[Copy] [Endorsement on cover: 135 / Newport Oct. 1^st 1798 / [undecipherable] / Capt. [undecipherable] / Louis Tousard] The Hon. [undecipherable] Newport 1^st October 1798 Secretary of War Sir Your letter of the 9^th of August last directs me to repair to Newport, where you have contemplate erecting for the defence of that City and harbour a Small Battery at Brenton's point, and a regular Fortification at Tammany hill— having previously given orders to compleat the works on Goat Island— Your order is to view the Ground, and fix upon the proper Scites for the works abovementioned— to pay particular Attention to Select the most advantageous positions, for the most Important one, That on Tammany hill, to lay, the plans, make the estimate and forward them to You— Your order further, in case some parts still remaining of the old works of that Sacrifice utility, can be applied to the works now to be constructed, to make use of them as an Object of Utility— With the Same economical view, I am directed to lay out the [undecipherable] work on Tammany hill or a Small a Scale as possible to answer its object, which is to cooperate with the Batteries in the defence of the City and Harbour of Newport. The importance of my Mission making a Strong effect on my mind, as soon as I had reached this place, with the greatest Attention I have observed, and Surveyed myself, the Several general positions mentioned in your instructions, and tried as much as it is in my power to conciliate them with their objects. I beg respectfully leave to present to you my observations on these two parts which I am ordered to examine. This place has been Ravaged both by land and by Sea by a powerfull Army and a Fleet— works have been here [undecipherable] to repulse both their Attacks— when the [undecipherable] Army and a Fleet of another Nation, endeavored to do so themselves against any Attack both by Land and by Sea when marching over and Surveying all their works, the form of which in a City gives an Engineer the very great advantage of adding to his own Observations, the Ideas of the Engineer, who erected them, to judge by what they have done right, and observe their faults in order to avoid them. It appears Evident, from the works erected here first by the Americans, and afterwards by the British and French, that they all deemed it highly Important to be secure the entrance of the Harbour. for that purpose a Battery was erected on the blue rocks at the northern part of the Town. Forts of Some Importance have been erected on Goat Island, and Brenton's point. Batteries for Sea in every commanding Situation, at Spencer Hill, Point [undecipherable], [undecipherable], and on Castle Hill— which is the most South West point of the Island. Guns have been placed on the advantageous high positions at the Dumplings, on Conanicut Island. Redoubts built and carried with Guns, at Coaster Island, and finally a Redoubt defending a Battery of more than Fifty guns, 42 pounders, was erected on Rose Island, which seems placed in every direction to compleat the defence of the best Harbour on the Coast of the United States. None of these advantageous positions except Tammany hill and Brenton's point have it Seems attracted the attention of the persons whom you mention in your letter as having written you on the Subject the same The former of these posts Tammany hill of the great importance and indifferent means, is totally useless for the defence of the Harbour— I consider it as a duty incumbent on me to tell you the result, and to lay your Consideration by giving upon on each of these Important posts all the information, I have been able to obtain by preparing before you a General plan of the whole Town and Harbour of Newport of the existing works, and of those erected both by the British, with the whole of them I have Surveyed myself accurately and drawn on a general and Separate Maps. From that plan you may easily perceive how far each of them may concur in the general defence. You may give your opinion, and give me your Orders, for the ensuing Year, to forward the Construction of those which you think the most Necessary— my first duty being to Obey your orders— I now begin by giving you an Account of those which are points [undecipherable] The Situation at Brenton's point [undecipherable] Successively the Attention of all the Generals, who had the care of determining the harbour of Newport— They were aware of its utility and far from neglecting to profit of Such an advantageous Spot, the Same Consideration induces me to Request your permission for Building a Small close Fort, that place where your Instructions mentions only a Small Battery, the place which I have the honour of forwarding to you is drawn from the existing works, to my Knowledge it was perfectly well Laid. I will make very few alterations in the form— profit by the existing parabets, and render the Work permanent by erecting a Wall inside and out side— I will also pursue the construction of Barracks, with case mates Bomb proof— a powder Magazine, and a Furnace. The Sections, profiles, elevations and Estimate will be forwarded to You— On such an advantageous Spot, So good a Fort, the best Battery of which is thirty Six feet above the high water mark, would preserve with dignity the name Which respectfully request your permission to call it by as being evidently the Rock, on which the Storm will beat (Fort Adams) The granting of my request will be the most flattering reward I may obtain, for my own ambition of Serving the United States, with Zeal and Fidelity The distance of Fort Adams, to Fort Wolcott is 1250 [undecipherable] they may have a [undecipherable] fire [undecipherable] and [undecipherable] the enemy Ships from passing. Between them and [undecipherable], the [undecipherable], it has also a crossfire with the Battery, which I will propose to establish on the Dumplings. its distance is 1675 yards [undecipherable] the guns of a front Battery, [undecipherable] on a entrance on the ships, and will they for both sides [undecipherable] successively. Sixteen or twenty Guns may be brought to Stop all at the same time on a Fleet many Ships attempting to force its way through the Channel— The Importance of that position appears So Strongly in my eyes and of So much moment that I have ordered the Breast work of the Front Battery to be erected immediately— It will equally answer for the Battery mentioned in your Instructions, or will Serve as a part of the Fort, which I have the honor of presenting for your Approbation. you will be highly Sensible from the inspection of the General plan which I am Compleating, that if you persist in your order of Confining me to erect a Single Battery on Brenton's point it would be of