T
46.
1. It would extend the defence beyond the powers of the small body of men that would be available. It is 11 miles from Victoria by land.
2. Such a battery would be liable to be taken in reverse by an enemy from Sooke Harbour advancing along the road and across Sangster's Plains.
3. The height being 250 feet, extreme depression 7 degrees, gives range of 600 yards, inside which a vessel would be secure from its fire. Supposing the battery were with- drawn 300 yards from the shore, the water is deep enough to allow a vessel running along 300 yards from the shore.
Torpedoes.--The presence of the Royal Navy would render, the storage at the dockyard of materials for a torpedo system a natural precaution, while the laying them down in time of war would naturally form part of their duty. Their manipulation might be left to the proposed garrison of marine artillery.
と A system of telegraphic signals from Albert Head round the coast to soutli and east of Victoria could easily be established and maintained by the above-mentioned garrison.
With regard to the temporary works constructed by Lieutenant-Colonel Irwin, Inspector of Artillery, taking into account the small sum of money and the inadequate means at his disposal, I am of opinion that they could not have been better devised or executed, with the exception of some trifling details of no great importance. A battery on Holland Point would have commanded more effectually the entrance to Victoria Harbour, but Lieutenant-Colonel Irwin was directed not to occupy that site on account of the sum of money demanded for its purchase. A battery on Holland Point for a couple of 7-inch 64-ton guns is therefore necessary to protect the mouth of Victoria Harbour by a cross fire with Macaulay Point. Victoria Point Battery does not entirely command the entrance to Victoria Harbour, the fire of the right gun is masked by points of land running out and by intervening woods. It would be desirable to render the present works permanent by revetting the interior slopes of the gun portions in stone or brick, while the other slopes could adequately be secured by upright cedar stockade revetment.
It has been previously pointed out that the present batteries at Finlayson and Victoria Point can be taken in reverse by attacks from boats landing in Cordova and other bays to the eastward. A central keep, with a couple of Moncrieff pits on Beacon Hill, would have a considerable sweep to seaward, and would also command the gorges of the above-mentioned batteries, as well as one that might be erected on Holland Point; but the expense of such an undertaking would not perhaps be commensurate with the results gained, nor with the probable strength of garrison available. Moncrieff pits, if constructed on Beacon and Signal Hills respectively, would require in great measure to be blasted out of the rock, but the cost of revetment would be saved and the protection of the gun, carriage, and stores from weather or depredation would be complete by covering with a shingle root. Such temporary shelter would be easily removed for service, and need not interfere with gun-practice. In lieu of erecting a central keep on Beacon Hill, I would recommend closing the gorges of Macaulay, Finlayson, and Victoria Point Batteries with stockades. A portion of the wood which grows thickly up to the gorge of Finlayson battery would have to be cleared away. Estimates for stockading herewith.
ESTIMATED Cost of closing the gorges of batteries by means of stockades constructed of sawn cedar posts 6 inches by 6 inches; painted at top, coated with coal tar for 3 feet 6 inches at bottom to prevent decay, and loop-holed or so arranged as to admit of small-arm fire against any land attack:---
MACAULAY POINT BATTERY.
&
&
426 feet; 1,278 posts 11 feet long 6" x 6" sawn cedar, at 16 dollars per
1,000 (board measure)
687
Digging 426 feet breach 3 feet deep, tarring and setting posts, including
loop-holing
100
787
FINLAYSON POINT BATTERY.
380 feet; 990 posts 11 feet long 6" x 6" sawn cedar, at 16 dollars per
1,000 (board measure) ́..
522
Digging 330 feet trench 3 feet deep, tarring and setting posts, including
Jooo-holing
77
+
599
47
VICTORIA POINT BATTERY.
260 feet; 780 posts 11 feet long 6" x 6" sawn cedar, at 16 dollars per
1,000 (board measure)
411
Digging 280 feet trench 3 feet deep, tarring and setting posts, including
loop-boling
61
472
Total estimate of stockades
1,858
The Macaulay Point Battery is included, because, though it might be secured in war if the neck of the peninsula between Esquimalt and Victoria were entrenched, yet if it were reached by a land attack it would be rendered completely untenable by a few riflemen posted on a rocky ridge about 500 yards distance; the proposed stockade would defilade the excavated terreplein and afford means for musketry fire in reply. They would also tend materially to preserve the batteries from the depredation of cattle and marauders, who have already broken into, plundered the magazines, and carried off some of the gun stores.
To recapitulate:
Armament for Esquimalt in addition to present armament:-
Rodd Point.-Four 9-inch 12-ton rifled muzzle-loading guns on traversing platforms and carriages.
Signal Hill. Two 9-inch 12-ton rifled muzzle-loading guns on Moncrieff carriages.
Present armament:-
Brothers Island.-One 8-inch 9-ton rifled muzzle-loading gun; two, 64-pounder 64-cwt. rifled muzzle-loading guns.
Point.
Macaulay Point. Three 7-inch 6-ton rifled muzzle-loading guns.
Present armament for Victoria :-
Finlayson Point.-Two 4-pounder rifled muzzle-loading guns. Victoria Point. Two -pounder rifled muzzle-loading guns.
Proposed additional armament :-
Two 7-inch 61-ton rifled muzzle-loading guns for proposed battery on Holland's
For opposing boat-attack:-
Four 16-pounder rifled muzzle-loading field guns, carriages, harness, &c.
As the armament for Esquimalt will probably be furnished by the Imperial Govern- ment, it will doubtless be supplied from Woolwich of the present service patterns.
Should the Dominion Government contemplate the purchase of any guns, I would not recommend the latter, because the gun question is in debate, being reconsidered by a Committee at the War Office, a complete change in construction may be introduced, rendering obsolete the guns at present in store at Woolwich, which would be issued on purchase.
Great results have been produced by a long gun (chambered), and, in my opinion, the Dominion Government could not do better than apply to Sir William Palliser to construct such heavy guns as are required, those constructed by him for the United States being pre-eminently satisfactory in the opinion of the officers of the United States' artillery (vide
"United States' Artillery:" by Captain E. Palliser); for 64-pounders and smaller guns it has been proved by the successful manufacture of Mr. Gilbert at the Canada Engine Works, Montreal, that our old smooth-bore guns can be converted cheaply and successfully in this country.
The accompanying diagram will explain the difference between the short service guns and the proposed lengthened barrels as suitable for slow-burning powder.
IV. "The garrison required to be permanently maintained, and the manner in which such garrison should be constituted, stating extent to which assistance in this respect may be expected from local resources."
The smallest permanent garrison of regular trained artillerymen to man and look after the armament and works of Esquimalt would be 200 gunners, with a proper proportion of officers and non-commissioned officers. Having due regard to the instructions to bear in mind that Esquimalt is an Imperial station of primary importance,
• Not received.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
6
Reference :-
LICO. 885
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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
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