In 1804 Thomas Jefferson reported that the the work of building a number of gun boats was nearing completion. One year earlier Congress allocated fifty thousand dollars to build a number of gunboats, but this was only a small start to building a naval defense system for America. In a letter to Josheph H. Nicholson, the Maryland Chairman appointed on the subject of the Marine Corps, Jefferson predicted that it would take fifty million dollars to build a navy of gunboats sufficient to protect the United States ports. In addition, it would take no less than 50,000 men to man these boats in a time of war. This was surely an insurmountable task in those days. The number was so high because America's seaport towns had no land to sea defense mechanisms. In Jefferson's own words, "all military men agree that wherever a vessel may pass a fort without tacking under her guns, which is the case at all our seaport towns, she may be annoyed more or less, according to the advantages of the position, but can never be prevented".
So Jefferson laid out his strategy to turn our attention to attacking the vessels after they enter our harbors through the use of heavy cannons. Jefferson proposed two different defense systems in his letter. The first as a heavy cannon on "traveling carriages". These cannons would be moved to strategic banks or beaches most convenient for "dislodging the vessels". These cannons would be lent out to each seaport town, and their militia would be trained to use them. Jefferson wrote that he already had the authorization to do this, and has done so in a small degree, but now it needed to be "done more competently". Second, heavy cannons could be put on floating batteries or boats and stationed in a way to prevent an enemy vessel from entering the harbor or forcing her to quickly depart.
Jefferson then concluded his letter with a the cost analysis of what it would take annually to maintain a cannon defense system. The total cost would depend upon whether the United States was at war or not. Jefferson estimated that if we remained out of the wars between France and England, we would need at most 25 a an annual expense of $50,000, but that number would increase significantly if the United States entered the war. 10 of these Cannon systems were already built or being built, and Jefferson wanted to build 15 more. With a system like this in place, Jefferson estimated that only 240 gunboats would be needed at a cost of one million dollars. Significantly less that then the 50 million dollar to defend the coast with gun boats alone. The entire project would take about 10 years to complete. Now, Jefferson needed Congress on board, and with this letter he was turning to Joseph Nicholson to make it happen.
President Jefferson also did his part to sell his plan to Congress. In his 1805 annual address to Congress, Jefferson first outlined a number of "injuries from some of the belligerent powers" including the trade embargoes of both France and Great Britain, and the plundering of private property by Spanish soldiers. In these times, Jefferson called for the "firmness, and the wisdom of the Legislature", and explained, that some of these called for peaceful remedies, but others could be met by force only. Thus, Jefferson concluded "I can not, therefore, but recommend such preparations as circumstances call for". And the first recommendation was to place heavy cannons in our sea port towns:
"The first object is to place our sea port towns out of the danger of insult. Measures have been already taken for furnishing them with heavy cannon for the service of such land batteries as may make a part of their defense against armed vessels approaching them. In aid of these it is desirable we should have a competent number of gun boats, and the number, to be competent, must be considerable. If immediately begun, they may be in readiness for service at the opening of the next season."
http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=29447
http://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/99-01-02-1073
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Hopper_Nicholson
http://newenglandboating.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/MaineMaritime_Cannon.jpg
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