Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1861-06-19
Fortress Monroe and its Works.

Fortress Monroe and its Works.
1t is rather difficult to describe the
scenes of activity which are now witnes-
Sed at this immense and costly sea coast
defence, where force OF between LOO
ahd 500 men, including laborers, are at
wora in rendering the place inpreguablc
10y sea OF land, where companies at any
time may be seen engaged in the various
infantry drills or exercising at the guns. .--
No one can form an idea of the amount OF
labor already performed without passing
through theinterior,
In the first place 10 render the vas.
magazines, seventeen in number, perfect.
ly bomb proof, which are OF heavy granite
and brick works, haye been supplied w.th
wall formed oGbags Of sand which, after
a Saltablo frame has been constructed, are
piled up in successive tiers against it un-
til an enormous width and thickness have
! been attained. The sand is obtained
from the interior Of the fort, and the bags
made OF coarse canvas, are each of the ca
pacity of IA couple Of bushels. Some time
since the ,1merican published an official
statement showing the armament OF the
place, the whole number o. guns being
about 400. There are nearly that many
mounted or ready for service now, but
their GaIibre is very different from what
it was before. Many of tue lighter Guns
have given place to ten inch colnmbiads.
which will throw ball the distance of
nearly tour miles. Much Of the space in
the interior Of the fort is occupied by
cannon, gun carriages, and long rows OF
tents, arranged WITH the utmost regard 10
order and extra quarters.
Within the last month or two there have
been received three cargoes of guNpow der
one of 80, 900 pounds another of 10000,
and a third of3O, 900 making So 1000 pounds
in all. 70 store this amount Of yiliainous
saltpetre in the safest manner has been a
work of great labor and skill. In watkins
through the works it was higIly crafty
ing TO meet with Col. DeRuSspy how ap-
rroaching his S0th year, though hale,
hearty, and full of lfe-Col. Dimmick,
Capt. Dyer at the head Of the Ordnance
Department., Surgeon Cuyler, and others,
all ofwEom dignity the service 10 which
they aic attached. We also find good
old soldier IL Mr. Levers, principal Ser,
giant IN The Ord nance Departmental
post Of great responsibility. In order to
gain admission into the Fortress the visit
or must receive a passport from Colonel
Dimmicl, otherwise he will not be per
mjttcd TO enter, and even then he is ei.
ther accompanied by Sergeant or partic.
ularly enjUined not 10 attempt ascending
the rampalts. Us there are works there
not intended Tor the eye of the civilian,
and even dangerous to the urinitiatcd,
The Floyd Gun is still mounted upon
the sea beach and Immediately under the
Fortress. II has been discharged five
hundred times and not the slightest all
rasure discovered, and is pronounced
cr|t rate piece of work. lp some charges
the amount Of powder used was double
the usual quantity, and many Of The balls,
each Weighing 400 pounds, propelled the
distance ef nearly four miles, in Tie direc-
i!or Of Willoughby FONT Light House.
Tiers have been discharged into the
sand and afterwards dug out. There are
II number OF guns in tho fort that will
throw bail as far as the Floyd, but not
half as heavy.---Corcspondence Baltimore
american.
lk. BNEkhLl ! ON lhb w Ah'--A lllNhlt
letter from Edward Everett to a friend in
Virginia, and under date OF May Is, has
been communicated to the Boston Adyer-
t:ser. II concludes as follows:
f, II cannot describe TO you, my dear
friend, the sorrow caused me by this state
of things. Circumstances rs you well
know, had led me to form personal friend
| ly relations at the South, more extensive
/ " than most Northern men, and the sup
port given, especially in the border States
! 10 the ticket on which my name was
borne at the late election, filled me with
gratitude. If the sacrifice Of all have
4 could have averted the present disastrous
struggle | could have made il willingly,
lioyfully. But pray you believe Inc Iha,
/ | speak not only my own conviction but
| that of the entire North when say that
ge feel that the conflict has been forced
upon us TO crafty the aspirations of am
bilious men that is our duty to ourselves
Ito ourselves and to the whole people, t
sustain the government, and that is, j
possible, more the interest Of the SoutG
than of the North, that this attempt Il
brea.; up The Union should fail,
rsA. The first case ofyellow fever Of Tn,
1 Season in New Orleans occurred on Wed
4 ncsday of laFt week.