71 
mode of warfare as well as the plan of operations, leaving 
as little option to us in the one case as in the other. It 
will be necessary for us to act, in the first instance, on 
the supposition that an assault will be made with his entire 
fleet ; because, should we act otherwise, his coming in that 
array would involve both fleet and coast in inevitable defeat 
and ruin. Being in this state of concentration, then, should 
the enemy have any apprehensions about the result of a 
general engagement, should he be unwilling to put any- 
thing at hazard, or should he, for any other reason, prefer 
acting by detachments, he can, on approaching the coast, 
disperse his force into small squadrons and single ships, 
and make simultaneous attacks on numerous points. These 
enterprises would be speedily consummated, because, as 
the single point occupied by our fleet would be avoided, 
all the detachments would be unopposed ; and aftér a few 
hours devoted to burning shipping, or public establishments, 
and taking in spoil, the several expeditions would leave 
the coast for some convenient rendezvous, whence they 
might return, either in fleet or in detachments, to visit other 
Portions with the scourge. 
“Is it insisted that our fleet might, notwithstanding, be 
80 arranged as to meet these enterprises ? 
“ As it cannot be denied that the enemy may select his 
Point of attack out of the whole extent of coast, where 
is the prescience that can indicate the spot? And if it 
cannot be foretold, how is that ubiquity to be imparted that 
shall always place our fleet in the path of the advancing 
foe? Suppose we attempt to cover the coast by cruising 
in front of it, shall we sweep its whole length? —a dis-. 
tance scarcely less than that which the enemy must traverse 
in passing from his coast to ours. Must the Gulf of Mex- 
leo be swept as well as the Atlantic? or shall we give 
