-of San Francisco, thoroughly participate.

TI—IE PHOENIX.

'7

Siixtv-ninth, when it was promulgated from the head-
quarters of the Divisiou—distastefiil, humiliating, galling
to me as the compliance with it would have been—I
should, nevertheless, have resolutely obeyed, or resigned
my commission on the spot. (Hear, hear.) _0bcying it,
however, it would have been with the conviction that the
lrisli character would not suffer from_ an act deiel‘mill8d
by an honorable and upright submission to thelaw of the
Republic ; audthat acquittiiig myself as a dutiful soldier
and faithful citizen, I strengthened, rather than impaiicd,
the claims of Ireland to the good will, the advocacy and
recognition of America. (Loud cheeers.) 'Ihe legality

of Col. Gorcoran’s conduct, in not directing the Sixty‘

ninth to parade on the occasion referred to, is still before
the Court, were it not for illness, he would be here and
in respectful deference to that authority in the _crowd
of citizens in the character ofa civilian only, instead
of being at the head of the exemplary an_d_ admirable
regiment, to the efficiency of which his military tastes,
knowledge, zeal and diligence——a-nd he_will. permit me
to add, the proprlely and excellence of his private life-
have so inflrentially conduced. (Loud and prolonged
cheering.) But whatever the Court sitting in White
street, may determine, I well know that the conscious-
ness of having acted legally, as well as patriotically, on

the 11th of October last, sustains the Colonel proudly,
land that, too, under a wearying investigation, in his

official separation from the ofiicers and men by whom he
is so chivalrously trusted and believed, and in this con-
sciousness, the regiment I have the honor to address——

rthe multitude of citizens pressing here to witness and
’ approve the ceremony of the night—as well as thousands
-upon thousands of other

sensible and sterling men
throughout this Continent ,from the Hudson to the bay
(Hear, hear,
and great applause.) Holding then—I now address _my-
self especially to the officers and men of the Sixty-ninth
—-that the action of your Colonel on the 11th of‘ October
last, was creditable to him as a soldier and a citizen’
while it strongly marked the aversion with which the
English rule in Ireland is regarded by the Irish iace, and
their sworn antagonism to it—tl_iereby re-asserting the
iminemorial title and eternal. aspiration of the Irish peo-
ple to an independent nationality, and the determination
of the Irish in America to support any and every effort
that may be made to establish thathationality upon a
vital and imperishable basis——holding those opinions,
several of the citizens of New York ordered a flag to be

.made, commemorative of the action they so approved;

and requested me, in their name, to present it to the
regiment. (Great applause.) Oflicers and men of the
Sixty-ninth—I do so with pride, with confidence, with a
glowing heart. I do so with the assurance that the
superb gift passes into the hands of soldiers who will
never permit the gold with which it abounds, to be tar-
nished by cowardice, iusubordination or neglect of duty
—-who will never permit the green field, which to night

looks so ample and luxurious, to lose its freshness and

deep wealth of color, if love of country_and jealouscy
of its honor will perpetuate it—and who will carry it into
the battle, wherever the Eumeiiides wave their_torches
and the trumpet of Alecto peals, nerved and quickened
by the faith, that the sun bursting from it in a flood and
storm of glory, will maintain its light, as dl(_1‘ the sun of
victory over the mountains of the Amorrhite. (Vehe-
ment cheering, in the midst of which Mr. Meagher, bow-
ing to the regiment, withdrew.)

The flag is of béautiful green silk, with the Sun-Burst
in the centre, the clouds being most artistically embroi-
dered and embossed shamrocks at each of the four corners.
The following is the inscription :—

'ro run SIXTY-NINTH REGIMENT ix COMMEMOP-ATION or
ocronnu 11, 1860.

To this Colonel Nu_g‘en_t replied, gracefully accepting
the flag on behalf of‘ his Regiment, and regretting, in
terms of sincere sympathy, that Colonel Corcoran was
doubly incapacitated, both by sickness and the proceed-
ings pending against him, from appearing in command
on this evening. Colonel Nugent, however, made an
admirable substitute, and throughout his remarks, and
at their conclusion, drew forth loud and prolonged
applause. _ _

Thus ended the demonstration of the evening, the
audience separating with hearty cheers for Colonel Cor-
coran, the Regiment, Thomas Francis Meagher, J. P.
Tully, J. Winthrop Chanler, and others.

