The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1861-04-10

aud other portions of the work, the har-
bor. 1t is now in possession Of Florida

aud other portions of the work, the har-
Dor. 1t is now in possession Of Florida
troops.
UNITED STATES PORTS AT KEY WEST.
Recent events indicate the determine.
tion of the United States Government to
retain full. entire and complete possession
of the Notifications on the Florida reefs,
near Key West. To pnt these works,
therefore in a complete condition of de-
tense. they have been recently reinforced
by United States troops, fully prosisioned
for long seige, and supply of amnni.
ton furnished enough to sink a half a
dozen respectable sized navies. Key
West is celebrated as naval station; it
is the headland Of the Southern coast,
situated on the northwest end of an
island of the same name, otherwise called
Thompsen's Islnnd; it is four miles long
and one mile wide 1t has fne harbor,
admitting vessels drawing twenty-seven
feet, and is well defended, as we shall
hereafter describe. II is the key 20 the
northern passage of the Cuff Of Mexico,
as the, passage here is safer and ninety
mile nearer than around Tortuges. The
thermometer at this place ranges from
fifty to ninety degrees of Fahrenheit.
The whole island lies on bed of lime.
stone, about one foot beneath the sur
face.
Fort Taylor, Key Vest
This is also a new, FIRST class bastoned
fort the work of which was commenced in
IS45. Like Fort jefferson, il is brick
fort, built upon granite foundation 1t
is nearly finished, the barracks and few
platforms for barbette guns being alone
incompleted. In shape the work is an
irregular quadrangle, having three chan
mel curtains Of equal length and gauge
or shore curtains of much greater length.
1t is situated at the southwest part of
the island, at the entrance Of the harbor
of Key Welt, in from six to twelve feet
of water. and distant from the shore aboRt
three hundred yards. The scarp walls
are eight feet n thickness, and rises alb
rnpily from the water to a hight of forty
one feet. The work is pierced for three
tiers of guns two under casemated bomb
proofs and the ether open or en- bartehe.
1t mounts ore hundred ard twenty ten
inch coiumbiads on the channel fronts,
and forty FIVE heavy gums on The shore
'front.' lis fail war urmament is one hun
dred aud eighty-five guns. most of which
are in battery aud ready 10 stand pro
trsc,e5 siege.
| The fort is welt supplied with proyi'
sons, fae', ammunition, hospital ard ar,
tilIery stores aid barracks for he troops
Its present force consists OF about i've
hundred men, euder the command o
Capt. } al. Il AMMAN. Of the F.rst Uaitet
States Artillery. and Capt. e, 3. Hunt
of lhe coeps of Engineers. %
Fort Taylor is considered the key 0
the Guf The only vulnerable point i
facing the end side; bat even to maxi
any Impression upon it by an enem,
would require a large force and the sac
ri6ces Of kn immence number of lives
aud the expenditure Of large amount o
treasure ,as..-
Fort Je6ferson, 7ortngas. +.
This work was commenced 10 1S46
and is now nearly finished. In a strategi
cal point Of view it is designed to com
nand the admirable harbor lying in th
heart of this group of keys. This for
is an immense bastioned work. the wall
of which are built of biick, with grant
foundation. Thus. far it has cost III
Government over one million of dollars
The work covers an area of betwee
thirteen and fourteen acres. Allhoug
not fully armed, it is completely close
and impregnable against an escaldin
party. This work is pierced for thre
tiers of guns. two under bombproof case
mates, and one open or en- bor6ette. TIL
casemated tiers are capable Of mountiu
$50 guns. A wide ditch, communicatin
with the sea, surrounds he.eniire worl
and this is protected by counterscrap {
great length. The guns of this fort CON
mand the inner harbor The outer har
bor is beyond the reach of the heavies
guns. Fort Jefferson, when it will hav
been completed and put on war footing
will require total armament of 450 gun
and 1000 troops. The present garriso
now consists of about $50 men, under th
command of Brevet Major Lewis G. Arr
old, of the First Regiment of Unite
States Artillery, assisted by First Lieu
Henry Benson, First Lieutenant (Quar
termaster) Matthew M. Blunt, and SUI
geon Adam N. M,Laren The fort
well provided with provisions. fuel, an
: munition, artillery and hospital store
II is deficient however, an armament, ha,
ing only IS guns. in battery; out this
being reuedied with all possible haste.
The Lowest Type of Humanity.
The following extract is from an art
Gle on "Barbarism and Civilization"