334 Letters on Steam Navigation, 



line of battle ships were engaged ? but, how many steam ships ? 

 It will be felt at once that the power of the fleet depends upon 

 the latter. Those who were spectators of the last continental 

 war, will remember that notwithstanding every effort was made 

 and enormous expense incurred by the transport board to meet 

 the urgent demands of the army, yet such were the delays arising 

 from head winds, tempestuous weather, detentions in port, and 

 long passages, that the sufferings of the army were sometimes 

 appalhng and its operations crippled. 



In war, the facility of transportation is tantamount to victory. 

 If a fleet of twenty steam ships can transport an army of twenty 

 five thousand men to the American coast in fifteen days, and to 

 the continental ports in a time less in proportion to the distance, 

 the army can land when and where it pleases. There is no de- 

 tention in port, no delay in the passage, no hovering upon the 

 coast, with light and baffling winds, and thus affording time for 

 the enemy to collect the means of defence ; but the steamers 

 push at once into port, and are in possession of their object before 

 the enemy can be aware of his danger. 



The transportation of the munitions of war and the victuaUing 

 stores is scarcely less important than that of the army itself The 

 great magazines will always be at home, whence daily supplies 

 will be drawn with the same ease and regularity as if they were 

 in the vicinity of the camp. The celerity of communication and 

 its absolute certainty supersede the necessity of accumulating 

 stores in a foreign country before they are wanted. 



But the greatest triumph of steam power will be seen in those 

 tremendous naval engagements which hereafter will settle and 

 establish the sovereignty of the seas. Such is the locomotive 

 power of a steam ship, that she can place herself in any position 

 in reference to the enemy, can run down from the leeward or wind- 

 ward upon the bows or stern of a sailing man of war, and with 

 broadside after broadside, riddle her fore and aft, annihilate the 

 crew, and leave in her scattered wrecks an undeniable evidence 

 of the irresistible power of a steam ship. 



I know it will be said that the paddle-wheels of a steam ship 

 are liable to be shot away, and thus disabled, she may become 

 herself a prey to the enemy. But is she as liable to be disabled 

 as a sailing ship? Suppose a shot were to pass through a paddle- 

 wheel, it is not destroyed, and may not be materially injured ; 