—j:.__—}§¢.p§{:—.__—.

Idilitary Field Works, Defences, &c.

 

In our first article on this subject we limited ourselves
to the description of a parapet on a straight line having
natural or artificial objects as flanks. It is hardly neces-
sary to say, however, that such a kind of defence is not

adapted to all situations. There are many in which no

advantages are obtainable from nature—many which

stand in absolute need of a particular form of breastwork

to render them effective against an enemy. Take, for
instance, an avenue, an entrance to an avenue by a main

1 road, a bridge, a farm, a small village standing in an

open plain, &c. A parapet upon one straight line would,
in some of the cases supposed, be too short to enable any

-considerable body of iueu to offer active resistance to an

enemy, and in others it would leave three sides of the
work entirely exposed. Hence it becomes necessary to
ccstruct
nnmus, DOUBLE REDANS AND LUNETTES.

A Rcdan is a parapet and ditch in the shape of two
sides of a triangle, each side forming a face offering an
opposition in a different direction. ‘It resembles the ca-
pital letter A, or more properly a circumflex A ; the ver-
tex or salient angle of which points towards the country,
while the two extremities rest upon the corners of the
road or avenue or bridge. If a parapet were seen across
the entrance to the road, &c., it would only offer 20 or

.30 feet of space, which would not accommodate more

than eight or ten file of‘ soldiers at a time, whereas the
Redan of two faces might be run out for sixty yards
from the entrance of the road, or gorge (as it is called)
of‘ the work to the angle, thus affording the means of
placing at least 120 soldiers on each parapet. The Re-

dam, in its f'orm, presents a front to the enemy, let him

come from whichever of two sides he may. Its weak
feature is the angle. If an enemy should select that for
his point of attack, it will be necessary to out off the an-
gle—in other words to run up a parapet considerably be-
low it, like the cross line of,'A, and to rise small breast-
works at the extremity directed upon the ditch. Redaus
may be made of any size. The largest and most formid-
able on record is that raised by the Russians at Sebasto-
pol, and in attempting to take which the British were
repulsed. A double ltedan or horn-work represents two
Redans united, the inner sides meeting so as to form a
work not unlike the letter M or W reversed. Each line
represents a parapet—eaeh angle a horn. It is a very
effective description of work, and may enclose a farm-

yard and all buildings belonging to such an establish-

ment. Here, if a foe attacks either of the upper angles,
he is exposed to a fire from the contiguous side, and ifhe
elects to make an assault upon the point where the lower
lines (or re-entering angle) meet the encounters a cross
fire from the two faces. A Lunctte is a. larger kind of
Redan, with the difference that, from the lower extremi-

ties of the faces two parapets are raised and takes.

sloping form inwards, so as to enclose the garrison or
establish a connection with some other work. It is ge-
nerally used as an outwork of fortresses. The Lunette
comes nearer the form of a Bastion than the other
works.

. REDOUBTS, STAR FORTS, LINES.

Redoubts are isolated earthworks, either placed on
commanding ground or contiguous to towns or villages,
so as to effect their protection. They are of all shapes.
Some are circular, some square, some triangular in form,
according to the ground in their vicinity and the range
of’ fire required for them. The walls are all invariably
built upon the same principle, with the parapet described
in our first article, with this d”ifference, that they rise
higher above the terre-plain or level ground on.which
they stand. are made with a broader banquette, and
pierced with apertures, narrow in the back and opening
wide in front, for the reception of cannon. These open-
ings are termed embrasure. Square redoubts, like the
Redan, are vulnerable at the four corners or angles;
circular redoubts are open to the objection that the
spaces between the einbrasures and loopholes are unde-
fended, and are therefore tempting to an enemy. It is
censequently better to lay out the plan of a redoubt in
the shape of‘ a couple of triangles crossing each other.
This will give six distinct salient and six distinct re-cn-
tering angles, the faces of which offer a reciprocal flank
or protection. The fort then acquires the shape of a
star, whence the appellation of star forts. .

