The rifles of the sharpshooters were fitted with telescopes, and many of the sharpshooters could pick off an enemy at a mile distance with ease.
It was felt that the combined navies of the world would come first to our Eastern seacoast, and the coast defenses were put in the best possible condition without delay.
The forts at Sandy Hook and on Long Island were armed with the latest improved Hotchkiss bomb guns, which could carry projectiles weighing a thousand pounds a distance of sixteen to eighteen miles.
But it was felt that these fortifications were not sufficient, and others were speedily projected, taking in the whole coast from Nova Scotia to Florida, as well as Cuba, Porto Rico and other islands in that vicinity.
Our naval vessels, as said before, were as good as any on the face of the globe, and included the submarine boat, Holland, the one first accepted by the government in 1900, and also the Hollands III., V., VI., IX. and X., the II., IV., VII. and VIII. having been destroyed or condemned.
Much was expected of the Holland boats, especially in night work, when they might run out to any foreign warship and wreck her with one or more powerful torpedoes attached to her hull.
Those who managed the submarine vessels were enthusiastic about them, and had good reason to be.
One day Andy Greggs came into the shipyard wild with excitement.
"Something awful has happened!" he cried, as soon as he met Oscar.
"What is it?" demanded the young inventor.