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Defending Fortress Monroe, the unreasonable size of which is confessed, the Specialist remarks:- "The mistake is one relating to magnitude, however, not to strength. The railroad coming down to Norfolk Navy Yard might unquestionably render service in bringing forward troops, and useful reinforcements might arrive rapidly in the steamers of James River, but we have seen that without the defences at the mouth of the roads there would be no time nor opportunity for any such force to arrive, or to act when arrived.
"The enemy would proceed from sea directly upon his object, and need not necessarily lose a tide or land a man. If a sudden attack with a large squadron of steamers is to be repelled, it will not be by crowds of volunteers rushing in from the country with rifles and muskets on their shoulders, but by fortifications of some sort, or by naval means; and if by the latter, by a force not materially less than the enemy's."
The Financier says:—
"Fort Monroe covers 63 acres of ground; its full armament consists of 412 pieces. I understand it is probably larger than almost any single works in Europe which do not inclose towns; its object, with Fort Calhoun, intended to mount 232 guns, is to prevent an enemy from entering Hampton Roads, a safe and convenient roadstead. But these works do not command the entrance to the Chesapeake, nor is Hampton Roads the only safe anchorage for a hostile fleet.
And all
this when Lyynhaven Bay, York Bay, the Rappahannock, Tangier Island, the mouth of the Potomac, and many other places furnish secure anchorage; positions from which an enemy having the superiority could not be excluded," &c.
These arguments are now rendered even more forcible by the increased value of undefended places which have sprung up all along the coast.
The Engineer schemes have not asked for more forts for Virginia than at present exist, in an imperfect condition.
Upon the harbours of this coast have been expended from public funds 1,320,000 dollars, chiefly on the Appomattox and James Rivers, Norfolk Harbour, and the Rappahannock in the interior.
We have referred to the great Kanawha River and canal, not included in this estimate.
Appendix No. 9.
UNITED STATES.
Communications
The Virginian littoral may be classed as moderately to thinly populated, and from well-off to poor. supra. Sailors, 2,489; fishermen, 48; raftsmen, 410; shipwrights, 400.
Old census, 1,225,000; new, 1,512,000.
Organized militia, 2,635; unorganized, 215,000.
Actual forts :-
area.
Fort Monroe, Old Point Comfort. This extensive work, covering 86 acres, and 12 miles 63 above. The
round, occupies an important position, covering, in co-operation with Fort Wool on numbers are quoted the opposite side of the channel, the only approach from the sea to Hampton Roads, verbatim; 86 is the cities of Norfolk and Portsmouth, Virginia, and Gosport Navy Yard, and James probably the correct River. These works also, in offering a safe rendezvous for vessels of war, afford indirect protection to Baltimore, Annapolis, and Washington, and all the harbours and towns of the Chesapeake Bay and Potomac River. Modification amounting to transformation required; the work has been suspended for several years past for want of funds.
Fort Wool (formerly Calhoun), opposite Monroe. Proposed to mount heaviest rifled guns; protected by impenetrable armour; will require several years. Funds urgently required.
Value of stores: Norfolk, 7,847,000 dollars; hospital and marine barracks, 1,000,000 dollars. Washington thinks the Chesapeake should be again, as in 1813, the head-quarters of the Com- mander-in-chief of English fleet (p. 5).
State of Maryland.
The Engineers have wished to make as many as eleven fortified positions on this littoral.
The expenditure on Maryland harbours has been, from Federal funds, 1,445,000 dollars; but no less than 1,170,000 dollars has been on Baltimore.
The eastern shore of the Chesapeake inlet may be classed as thinly populated and poor, but the west as moderately or thickly populated, and well off or rich.
Sailors, 5,900; fishermen, 1,569; raftsmen, 91; shipwrights, 997.
Old census, 780,000; new, 935,000.
Organized militia, 1,245; unorganized, 89,000.
Actual forts:-
Defences of Baltimore-
Fort McHenry, Inner line defence, commands inner waters and channel of approach, in which 24 feet at low water. Original fort almost useless; modifications
suspended for want of funds since 1876.
Fort Carrol. Exterior line of defence; proposed to modify for heaviest modern guns. Indispensable to defence of rich city in time of war. Will require several years; funds urgently required.
Defences of Washington-
Fort Foote, Potomac River. Defence of channel of approach by water to Alexandria and Washington. Site, commanding and very favourable; planned for heaviest modern guns; suspended since 1874, for want of funds. In unfinished condition, daily deteriorating. The obstructions for the Potomac are in store at this fort. The timber portion is much decayed, and is rapidly becoming worthless; the irons are in good condition.
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