1822 - Edocs

195
affording a stiif tenacious clay, constituting a sate una
excellent anchorage. From St. Carlos De Barancas to
the. opposite point of St. Rosa's Island, is computed to be
about three fourths of a mile, with suitable fortifications,
at those two opposite positions, it is confidently believed
by military gentlemen of science, who have visited them
and expressed an opinion that no vessel could pass into
the bay without receiving a fatal injury, the guns of both
fortifications could be brought to bear upon it with so
much certainty and effect as to ensure its destruction
Every examination which has been made of these commanding
stations, has resulted in the decided opinion,
that it can be much more easily defended than any other
on the gulph, if not on the whole of the atlantic coast.
A faithful topography of Pensacola and the adjacent
country, will demonstrate that it may be very efficiently
protected from the inroads of the enemy by land. In the
rear of the town at the distance of about half a mile the
highlands are presented, upon which military works may
be constructed to advarftuge, so as completely to command
the whole space intervening between them and the bay.
A single fortification strongly and judiciously built would
successfully bear upon the entrance into the town in every
direction. There is probably no other station on the
southern coast, which could be defended by land with so
small a number of troops, or at less expence. Independently
of the facility with which Pensacola may be defended,
if reliance is exclusively reposed in regular
troops— there are other prominent considerations which
powerfully recommend it to the attention of the general go
vernment— this results from its immediate connexion with
New-Orleans, and its contiguity with most of the states
on the Mississippi river ; in cases of emergency and invasion
should it become necessary to call the aid of the
Militia for the protection of this place, they can be readily
obtained from Louisiana, Mississippi, Kentucky,
Tennessee and Alabama, owing to an advantage from a
water communication, they may be conveyed to Pensacola
in a short lime, and comparatively with small expence
to the general government. Your memorialists are induced
to believe that half of the expenditures o,f the late
war were included in the item of transportation ; much
would be saved on this score were Pensacola selected as «
a naval station, not only in the transportation of soldiery,
but also in provisions and the munitions of war.— This
desirable object w r ould be more completely accomplished
should ever a communication be opened between the bay
ol Pensacola and the Mississippi and Mobile rivers. Another
prominent advantage in favor of Pensacola which
gives it elevated claims on the patronage of the government
is, that it is distinguished for the salubritv of atmos-
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