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Appendix No. 9.

UNITED STATES.

State Papers, p. 39.

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562

Fort Washington, Potomac. Outer line of defence of Alexandria, Washington, and Georgetown. Old fort of very little value; new earthen batteries unfinished since 1874, deteriorating.

Washington (p. 11) thinks the capital could now be reached in one day's steaming without much risk, if south bank in hands of allies. This was written at the time of civil war.

The land attack, with increase of population and railways, a more serious affair than in 1814. From the mouth of the Chesapeake to Cape Hatteras there occurs no inlet navigable by seagoing vessels.

Southern Section of the Atlantic Coast.

This coast is invariably low, and for the greater part sandy. A ridge of sand, here and there interrupted by the alluvium of the rivers, extends through its whole length; this ridge in certain portions lies on the mainland, while in others it is divided therefrom by basins or sounds of various width and depth, and is cut up into islands by numerous channels of greater or less depth connecting these interior waters with the sea. Wherever this sand ridge is broken its place is occupied by low and marshy grounds, bordering the principal and many of the lesser outlets of the river.

The want on this coast of harbours unobstructed by bars particularly distinguish it and the Gulf of Mexico frontier from the northern and eastern portions. The shallowness of the water on many of the bars effectually excludes all vessels of war from the harbours within, but through the openings attempts might be made in small boats to interrupt the interior navigation.

State of North Carolina.

The Engineer schemes have proposed five positions for defence along this coast.

The expenditure on harbours has amounted to 1,900,000 dollars; but no less than 1,400,000 dollars

of this on Cape Fear River, and most of remainder on Ocracock Inlet and Beaufort Harbour.

The coast of North Carolina as a whole may be classed as thinly populated, and, except in Albemarle Sound and Wilmington, very poor.

Sailors, 868; fishermen, 1,210; raftsmen, 280; shipwrights, 135.

Old census, 1,225,000; new, 1,512,000.

Organized militia, 2,700; unorganized, 200,000.

Actual forts :-

Fort Macon, Beaufort; defends principal approach from sea. modern requirements; spur jetties sinking into sea.

Defences of Wilmington-

Barbette work, not adapted to

Fort Caswell, mouth of Cape Fear River; only defence of entrance and approaches.

Partially blown up at close of civil war. Has now neither armament nor quarters. The Army Register mentions a Fort Johnstone at Smithville, 22 miles above Wilmington;

it is garrisoned, but we have no details of it.

State of South Carolina.

The Engineer projects have considered that eleven positions on this coast should be provided with works.

The expenditure on harbours up to end of 1879 has been 557,000 dollars; but 544,000 dollars has been on Charleston alone, which marks the little value of the other entrances.

Very large sums continue to be expended on Charleston.

South Carolina coast may, as a whole, be classed as thinly populated and very poor, except in the neighbourhood of Charleston.

Sailors, 565; fishermen, 338; raftsmen, 101; shipwrights, 94.

Old census, 705,000; new, 995,000.

Organized militia, 11,805; 95,000 unorganized.

The warlike spirit of South Carolina shown by above proportion is very marked; 26th in actual numbers, it is 3rd in organized troops.

Actual forts :-

Defences of Charleston :-

Fort Moultrie, on Sullivans Island, co-operates with Fort Sumpter in defending water

approach from the sea; in unfinished condition.

Fort Sumpter, on a shoal on south side of entrance to harbour, fire crossing with Moultrie commands only approach for vessels of war; reconstruction on modern plans well advanced, but incomplete. It is on the casemate and barbette type; guns, of course, old type. Fort Johnston, on James Island, west of Fort Sumpter; should constitute one of inner works of defence; it is a fort only in name, having neither armament nor maga- zines; proposed heavy gun-batteries and mortars; nothing done.

Castle Pinckney, on Shute's Folly Island, one mile east of town; one of inner works, in

its present condition useless for defensive purposes.

Charleston is one of those places with intricate interior communications, very suitable for boat enterprises; the details cannot, however, be discussed here, but it may be pointed out that the Engineer schemes have contemplated defending Edisto and Port Royal Inlets, between Charleston and Savannah, as dominating, in conjunction with those towns, the labyrinth of connecting channels; they are still undefended.

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