Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-10-24
EVENING STAR.
FOR THE STAR.
FORTRESS MONROE AND CASTLE CAL
HOuN.
BY J. A. wIyEBERGER

BY J. A. wINEBERGER,
FORTRESS MONROE is located on the grounds
| of Old Point Comfort. This land originally
belonged to the State of Virginia, but was
ceded to the United States, for the purposes
for which it is now used. 1t contains the area
Of two hundred and fifty-two acres, as granted
TO the United States by an act Of the Legitls-
| ture Of Virginia. Besides Fortress Monroe
there is situated on this ground, facing Hamp-
ton Roads in proximity Of the fortress, a large,
| spacious, and magnificent hotel, called the
HygeIa;" which, possessing a climate for sa-
lubriousness, pleasant locality, and delight
full promenading grounds. in and around the
fort, it cannot be excelled as a watering place,
with well arranged bath houses, tepid and
cold shower baths, and a delightful surf, for
| those who prefer the open sea TO inyigorate
and strengthen the human system in this
country. There are other buildings dotted
here and there on Old Point Comfort that gives
this place the appearance Of q small neat vii
| lage. Tho fort stands on level angle on
the coast or shore, having an excellent position
fer conspicuOusness, and built in a partially
| circular massive form Of stone and brick,
which occupies about twelve acres Of ground
with canal passing entirely around the same;
Its height is about one hundred and fifty feet
| from its base, with port holes below, at suit
able distances, with guns mounted on car
| riages at each, in a wide extending passage
around, as well as the top. There are guns
also mounted on carriages placed at proper
| distances
1t commands the Chesapeake Bay on cne
side and Hampton Roads on the other. The
view from the parapet is exceedingly fine,
| taking In miles Ct the silvery element Of and
| down the stream. Around the fort, the beach
is broad, sandy, and barren, with no forest TO
| fringe its borders. Inside the fort, presents a
beautiful green lawn, crossed by a convenient
H. l.
Gus trees planted here and there. Facing the
green lawn Tor mastering grounds) within the
fort, there are enscOnced, casematcd dwelling
which are used for various purposes. The
| officers dwellings are built on the mastering
grounds separately from the fort.
O!d Point Comfort is about sixteen miles
from Norfolk, ninety eight southeast from
Richmond, and three from the pleasant and
| hcalthful town of Hampton-a place not bar
rem Of historical importance; nay is replete
with interes: to the lover of continental lore
The first cOlonists of Virginia named il Old
Point Comfort, in 1907, "on account of the
good and safe anchorage it afforded" The
prefix old" was attached subsequently, to its
first settlement in order to distinguish 1t from
a place called New Point Comfort
Fortress Monroe was commenced in 1907
Estimated cost and repair, when completed.
81. All, AL; amount expended for construction
and repair up 10 the year 1852, S3.4O247l; !;
amount required TO complete or construct,
| SIS, 600. 1t will garrison in war 245O men
1t has AZ 42-pounders, IS9 80 Founders, 10 81.
Founders, IA lS-pounders, 25 II pounders, IL
Geld pieces 10 flank howitzers, 30 heavy how
itZers, Sinch light hOwitzers, 8 l3-inch MOI
tars, lo-inch heavy mortars, 3 lO-inch light
mortarS, S-inch light mortars, l5 coehorrs-
total number of guns, 81. Thecomm andiny
officer at the present time is Colonel Grain.
" This fort is Of itself complete; but an ad-
vance redoubt on the land side is unfinished,
and considerable work is yet necessary to Sc
cure proper ventilation and the necessary dry
, ness to the great powder magazines within the
fort designed as principal depot for tha;
material" 1t has been well said, that for IT,
hcations IN military science are regarded as Z
| temporary means Of resistance. by which an
| enemy Is kept in check until relief is afforded.
The two forts fortress Monroe and Castle
Calhoun) are exceedingly necessary, in pre-
eminent degree, for giving timely, certain,
! and proper protection to the navy yard at
Gosport and the city of Norfolk from land
attack, as well as water; yea, furthermore,
they are all-important defences for the pur-
poses OF securing well the only good and safe
| roadstead on the southern coast and giving
assistance to the protection of the Chesa pea Ike
bay. The solidity of construction, massive
form, and beautiful proportions manifested in
| the architecture of this fortifca alton, mako IL
well adapted for the noble and all-important
purposes for eur national defence. IL 10 uni
versally conceded that il excels all other
forts in this country.
PORT CASTLE CALHOUN, OR THE RIP RAPs
This fort is situated about a mile opposite
Fortress Monroe in the Rip Rap shoals, and
these in what is called Hampton Roads This
/ is casemated battery, and there are floating
| distractions extending from this place across
the channel to Fortress Monroe. 1t has never
! been completed, and the work cannot be car
ried on further, as yet, by reason Of the insta-
biity Of the foundation. The artificial sub
| stance Of the mortar on which il is erected
having worked out Of the water. The thick
massive walls of the battery, by their immense
| weight, which were commenced years since
| produced a considerable subsidence Of the
same. The sinking IF this immense II ass, it
| has been said, has in a great measure ceased
| " The Rip Raps structure is monument of
the genius by whom it was planned 1t is
formed upon an Island made from the sea by
casting in rocks, in a depth of 20 feet of water,
until by gradual accumulations it emerged far
above the tide" 1t is contemplated to re-
sumo the construction of work again at an
early day by our government. This fort was
| commenced in 1918. Estimated cost for con-
struction and repairs when completed s., ,494,
32S; amount expended for construction and
repairs up to the year 1851 is 1864 996 !;
amount required to complete or construct
so65: 600: 1t will garrison in war l l20. 1t
has SS 42-pounders; 76 32-pounders; 80 o.
Founders IL 8-howitzers: heavy; total num-
Der of guns l59. The dreary scene has an
aspect wild and savage; "the music of the
surrounding air and sea is in keeping with the
desolation Of the spot" The busy ripplings
of the elated waters that dance and leap, In
succession with their jubilant melodies, on the
shoal waters, which under the influence of the
action of the Sea and re- action of the bar,
which produces an unremitting ripple has
given the appellation of Rip Rsps to this place