Lines is the term employed to describe a succession of
fortifications covering a considerable extent of ground.
They are of two kinds-——continued lines and lines with
interval. The “continued lines” are generally repre-
sented by a. series of straight parapets (thence called our-
tains) cennecting redans, lunettes and redoubts, and
leaving no opening f'or an enemy. Such lines are com-
monly employed to protect an encampment, or the rear
of an army engaged in laying siege to a town or fortress.
The French and English armies entrusted their rear to
this form while besieging Sebastopol. “ Lines with in-
tervals” consist of a chain of isolated redoubts, redans,
&c., placed sufficiently near to each other to‘ afford, by
their fire, mutual protection against the assaults of an
enemy. Three hundred yards was the ordinary interval,
when musketry had no greater range than from 150 to
180 yards; but now that the commonest rifle can carry
500 or 600 yards with certainty and effect, a larger
space may safely be allowed, taking care, however, that
the enemy does not penetrate within the lines. The
most celebrated “ lines with intervals,” recorded in mi-
litary history, were those which the Duke of Wellington
established in 1810 and 1811 for the defence of Lisbon.
They started from the village of Torres Vedras, near
the Atlantic, to the river Tagus, covering a distance of
29 miles ; and in the rear of these lines, which consisted
chiefly of redoubts on hill tops or escarped rocks, there
was another series covering some 24 miles in length.
Within these lines the British army lay safely entrenched
for an entire winter, bidding defiance to Marshal Massena
and 120,000 men. _

ATTACK OF FIELD-WORKS.

It is seldom that field-works require to be approached
after the manner of permanent fortresses. Neither their
extent, nor their strength in guns and gunners, render
all the usual scientific operations necessary to their_ cap.
ture. Should they be armed with artillery, it will be
sufficient, at a distance of five or six hundred yards, to
establish a battery of earth, gabions, fasciaes or sand-
bags, according to circumstances, and pierce it with eni-
brasures. Two or three howitzers, short pieces of artil-
lery, charged with shells, will effect a breach in a few
hours, or sufficiently damage the works to distress the
troops within the entreuchment. If the breach be not
practicable, it will be desirable in the night to move
nearer to the lines, and establish another battery so as
to widen the gap; This“being~efi'ected, the storm of the
field-works must be arranged and carried into effect be-
fore daybreak. The ordinary process is to invite volun-
teers for what is termed the forlorn hope. The French
have avery expressive term for this body of intrepid
soldiers——les enfans perdus. The forlorn hope leads the
way to the attack, while to divert the attention of the
garrison, a fire is kept up by the rest of‘ the troops upon
the difierent parts of the work. The attacking party
carry with them scaling ladders, gabions and fascines.
The two latter articles are thrown into the ditch
to form a sort of bridge, if necessary. Descending the
ditch by means of the ladders, the forlorn hope then
cross the ditch and plant the ladders against the escarp
and ascend the breach of the parapet. If the entienchcd
troops hold their ground the contest at this point is se-
vere; but it rarely results in the discomflture of the
assailants.

Allusion has been made to the employment of various
obstacles to the advance of an attacking force. A re-
connoisance effected during the night will determine the
existence of abettis, military pits, &c., and advantage
should be taken of the darkness to remove the stakes,
fill up the pits and destroy the abettis. This is a service
of danger, for it will bedifiicult to conceal the operations
from the garrison, who will keep up a lively fire from
the parapet. As the fire could not be returned with any
effect with musketry, owing to the impossibility of see-
ing the garrison, good use may be made of good _hand
grenades, a small description of shell which, being ignit.
ed, may be thrown by the hand over, the parapet, <35?-,
and bursting when it falls among the defenders, will
probably disable, if not slay, those who are within the
radius, of the explosion. —

—Lcader. J- H- 5-

pm...‘

. Mr. William Smith 0’Brien’s Pamphlet.

MR. O'Bninx has published the following letter :
Cahirmoyle, Newcastle West, Feb. 18, 1861.

MY DEAR Sin,——I beg to thank you for having pub-
lished, in eactenso, my pamphlet, relative to a French
invasion, in the Nation and ilforning .N'ews. I regret to
find that some expressions used by me have given
offence, quite unintentionally on my part. I trust, how-
ever, that these shafts will not have iiiflicted on my
friends any wounds deeper than those which have been
reciprocated in the criticisms to which my pamphlet has
given occasion. Upon the whole, I am convinced that
much good will arise from this controversy, and I trust
that the asperities of language and momentaryirritation
which have been connected with it, will be soothed by a
sense of mutual respect for the frankness which has been
displayed on all sides.

