Washington's Engineer Norman Desmarais (best e book reader .TXT) 📖

be raised a great deal more than it is, and besides the palisades and chevaux de frise, abaties must be made in front. The roof of the great bomb-proof, which I propose, may be made use of to collect the rain and conduct it into the Cistern. This will always be a small resource.

Fort Willis [Fort Webb] does not appear to me well traced. It ought to be put entirely upon the declivity which looks towards the River, the force next Fort Putnam following the ridge of the eminence. In this manner it would have overlooked equally all the valley between Fort Putnam and itself and all its interior would have been under cover of Fort Putnam; the face next the river would have extended to the very border of the declivity; and the work in every respect would have been a great deal stronger. In its present position it is too large, its parapet makes too large a circuit. It will be best perhaps to rebuild this fort altogether; if this is not done, to remedy its inconveniencies, the face opposite Fort Putnam must be raised not so as to cover the interior, which I am told Col. Kosciousko proposes, because it must be prodigiously elevated to answer that purpose—but instead of this, I would prolong the eminence which is in the middle of the work, and improve it into a Traverse to extend the whole length of the work—I would then reject a third of the work on the South as altogether useless—the bomb-proof will be backed by the traverse above-mentioned.

I should have preferred to the Redans which are in front of the Redout Willis, on the South side, and which require for their defense four or five hundred man—a small inclosed work to secure the possession of the eminence and protect the batteries in front—but for the present matters may be left as they are.

Fort Arnold appears to me to be pretty well situated and traced—but if the intention of Col. Kosciusko is to leave the sides next the River at the present height—(as appears to be the case) I cannot approve it—they are exceedingly liable to an escalade—it is proper to elevate them and even to make a small covert way without having good palisades in front, to secure the body of the place against all surprise.

The Scantlin for the Bomb-proof appears to me too feeble—the top will be almost flat—What is made of earth ought to have been of Masonry or bricks—however I forbear enlarging upon this subject, because time will hardly admit of a Remedy—the Stuff being squared and ready to be put together—observing only that the work should be sunk more in order to furnish a greater thickness of earth for the roof.

Reenactors assembled for inspection at Fort Putnam. Fort Putnam was part of a complex of forts and redoubts protecting West Point. Photo courtesy of the author.

There is below Fort Putnam a battery nearly round, which is extremely well placed for battering the Vessels which should approach the Chain—but its situation likewise exposes it to the fire of the Ships—at least as it is much advanced, the fire of the tops would injure the Gunners, and the more, as by the form of the battery they are collected within a very small space—it appears to me advisable, to raise the parapet of this battery several feet—and to cover the embrasures from the top of one Merlon to another—so as not to interfere with the working of the Guns—although it is equally necessary to secure the Chain on the left-hand Shore of the River—it seems to have been little attended to—there is no inclosed work on this side to hinder the enemy from debarking a sufficient number of men to get possession of the ground and cut the Chain—there is only a battery which may answer some good ends, but cannot prevent the enemy from doing as above mentioned—With three small works we shall render the point perfectly secure—the first to be placed where the block house of fort independence [Constitution] stood—it is sufficient for it to contain about sixty men—its end is to afford an immediate defense to the Chain and its extremity—against a hardy enterprise, which a few men are engaged sometimes to undertake by dint of money or other recompense—The parapets ought to be of wood in order to take less room—and sufficiently elevated to cover the area.

Links of the great chain that stretched across the Hudson to block British ships. The chain weighed 180 tons and was supported by log rafts. Trophy Point, US Military Academy at West Point. Photo courtesy of the author.

The second Redout should be placed on a steep eminence which commands all the other rising ground in the island. the third on an eminence in the rear of the newly constructed battery—These two Redouts ought to be made for 150 men or 200 at most.

There was a battery, the remains of which are still in existence, (below Fort Independence) it was perfectly well placed for battering the enemy’s Ships—it ought to be rebuilt, with a strong parapet of earth—and as this battery is low and exceedingly exposed to a plunging fire from the Tops of Ships—the Parapets must be high, and terminated by a Roof of thick plank for the protection of the Canoniers—this battery as well as that which is just finished, will be interlocked by the three Redouts—and be in perfection safety.—With these works we shall be completely masters of the Island.

As to the Chain itself, I would not have it floating on the surface of the Water—which exposes it to be laid hold of by machines prepared for the purpose, on board the Vessels which may approach—but the greatest danger arising from this would be the breaking it by Cannon Shot—when a vast number comes to be fired on both sides in a contest between the enemy Ships and the batteries—I should think it more eligible therefore to