Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1861-04-26
Description Of the Florida FOrti-
ficatiOMS.

Key West, as it is well known, is an i'm
portant naval station; it is the head land Q
the Southern coast, situated on the north
west end Of an island of the same name, bu
occasionally known as Thompson's Island
it is four and one-eighth of mile in length
and one in width. The harbor is magnifi
cent, admitting vessels drawing twenty -eigh
feet of wster, and. most fortunately, is vel
defended at this time. This point is the key
to the northarn passage of the Gulf of Mexi.
ico, as this is much safer, and some ninety.
two miles nearer than around Tortugas. Tht
entire island lies on bed of limestone, about
eighteen inches below its surface.
Fort Tyler is new, first class "bastioned'
fort is of brick, built upon granite founda.
ton, the work on which was commenced IN
the year lS45. 1t IS almost completed, q
lew minor jobs, such as the erection of plat
forms for barbette guns alcne remaining to
be done. In form the front is an irregular
quadrangle, having three channel CURTAINS
of equal leng;b, and guage or shore ''cur-
tam Of greater length. Its situation is on
the southwestern portion of the island, at
the entrance of the harbor, in from six to
twelve feet of water, and distant from the
shore some 320 feet.
The work is pierced for three tiers of guns
two under caEeinated bomb proofs, and the
other en- barbette, or open. 1t will mount
l25 ten-inch Columbiads on the channel
fronts; and 4S heavy guns on the shore front.
have ascertained its full war armament con-
sists of 100 guns, the majority of which are
now in such condition as to withstand the
most protracted serge. The scarp walls of
the front are eight feet in thickness, and rise
abruptly from the water to the heighth Of
forty.two feet six inches. | am happy to
inform YOU it is well supplied with provis-
ions, ammunition, fuel, hospital and artillery
stores, and in addition, has excellent quar-
ters for It's officers and barracks for the men
Its force at present is largo, and they are un-
der the command o. Capt. j. NJ. Brannan.
United States Artillery, and Capt. E. B. Hunt
of the Engineer Corps. To take this fort
would rsqulre an immense number of Mis-
sissippi "Volunteers," the majority of whom,
| surmise, would "go under" and the expen-
diture of an amount of treasure which the
States that have repudiated their debts, or
would like to, do not possess.
Fort Jefferson. Tortugas, is an immense
Questioned" work, the wall being Of brick,
with a granite foundation. 1t was COM
menced in the year 1916, and in srategeti-
cal point of view, is designed to command
the admirable Darbor, lyi,g in heart of the
Florida Keys. The fort is pierced fo- three
tiers Of guns, two under bomb proof case
mates, and the other en- barbetie, or open.
Fhe casemated tiers are capable of mounting
$50 guns. A wide and deep ditch, commu,
n;catlng with the sea, surrounds the entire
work, and this is protected by counterscarp
Of immense length.
The guns of this work command the inne
harbor. Its armament in time of war con
sists Of $50 guns and 1000 troops. 1t is now
we'll manned, and is under the command of
Brevet-Major Lewis G. Arnold, U. S. Artil-
lery. assisted by First Lieut.. Henry Benson,
First Lieut. Matthew NJ. Blunt, and Surgeon
Adam W. MoLaren. Further than this, it is
sufficiently we'll supplied with provisions,
fuel, ammunition, artillery and hospital
stores.