We Irish require to be taught toleration of adverse
opinion. We have. been so much accustomed to mis-
representation, that we are disposed to discover, even in
the remonstrances of friends, imaginary insults.

For myself, I have executed a very painful duty——not
hastily, but after having considered the subject during
more than fifteen months.

Whilst I appreciate the noble qualities of many of the
men of 1798, I have always considered that the proceed-
ings which they adopted, with a view to serve their
country, were most disastrous to its interests. Especially
disastrous were the consequences of two courses of
action upon which they relied; namelyfthc formation
of‘ secret societies, and an attempt to liberate this coun-

try by means of foreign aid. Had they supported the
small party of patriots which was led by Grattan in the
Irish parliament, with the same ‘energy which they
mis applied in the formation of secret societies, and in
looking for foreign succor, they would have eventually
obtained all that this nation required, and the Union
would never have taken place.

We are menaced with a repetition of these errors by
the formation of the Phoenix Society, and by the ten-
dency to look to France for deliverance, which has been
manifested since the battle of Solfei-ino. I have, there-
fore, felt niyse1f' compelled to warn my countrymen
against the danger which is impending, and I am happy
to find, from several private communications which I
have received, that some of the most enlightened and
patriotic of my Catholic friends do not discover in
my language that tone of disrespect of which the critics
wlho have reviewed my pamphlet, in the Nation, com-
p am.

A Belgian friend, however, upon whose judgment and
experience I place much reliance, tells me that Mr.
Martin and I are like those doctors who formerly sought,
by long investigation, to account for the appearance of
a golden tooth in the head of a human being. After the
argument had lasted for a long time, it was, at length,
discovered that the assiimption on which the argument
was based was unfounded, for that no such golden tooth
had been discovered in the head of any human being.
He assures me that Louis Napoleon never will invade
England or Ireland, so that the hopes and fears founded
upon such a contingency are equally illusory.

There is a tradition in the county of Clare that a gen-
tleman named Michael Comyn, who wrote some stories
and poetry in Irish, which well deserve to be read by
our students in the Gaelic language, was so firmly per-
suaded that Ireland was to be delivered from British
rule by a French or Spanish invasion, that he spent
a great part of his life in meditating upon this contin-
gency. The invasion never took place, but poor Mr.
Comyn neglected his business, and spent his fortune in
preparation for it, so that he reduced himself, from com-
fortable circumstances to pauperism.

Let us not imitate either Michael Comyn or the
learned doctors. Let us not neglect the essential inte-
rests of our country whilst we cherish illusory expec-
tations.

I differ with much that I see in the columns ‘of the
Nation, but I am happy to agree with its writers in
thinking that our aspirations for national independence
ought not to prevent us from using all the resources
that are furnished by the institutions under which we
actually live, for the purpose of obtaining improvements,
either by social efforts, or by legislation. The policy of
iparlianientary independence, which the Nation has so
long advocated, is quite compatible with a resolute
determination to promote, by all the means in our power,
the recovery of the legislative independence or this
country. -

I would, myself, prefer that the Irish representatives
should meet in Dublin rather than in London, if they
were sufliciently numerous to form even the committee
of a national council ; but if the constituencies of Ireland
neglect such opportunities as that which will be afforded
in the county of Cork, during the present week, for the
election of Repealers as members ofiparliament, those who
desire to promote the social and legislative improve-
ment of this country are not, therefore, bound to fold
their arms and to abstain from endeavoring to serve
their country, through the agencies which they at present
command. For my own part, I will give such support
as I can offer to any useful proposal, whether it emanate
from an Orangeman, a Conservative, a Whig, an Old-
Ireland Repealer, a Young-Ireland Repealer, or a
Franco-Hibernian ; and if we act towards each other in
this spirit‘, perhaps, we shall find that there are a great
many questions of common interest, in regard of which
all Irishmen can agree.