little or no Injury to an enemy who might be Informed of its defenceless State on the Lans Side (and it is but too often the case that they know the weak Side of the place they Attack better than ourselves) the Battery calculates only to fire on the entrance would not resist an Attack by Land. no Garrison would or could make any Stand in it— The Enemy when possessed of it would employ the Same Guns to fire upon Fort Wolcott— and easily might establish a Battery to throw Bombs into it, on the Contrary At the first Apprehension of a War, the Same Temporary works and Batteries which were erected on the commanding Situation along the Coast would be erected again. In case of an Iminent danger the Gunner would Retreat their Guns (mounted on Travelling carriages as I propose them for this place) Successively from one post to another and finally Secure themselves in Fort Adams— and also contribute to its defence. I expect the Inside of the Battery which fronts the entrance will be compleated before the weather is too Severe to continue the mason Work. The Platforms may be made in the Winter, as well as the Travelling Carriages— the construction of Which I will Superintend myself I would respectfully Suggest the expedience of Your ordering for the moment— Twelve Guns of 24 or 18 pounders to be Sent to Newport. I am told there are a great Number of them at Providence. with Your order I might go and receive them. when they are Served, Some of these Guns intended for the City, to be placed either where the Northern Battery Stood or at any other point they may be wanted. from the defenceless State of the Harbour, and not having a Single Gun to fire from the City, it is entirely open to the Insult of a Single privateer, which might Steal in during the Night, and leave nothing to fear from Fort Wolcott, which has but two or three field pieces on the Bare Ground to Fire on the east Side— The advantage of the Situation of Fort Adams, is not confined to having a crossfire with Fort Wolcott, and affording Asylum to the Guns and Gunners of the other Batteries. In the mean time its Batteries may have the Same crossfire with the guns at the Dumplings, and finally with the Guns of Fort Hamilton— which I will also propose to erect on Rose Island. This Island is So happily Situated for the protection of this Harbour That from the moment a Ship makes its appearance in the Entrance more than Twenty Guns, may be constantly fired upon it from its Batteries. Rose Island deserves a particular [undecipherable] which I will make after I have reported No You of Tammany Hill— In Surveying the Grounds here it was easy for me to perceive the numerous Advantages which Nature has favoured this Harbour, with. It Seems destined to be the Cradle of the American Navy— and a place of Security against the Elements, and Superior forces of an Enemy— for the Ships of War of the United States— and the Privateers, which would Swarm from all their other harbours. (you had it Sir certainly in Contemplation, when you ordered me to Establish works to concur with the Batteries in the defence of the Harbour— As it is the object which you [undecipherable] Chiefly to my Attention, I beg Leave in the Observation which I have the honor of presenting to You, to divide the defence of the harbor and City on the Sea Side, from the defence on the Land Side your Instructions mentions the works to be erected on Tammany hill as the most Important one— I am myself of opinion that it is So in the System of the general defence, and I have complied with them. I have Surveyed the old Lines laid down the plans, made the profiles and estimate, which will be presented to you— I am convinced that the persons of this City who wrote to you upon the Subject when they mentioned only the two positions of Bronton's point and Tammany hill, thought of the Smallness of the Appropriation made for the Fortifications, and were afraid their proportion of it would not be adequate to the expence necessary to compleat the whole of their harbour's defence— They fix down these two points, as the easy and economical ones to fortify. Bronton's point is an advantageous post, to concur with Fort Wolcott's on Tammany hill, as a point which would Insure their Safety in the City— or at least a place of Refuge for the Inhabitants and Town Militia. To wait for the arrival of the State Militia— (but Sir you are charged with the general defence of the Union— It is not by economy, but by the more or less Importance of the Harbours, and Forts, which rests Intirly upon Yourself, that your reports to Congress are Grounded— It is to answer Your confidence, that I have mentioned also all the other parts which may compleat the defence and render in Some years this Harbour as formidable as any in Europe— The Advantage of Tammany hill's commanding Situation, the facility of defending, and difficulty of Attacking it, will always Secure a Safe Retreat, to the Troops, Militia, and Inhabitants— It would prevent an Enemy from taking possession of the whole Island—as in its defenceless State it has been often the case— for they would not dare to possess themselves of the Town, when we retain in our hands such a Strong hold as a powerfull mean of Reattacking them with Advantage and of forcing them to a Speedy Evacuation or perhaps to a Shamefull Surrender, or an entire destruction— The Importance of erecting a permanent work on Tammany hill, cannot then be called in question, but it is Impossible to have it concurring with the Batteries in the defence of the harbour— as it is Two Miles distance from the nearest point of Goat Island— Therefore could neither fire upon a Ship in the Entrance, nor prevent them from Anchoring in any part of the Harbour— Admitting the Supposition that a Fleet passing East of Conanicut Island, would Attempt to perform a descent at Coddington's Cove, it would be an effectual mean to oppose it and to concur with the Batteries on Coaster Island & prevent their Anchoring in that Cove— Without doubt your Intention has been to Secure the defence of the Harbour, and in fact the first Step to be taken, is to render the entrance of it Impossible to an enemy, with a Small Force, or even a powerful Army— to that Important Object, it was my duty to inform you that Tammany hill was totally useless, and in the mean time to Show its great advantage in the defence by Land, of which it is the Chief point— of all the other points which may offer an effectual resistance and Compleat the general defence I will have the honor of presenting, you both a General and a particular description which will be the Subject of my next Letter— with the greatest respect I have the honor to be Sir— your most humble and Obedient Servant Signed Lewis Tousard