Congressional Serial Set Volume 1027

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1860 Excerpt: ...Commander Dahlgren says: "So far, therefore, as casemated batteries are concerned, shells have added very little to the power of ships; but against guns en barbette they will be found of material assistance, especially if charged with balls and used as shrapnel. And against open works the concentration afforded by the well served broadsides of one or more ships should suffice to silence the works if the vessels have no unusual disadvantages to encounter, and are brought within sure distance." And again, in his very interesting and able remarks on the "Incidents of the War," at the conclusion of his work, " Siiells And ShellGuns: " "The fire of a small barbette, or uncovered work, can always be kept under by the rifled musket and shrapnel, judiciously posted, taking the advantage of such shelter as the locality affords, or using pits for the sharpshooters, if necessary. The broadside can then be Drought to bear, or the men sent ashore in force to assault. Circumstances may even admit of the landing one or two cannon to breach the work." "The unqualified assumption that a tower or small redoubt, with its two or three guns, can of itself make good the defense against a heavy ship would naturally suggest more than is contemplated; for in that case why resort to the cost of extensive works to defend a harbor when a few towers might fully answer the purpose? But the fact is, that the advantage of site which is required to give effect to this species of defense is rarely to be found where it is needed It existed neither at Cronstadt nor at Sweaborg; and at Sebastopol the elevated works of this nature only served to command the position for attack on Fort Constantine from seaward. Of themselves they could not have prevent...