What If

May 29, 2011
Ok, so you are the captain of a large first rate ship of the line (the country does not matter). It has been a long sea voyage and you are out of cheese and rum. The crackers are not quite as rancid as the bully beef but getting close. Fresh water is in very short supply. Things are getting a bit nasty as you have to flog half the crew every morning. You have stopped holding services on the Sabbath as it has no effect on the crew. There is talk of a mutiny except the crew is starting to enjoy the floggings. As you continue to sail west, you realize that the loss of the charts and maps due to some scurvy dawg cook deciding they would taste better than the salt beef, has left you somewhat in the blind. The idea is that your old friend Chris mentioned that there is actually land where he though the edge was is comforting and that becomes the plan, keep sailing west. Find land, any land, and scrounge for critters for dinner. Perhaps there might be a stream where the crew could take some time to "freshen up". That's the plan. After a few more days were conditions worsen, you spot what appears to be an inlet to a river. The crew is giddy and has, for the moment stopped deciding just how to hang you. Everyone is on the rail as you approach the inlet. Just as the men are starting to assemble the picnic gear, umbrellas and beach chairs you notice a small anomaly just inside the inlet. The crewman in the crow's nest confirms your worst fears: someone with a different flag beat you to the inlet and it appears you might have juuuuuust a bit of trouble getting past. Those naval guns on the parapets and bastions have a range triple that of your guns. Besides that, they throw a 200 pound shot as compared to your 32 pound shot. What do you do? You find a soft line and tie your own noose because you are not getting past that fort. Bummer.

The picture is of Fort Clinch guarding the St. Marys Inlet since 1864. It never was finished nor did it ever fire a shot in anger. The Confederates abandon it before the Union attacked. It has just a few of the 8 inch Rodman Guns atop the walls but when occupied they were about 30 feet apart all the way around. They had a range measured in miles (3,850 yards tossing a 50 pound round) so they could easily intimidate intruders.

A toast to those who gave all so that we could have this weekend and this Nation.