The Defense of New York within Thirty Days' Time.
The idea seems to prevail that the United States is absolutely helpless against a naval attack from England. I think this idea is entirely erroneous. There is the pneumatic gun, capable now of throwing 300 lb. of nitro-glycerine, which amount could easily be increased to 1,000 lb. For the value of one modern ironclad, 150 steamers with such a gun could be put in service in two weeks by the United States, because any steamer of 100 feet or over would answer; while the gun, being a mere tube, subjected to but 1,000 lb. of air per square inch, with air-compressing machinery, is all so available and quickly built that a month would put the United States into possession of 500 of them. If, now, 20 such steamers be told off for each ironclad sent against us, even if two-thirds were sunk, they would, before being entirely demolished, succeed in depositing 5 to 10 tons of nitro-glycerine on the deck of the ironclad, and exploding it.
Would not the effect of repeated explosions of 1,000 lb. of nitro-glycerine blow the deck in, dismount the guns and engine, and shake the armor loose, as the explosions of the Monitors' guns did when they were in service in the late war—the heads of bolts and other fastenings of the armor flying off from the concussion.
Then there is the submarine boat, that has already stayed under water thirty minutes with its crew, and been easily and correctly guided. What is in the way of using ten such boats to each ironclad, one of which would unquestionably succeed in placing 1,000 lb. of nitro-glycerine under the ironclad, the explosion of which would be heard from? Because the explosion of 90 lb. of gun-cotton did not materially damage an ironclad, can it be reasoned that 1,000 lb. of nitro-glycerine, which would have twenty-five times the force of 90 lb. of gun-cotton, would be equally ineffective? Hardly, I think.
Nets, etc., would not prevent such boats from diving under them, while they would only impede the speed and maneuvering of the ironclad, and render her more easily approached.
Blucher, the German cavalry officer, insisted that it was the impression and belief existing in Germany that Napoleon was invincible, and the Germans helpless, that alone prevented them from conquering. When the occasion came when he could demonstrate this, the Germans and allies easily defeated and dethroned Napoleon.
It is similarly true in this country, for too many believe that the English ironclad is invincible, and this impression makes cowards of too many. Give the nitro-glycerine gun and submarine boat a trial, if occasion arises, and England's ironclads will succumb as easily as Napoleon when sufficient power of the right kind was brought to bear on him. The right kind of power to apply to England is nitro-glycerine and dynamite, which could be ready with guns and boats in a month or less. One hundred days sufficed to build the first Monitor many years ago, and much less time will be needed for dynamite guns.
Wayne.