the north-west. The gorge to be closed by Appendix No. 4. a defensible wall, which would form the right flank of the line to be occupied for land defence.
25. South-east Battery.-The "proposed armament of five 10-inch rifled muzzle-loading guns (three shielded, two barbette), with two 64-pounders, is suitable and sufficient. The 64-pounders are recommended to be on the right flank so as to bear on the shallow ground to the west. The gorge to be closed by a defensible wall.
This battery should be placed in front of the existing private coal depôt, otherwise the flanking fire might be interfered with.
22
Land Defences.
26. As stated in the War Office Memorandum, a land attack is most improbable. With the north-east coast-line defended by the north-east battery, and the river side of the island defended by the south-east battery, an advance on the town can only take place from the west, and in that case only along the narrow belt of ground which borders the swamp. The ground here termed "swamp is not of deep mud, as is ordinarily the case, but consists of sand, covered at high tides with water, and, to a great extent, occupied densely with low mangrove trees, which latter are practically impassable. Here and there are creeks (most of them unknown and unexplored) where the water is deeper, but the sandy bottom affords a firm footing to men, who are only prevented crossing the swamp by the vegetation.
27. On a site such as that under consideration, which is perfectly level and thickly wooded with low trees or big bushes, it is impossible to see far, and the gain of a few feet in height gives great advantage to the defence.
Ordinary parapets and ditches for permanent defence are inadmissible, owing to the soil being pure (or, rather, impure) sand; the parapets would soon literally be blown away.
But temporary defences could be most easily formed, owing to the facility of excavation, and the unlimited supply of mangrove brushwood, which could be utilized for rough hurdle work to support slopes.
28. With these conditions in view, it is recommended that two defensible barracks, each for about twenty-five men, be constructed across the island on a line, having the north-east battery a little in advance of the right flank. The length of the entire line is about 1,000 yards.
Each barrack to have one floor only, which should be raised 6 feet above the ground-level, and the roof to be flat, with a parapet-wall for musketry 4 feet in height.
Windows on the front and sides to be provided with loop-holed iron shutters. When occupied for defence, fifty men could be placed, if requisite, in each block.
A belt of ground, say 100 yards broad, should be kept permanently clear.
29. When hostilities occur, and a war garrison is sent, the cleared belt to be extended, and the materials used for revetting breastworks to be then constructed in front of the defensible barracks, and supported by them and the north-east battery.
Emplacements for light guns in advance towards Oyster Creek, and other details of temporary defences, would at the same time be made.
The cost of the defensible barracks is included under the head of "Barracks."
Garrison required.
30. The limited extent of ground in the Settlement, and the ease with which men can be moved along the level, seem to justify a considerable reduction in the infantry force named in the War Office Memorandum; a total of 600 infantry is considered sufficient.
The numbers proposed for Artillery and Engineers will not bear reduction.
The war garrison recommended for Bathurst will therefore be-
Infantry Artillery Engineers
Total
Men.
600
200
10
810
No assistance is to be expected from local levies, as stated in the letter of the Colonial Secretary,* Sierra Leone, attached to my Report on that place.
Barracks.
31. As the existing barracks will hold 200 men, it will be necessary, if the entire garrison is to be lodged in permanent barracks, to provide extra accommodation for (say) 600 men, which will include the defensible barracks referred to in paragraph 28.
The only available site is, as stated in paragraph 7, on the north-east shore, between the Colonial Hospital and the north-east battery. The objections even to this, the best site, are stated in that paragraph.
Field-Guns.
32. The battery of light field-guns proposed in the War Office Memorandum for general service is most desirable.
Summary.
33, The following is a summary of the proposals now submitted, together with a statement of the approximate cost :-
GAMBIA.
[1103]
* Inclosure 2 in No. 5.
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