You may remember that our recent controversy origi-
nated iu an apparent difference of opinion respecting the
formation of‘ volunteer corps in Ireland. I am now
happy to find that this difference‘ of opinion was rather
imaginary than real, and I believe that there are very
few Irishmen who would not prefer that the scenes of
1782 should be again witnessed in Ireland rather than
those of 1798. Believe me, yours very sincerely,

WILLIAM_ S. 0’BRIEN.

A. M. SULl'ilVA.\', Esq.

[We agree with Mr. O’Brien that some good may
result from his pamphii. t. It will open the eyes of the
Irish people, and let them see the man on whose aid and
advice they must. rely, when the hour of trial arrives. Mr.
O’Brien has a great dread of secret societies, so has the
British government, and so have all the despots in
Europe. To a nation, whose hope of achieving national
independence lies in successful revolution, and whose
people are forbiden the use of arms, secret combination
against the enemy is the only course available. One
would imagine that Mr. O’Brien should have long since
become heart sick of the repeal sham. However, he is
at liberty to cherish ithe delusion, and proclaim his

‘attachment to legal and constitutional agitation and

deify—even at the expense of the noble martyrs of ’98—
all the old parliamentary spouters who have figured
before and since the days of Grattau ; for he canqno
longer influence any important section of his country-
men. The men of "98 bequeathed to posterity their
heroism and unchangeable love of country. That testa-
ment we shall never permit to be mutilated or misrepre-
seuted. If they failed they were not disgraced—if
Ireland were not freed by them she was not rendered
contemptible in the sight of all nations.
all events, can compare favorably with B-allingarry.——
En. PH(‘E.\'IX.] .

——._——<-}oo.o4-§i:_———y

The Debate on the English, Income Tax.

 

Tun Ami‘ de la Relz'gz'on’s London corresp ondcnce con-
tains particulars of the recent division on the Income
Tax in which the government was defeated. Itsays that
the majority against the government was due to the votes
of four‘ Catholics—Sir J. Acton, Messrs. Blake, Magiiirc
and Henuessy. In a leader on the subject the Ami says :
“ When we come to review the vote we find that the mi-
nistry was in a minority of four. And What were these
voices? Those of four Irish members—Sir John Acton,

Messrs. Maguire, Blake and Pope I-Icnnessy. Honor to '

them ! They well merit a right to be named ; for they
have given a noble example to their compatriots. We
hope their colleagues will comprehend the importance
of the step; and we hope they will yet combine with
them in their efforts on vital questions, in which are en-
gaged the honor and interests of their country.

“For some time back we have taken the liberty to
point out to the Irish members the evil effects of their
divisions ; we have often proved that on their votes dc-
pcnds the existence even of that cabinet so notorious

New Ross, at ’

for its hatred of the Papacy, and which is so contemp-
tuous in its treatment of Irish wrongs, even when they
are most grievous.” The Ami then proceeds to point
out the influence the united votes of the Irish Catholic
members would have in many a political crisis, and
blames many of these members for not attending better
totheitr parliamentary duties when such epochs are im-
minen .

 

o<.»4<_._._.._._

Testimonial to the Memory of '1‘, B. Mcmanus.

....._—.

Ar the regular monthly meeting of the Detroit Fnuutu
Bnoriinimoon, the following resolutions were passed, on
the evening of the 11th inst.

WHEREAS, It is with grief and heartfelt regret that we
have heard of the demise of one of Irelanls faithful,
brave, accomplished, and loving Sons, Tmumcn Bir.r.r.nw
MCMANUS, on the shores of the Pacific, in the prime of‘
life, and at a time when the hopes which were entwined
round his Celtic heart were budding forth to a proud
immortality or a glorious and permanent consummation.
It is meet and proper for us, his countrymen, who loved
and honored him, and remember his incarceration and
exile, in our “heart of hearts,” to join in the wail that
burst from the hearts of sorrowing and generous friends,
in the auriferous vallies of California, and which is
vibrating through his native land, and bearing from
these chaplets of admiration and remembrance to hang
on his tomb on lone mountain. Be it therefore}

RESOLVED, That, in the late TERENCE Bnr.Luw McMa-
NUS. we recognized a noble and genuine representative
of Ireland—a representative who held that a nation, to
be free, must purchase her claim to freedom by prowess,
daring, and heroism.

