The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1861-08-28

ere this have beer heap of ruins
Fort Carol Is an unfinished fortifcation situa- |
ted in the center of Patapsco river four miles /
fron Baltimore; part Of the walls are up and
pierced with enbra>ures for caseInate guns
a huge uncouth pile OF granite towers up rough
", giving 10 the place wild and strange appear
,nce. In the scenery along The river and bor-
dering the bay, there IS nothing Sufficiently in
terestng to demand passing notice. ATT T.
" We passed Annapolis, the dome of the State
House being distinctly visible in the distance
AZ I IL j. II. We sat down to a NEST excellent
supper and our voracious appetites were rega!ed
with salt water crabs, fresh trout and herring,
reliable beef STEAK, nicely baked rolls, genuine
coffee, and other decacies too nurnerous TO men
ton. la the evening, TO vary the monOt0ny OF
d" life on the ocean wave" squad OF German
volunteers occupying the front deck Of the boat,
sung their German songs, spoke their German
iecama,i1ns and performed various other Ger
man gynlnastc ieats to the complete edi6ceton
OF the OF er passengers. The cool fresh breeze
which came rushing up from the ocean as We
gidea doan the bay was very pleasant ard in
MIGRATING
At a seasonabIe hour, NJ nothing was to be
seen on deck. sought my state room for the
purpose of obtaining few hours sleep with a
view to being fully prepared to appreciate the
sights" on the morrow. But did | get
the coveted rest? Why sir, l cannot be.
leve the fiery furnace was hotter than that seven
by nine state room. / just fairly lay and soaked
in Precipitation; now and then drowsiness
would steel over me, but no sooner had | closed
nv eyes than an unearthy noise, Occasioned by
the engine blowing Off steam, would arouse me-
to full consciousness o. my insufferatle condition
a,ose on Sunday morning a. o'clock, totally
dlssusted with the last nights attempt TO rest
We were now thirty miles from Old Point Com
fort. The sun arose in full splendor from behind
the eastern waste Of waters scattering the nists
of morning, thus rendering the atmosphere so
clear aud pure that We could see distinctly for a
distance of 20 miles
At ) IL A. ", as we stood on the deck We
had distant view Of the grand old ocean, could
also see Old Point Comfort, Rip Raps, Sewalrs
Point, and the towering masts OF several men Of
war; indeed, the whole panorama of this por
ton of the scene Of military operations lay in
full view before US. At 6 l-2 A. NJ, the steam
er swept around the point from the east up to
the wharf opposite Fortress Monroe. Resolved
10 see all that could be seen, hurried off to the
from Washington, took the oath to bear true
faith and loyalty to the government, procured
another pass thereafter and strolled off towards
the Fortress. Fortress Monroe, probably the
largest and sron gest ratification on the Western
Continent, is situated at the south western ex
tremitv of Old Point Comfort, and is connected
with the main land by two narrow roads, one
leading to Hampton, the other off along the shore
east. IL is surrounded by an extensive moat a.
feet wide, and twenty feet in depth; out OF
the water abruptly rise the massive walls of the
Fortress 20 the heigh, of so feet. Through 2OC
port holes seen projecting the dark muzzles
OF heavy casemate guns. On the ramparts,
sweeping all approaches either By land sea. are
seen the long black rows of heavy Columbiads,
Dahlgren guns and Ri1ed Cannon The Fortress,
when fully armed, mounts 500 guns-at present
400 are in position. There is plenty OF crd-
nance close at hand to complete the armament,
Tor i" adjoining square arc 200 heavy cannon
of various descriptions, together with immense
piles of balls, shot aud she'll ] entered the
Fortress from the western side; a little village
seemed spread out before me; here and there
are seen the neat commOdious yellow buildings
occupied by officers soldiers barracks, machine
shops and store houses occupy considerable
space. Fine large shade trees, well selected
shrubbery, beautiful flowers, fine walks, together
with numerous other attractions combine in
forming scene, which, besides being enchant-
ing to the brave soldier commands the interested
attention OF the most indifferent civilian. The
walls of the Fortress enclose space equal to so
acres. In the centre is large open square used
for the discipline and drill Of troops; on the
east side are several hundred gun carriages and
batteries OF light artillery. l assembled the ram
parts and noted the ranges of the thickly mount
ed cannon here and there are heavy mortars
capable of throwing Is inch shells; furnaces for
heating balls are located short distances apart
From the ramparts is had splendid view of the
surrounding country. Se~ell's Point, Rip Raps,
Craney Island, Pig Point and Hampton, are clear
" visible to the naked eye. The possession of
the Fortress at this present time " our govern
ment is especially important. Its gu IS effrctual
IL cut off all communication with Richmond and
Norfolk, besides it is the basis of operations for
the recspture of Gosport Navy Yard, and the
rees,abli>hment Of the government authority in
eastern Virginia Norfolk and Richmond so long
the government preserves an effectual block
ade of James river ruined cities. 1t is said
the rebels have large fleets both at Norfolk and
Richmond, with which in conjunction with a
large land force they intend shortly to make a
demonstration against the Fortress: this is prob.
ably all gas but even if it were true, there will
be no Bull Run conflict. But must hasten on
The Rip Raps is huge pile of stones in the
channel Of the river. about midway between the
Fortress and Sewel's point. Il presents very
odd and rough appearance, rising abruptly from
the water, resembling nothing either above or
beneath the earth. 1t is designed as the founda.
ton of fort. At the present time several heavy
cannon are mounted there for the purpose o. ma
king an impression on Sewell's Point whenever
the order comes for aggressive operations. Sew
els Point is !our mics directly south of the
Fortress on the opposite side of the river. 1t is
a low position extending into the river; the reb-
els have no batteries towards the Fortress or the