, 1861-12-30
4 DAY At FORTRESS MONROE


- FORTRESS MONROE, Dec. 18th, 1851.
3 notwithstanding the prominence tint has
peen given to this place in the dispatches since
Inc war commenced, it may interest the read
efs o1 the TRIBUNE to learn more in detail as
10 this great military point. The record Of
day passed in its examination send you with
such view. The connection with Old Point
and Baltimore is kept up by regular lines of
LAY steamers under strict military suryei-
lance.
Inc main approach to the Fort is over q
long bridge, strongly built, which crosses the
moat. You pass the guard, and entering the
archTay under the wall, (which is Of immense
strength and thickness,) emerge into large,
open space containing IN area of seventy
acres. This is neatly laid of into par,de
grounds, and grounds On which stand the resi-
dences and public buildings. Fine brick walks
meander through the space in every direction,
through the "Lire OATS" which abound, and
though stnnted and knar1ed, are very thick.
shadlpg an immense space, which in warm
weather, with the sun at SO deg and upward,
must prove grateful protection; while the
beautiful, dark green foliage is pleasant re-
Lief to the eyes after tracing the outlines of
the massive brown walls which snrnound +1,n
enclosure: and aside from the huge guns and
piles Of bslis, regularly laid up together, with
the presence of the soldiers, the place would
remind one Of description Of the suburban
residence Of some wealthy gentleman. Here.
however, the comparison ends, The inner
casemates are divided into large, spacious
apartments, part Of which serve for stores for
M' 1ne suffers, and the post and express Offices.
The rest art occupied as quarters for both
men and officers Each room has its appro-
prlaie number over the entrance. The Whole
place presents remarkably neat appearance.
Here also the prisoners arc confined. Passing
on around to the right is the bakery, an i'm
mense concern, which bakes the bread for the
supply Of the troops both in and outside Of
the Fort; and such arc the facilities that every
day at noon each regiment receives its due al
loWance. Further On We come to tie nag;l-
z1ne; but no one is permitted to enter. at
regular intervals around the fort and most CON
Yenlently situated, arc hydrants which supplies
1t with wafer, brought from acsos the bay,
4 half mile distant. This difficulty viii soon
be obyluted, however, by the completion Of
tue Arteslan well now in process Of construc-
tlon, and which has already reached the depth
Of 2a0 feet, a fact that conginccs all that the
thing is great bore. The value Of this work.
# nsneeesstul, cannot be easily computed. For
in case of Il protractcd seige the cutting of
OF its supply, of wafer would result disas-
trouslY. Having casually glanced at the in
telnal arrangements, yon feel desire TO
OF the many car1iage- ways, which are conye,l-
1eutly built, and which open at the top into
fine road extending the entire length
Of the wall. Here are mounted The
guns "ea baroetts,'' and, like the casemates
below, are all numbered. The masonry md
circular railway upon which the guns rest
arc most admirably built Tie carri-
ages arc nearly all built of-.iron frame
work, and do not look SO unwicldly rs
the Old -1ashioned wooden ones, combining
strength and durability with symmetry and
ncatncss. At regular stations are built small
brick furnaces for heating shot, With all the !
useful appliances which modern invention
and mechanical skill could suggest, to faciIi-
tate the process. OF guns therc is d great
number, from the common thirty-t two, up to
the ponderous coIumbiad. Standing ou the
wall OF which, there are several hundred
which cover the approaches to the Fort.
!, Ibis Is but the main wall for between it and
the next wall is q broad deep moat, construct
ea Cd q the heaviest masonry, and By means Of q
which ebhs and flows with the tide, thus pre-
venting the water from becoming stagnnant
and foul. Across t1lis moat is another wall Of
immense strength, with chambers, or more
properly, easements, built Of stone, archcd
over, which rests on heavy stone columns,
forming separate chamber for each gun.
which are called the easement guns, and com
mand the harbor and land by means Of the
port holes. Still, outside Of this wall is an
other, forming breastwork, whlts4pf itself is
The contrabands u are at present at work
Upon this outer work. They arc mustered
regularly every forenoon, By the person haY-
ing them in charge, and marched in military
order to their daily employment. Their ap-
pearancc at times is truly ludicrous, for with
Ia ntvTT SAf ~,
race, they shoulder their spades aud pickaxes
with all the regularity Of regulars; aud gen
era]ly the leader, or "Cap'n,' induIges
IN some lively refrain, to which they
all keep regular step And, by the
solyed-not, to be sure, in accordance with
the views Of those who flyor m unconditional
emancipation, but practically and effectively.
And IN this it is to be deplored that, at other
points where labor is in sEch demand, and Ia
borers SO plenty, similar measures have not
Monroe may safely be set down as impregna-
bic. for even if the outworks should be taken
and reduced, the ASSISTANTS would find that
they had but just commenced their work.
There is ut present besides the regular
troops inside the fort, the New York 10tli vol
and eilcieney; nor is it strange. for there is
an old gentleman with an energetic compras-
sion OF the lips, and piercing erav eve.
whose name is Gen. Wool, under whose intI,c.
diatc supervision thcy are, and indeed the
spirit which peryades tho whole command IN
dicatcs the presence of commander worthy
Of the post, for while there, Of course thew
can be Of no service elsewhere. Beyond this
point and stretching away down towards the
west and south, can be seen the woods which
conceal from our view the rebel cities Nor
t0lk and Portsmouth, with their surroundings.
lEE weather here IHnEf hporf3f,1