RESOLVED, That the cause which he espoused in 1848,
and upheld on the threshold of death, was enhanced by
his frankness, talents, truth, and unblemished honor.

RESOLVED, That his sterling patriotism, bravery, and
love for his country's exaltation and disenthralment
from Saxon sin and robbery, have endeared his name
and reputation to the friends of Ireland, and placed his
memory the immortelles of Irish love, affection, and
gratitude.—Yours, &c.,

 

Fnuiiiu.
ugnqa.
001. William J. Hardee, now of the Georgia
Secessionists.

COLONEL HARDEE is a native of the State of Georgia,
and is about forty—four years of age. He graduated at
the West Point Academy, in July, 1838, and entered the
Second Regiment of Dragoons as a second lieutenant.
He was promoted to a first lieutenancy in the December
of 1839, and was made captain in September, 1844.
Captain Hui-dce spent some time in Europe under orders
from the U. S. government, who paid all his expenses,
where he made himself fully acquainted with the details
of foreign service. He served during the Mexican War,
and was twice brevetted for “gallant and meritorious
conduct,” once as a major and again as a lieutenant
colonel. These brevets were conferred for two small
affairs with the enemy, one near Vera Cruz and the other
at San Augustine. The cavalry had not much op-
portuuity, during the war, to take part in the important
actions. .

Colonel Hardee, by direction of the Secretary of War,
translated the Light Infantry tactics from the French-
hir; work being published and adopted, in 1855, by the
War Department. He also held, for five years, the high
position of Commandant of Cadets, at Westpoint, and
has the reputation of being an industrious and attentive
oflicer. His extensive_detailed knowledge of military
matters will render his services of importance to his new
employers, although he was never esteemed to be a man
of a high order of ability by his associates in the service
of the United States. He has been one of the Depart-
ment pets, however; one on whom the country heaped
favors, to the neglect, certainly, of better and more
honest men than he has proved himself. But we have
got rid of him at last, so let us rejoice and be thankful
for the riddance.—-Leader.

PH(ENIX SPECIAL NOTICES.
SUBSCRIPTIONS TO THE PHGJNIX.
E. Kelly, 190 Canal street, March 12 . . .. .‘. . . . . . . $1 00

Rev. E. 0‘Flaherty, Crawfordsville, Ind., for a club,
Marchl-1 . . . . . . .  00

Patrick Murphy, Philadelphia, March 5. . . . . . . . . . .1 00
Richard O'Doherty, Lafayette, Ind., for a club,“ 16. .9 75

THE SECOND ANNUAL BALL

or run
FENIAN BROTHERHOOD, BOSTON ,:
WILL nu Givi-ziv AT _
NASSAU HALL, corner of Common and Washington

- . _ streets,
On EASTER M0iVDAY~BuJ_«7N1Na, AFN‘; 18;, ,1351_
Music : Spaulding 82 Duggcetkx '

,TICKE'I‘S, $1,50. ‘mrz 51;

MURCH, THE HATTER.
A rhymer muse, who knows not song,
Nor does he essay to flatter,
Your aid invokes to help along
In praise of Murch the hatter.

And though my lines, in pith and point,
Be sure to flag 5 no matter, " ‘

The words cannot the theme disjoint,
So famed is Murch the batter.

For hue and shape his‘hats are praised,"§
When others fade and tatter,

With crowns far down, or cone-like shaped,
When Murch is not the hatter.

Though wind may blow with sleet and snow,
And hail and rain may patter,

Yet wiuter’s snow and summer’s glow
Are matched by Murch the batter. ;

The lawyer and leech leave pill and brief’,
The bard, and chief, and pastor,

;-For head-gear neat to give relief,
Seek Charley Murch the hatter.

At the Mincio, and by the Po,
Where warriors’ swords did clatter;
There‘ no chapeau could stand 9. blow
Like those of Murch the hatter.

If you would chogse a hat for use,
Which no abuse could batter,
Your cash you’ll lose if you. refuse
To deal VVlllZl,hIl:lI’Cll the hatter.

Though states rebel and banks deplete
And envious rivals chatter ;
‘Yet merit will herreward meet,

And so will Murch the hatter. dag lg