Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1854-10-11
FORTIFICATIONS OF SEBAS-
TOPOL.


plain, raised from four feet a: the lowest to two
hundred and fourteen feet at the highest part
above the level of the sea- The bay is adnira-
bly, defended by these heights, which terminate
in an abrupt shore. The tall masts of the larg-
est ships anchored in the road cannot be seen
on the land side at any distance. The admiral
ty, the arsenal, and other marine buildings occu-
py the lower part of the city, which is enclosed
within boundary of which the wall is casema-
ted. The casemates are spaces arched with brick
or stone, to cover the artillery and hide the
troops They are generally formed in the thick
ness of the ramparts, and are bomb proof. The
ramparts and bastions are said to cover the en-
brasures, instead of leaving them exposed
The Greek Church and Market Square are sit
uated in the upper part of the city. The marine
hospital, the magazines, as we'll as the quarters
of the troops of the garrison, form on the oppo-
site to the admiralty, sort of suburb. Sebas-
topol is not more than two miles and half
in its greatest length, and about 1912 feet in its
least. Its population, comprising the service OF
land and water, is estimated to be about 10000
souls. The city is, properly speaking, nothing
more than an immense garrison. The harbor,
which can be compared to that of Malta, is the
most important part. The magnificent arm OF
the sea upon which this little city is situated,
and which serves as a refuge for the Russian
fleet in the Black Sea, has been the object OF
considerable labors which have swallowed up
treasures This arm. which is three miles and a
half long and three-q uarters Of a mile wide at
the mouth, spreads in running back till it is a
mile wide, and then again contracts till its ter
mination, where it is only from six hundred to
seven hundred yards wide. The entrance OF
the harbor is defended by two very formidable
batteries, placed at the eXtremites of the two
points of land which form the bay. At the
mouth of the bay, about mile distant, is situa-
ted the military port upon little arm which
runs to the southwest. The canal is pierced by
a creek, where in ordinary times, dismantled YES
sells are perfectly sheltered. On the other side
of the city, in the bay of the arsenal, another
creek serves for caulking vessels of war. Seer
from the entrance, the port of Sebastopol pre-
sents formidable appearance. On the side o.
Cape Constantine to the northeast, the system
of defence is composed of fixed batteries and
other works, that is, first battery of seventeen
cannons in barbette, little above the flagstaff
at the northeast. By barbette is meant an ele
vated platform near the parapet, which receives
the battery, and no uncovered embrasures Tht
strength of Constantine is of 104 cannons, anC
two other batteries in masonry OF 10 and OF 81
Lannon's. The Russian fleet is found embosom
ed between these last batteries and the fort o
st. Nicholas which commands at the left tht
entrance of the interior port by 1872 embrasures
bearing, according to recent report, nearly zoo
pieces of artillery. The fort Alexander, whcl
defends at the right the entrance of the port, i
furnished with "a cannons; then comes bate
ry of la cannons, with "a in barbette, and Fl
nally the battery of the quarantine, of 81 can
mons in barbette. Together, these fertilization
present total force of l374 guns; but, taking in
to consideration the movable batteries which W
have not counted among these forces, we ough
to say 1000 guns defend Sebastopol. In regar
to these batteries, the system of casemate
has been applied in their construction to the eS
cuson of all others; and this it is which make
the Notifications of Sebastopol very remarka
bic work. They seem nevertheless to be cor
structed of soft stone and their solidity has bee
very much doubted by many military engineers
1t estimated that these Notifications cost S35
100000 of dollars. If the price Of the othe
public works is added to this sum, the total e,
pense is Sl00,000,000 for works of all kinds
t the port of Sebastopol. AS to the useful actio
Of such a vast number of guns upon so limite
space, experienced men do not seem to agre
{ as to the proper direction of the fire, nor on I'll
possibility Of making concur adyantngeously a