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

' lAN'hNi'N'h' "liA l'lVIOlIStu az iIldbSt
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 to:ce OF between l,700
and 500 men, including luborers, are a.
worA IN rendering the place iinpregnablc
hy 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 theintcrior.
I In the first place, to render the vast
magazines, seventeen in number, perfect.
ly bomb proof which are Of heavy granite
and brick works, have beeu supplied with
: n wall formed Of bags Of sand which, after
"A suitable fralue has been constructed, are
piled up in successive tiers AGAINST il un-
til an enormous width and thickness have
been attained. The sani is obtaincd
from the interior Of the fort, and the bags
made OF coarse canvas, are each of the ca.
pacity OF couple ofbushels. Some time
since the 1mcrjcdn published an official
statement showing the armament of the
place, the whole number OF guns being
about 400. There are nearly that many
mounted or ready for service now, but
their calibre is very different from what
it was before Many of tue lighter runs
have given place TO ten inch columbiads.
whIch will throw ball the distance of
nearly four miles. Much of the space in
the interior OF the fort is occupied by
cannon, gun carriages, and long rows Of
tents, arranged win the utmost regard to
order and extra quarters.
Within the last mouth or two there have
been received three cargoes ofguD3owd der
one Of $4,000 pounds, another Of 10000,
and third of3O 600 making 81, 900 pounds
in all. TO store this amount Of vilainous
sallpetre ir the safest manner has been a
work Of great labor and skill. In walking
through the works it was higaly gratify-
ing to meet with Col. DeRussey nov ap-
proaching his S0th year, though hale.
hearty, and full Of life-Col. Dimmick,
Capt. Dyer at the head Of the Ordnance
Department., Surgeon Cuvler and Others,
all Of whom dignity the service to which
they a,e attached. We also find a good
old soldier il Mr.. Levers, principal Ser.
giant Ia The Ordnance Department. "a
gain admission into the Fortres. tba'yisit.
or must receive passport from Colonel
Dimmick, otherwise he will not be per
mltted to enter, and even then he Is ei-
ther accompanied 10y Il Sergeant or rartic-
nlariy enJ0ined not 10 attempt ascending
the rampal is as there are works there
not intend, d tor the eye OF the civilian,
ana even dangerous to The urlnitIaled.
The Floyd Gun Is Still mouEted upon
the sea beach, and Immediately unocr the
Fortress. 1t has been discharged live
hundred times and not the slightest aI-
La'Ure dIscoycr3I, and - pr)nouncod a
mt rate piece OF Wo! K. lp soma charges
the amount otpowder used was double
inc u'naI quah,lty' and many o. lhe balls
each "eighlhS Ho pouhua, pFogetIrA The
distance 81 nearly i0lr miles a,.-e -.ge"-
uoh "i WlionG"Oy iC!nt L.an! ,ieusa-
'hGFs nave hfen a7cuorEea tn'o the
saiiu ana a'tel"aIds jlg ont. There Drc
Il number OF guns ia tho fort that will
thro" ban as TAR rs The fIoya, but not
nan rs heaVy. y.-Corrcspondence baltimore
AmT3cdn.
~.-' --.--
80 h"%Ai oN ms "AN--A private
'e'teF li"h Eo"afd hvcHetlto a Trend in
Virginia, and under date of Nav II has