New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-05-05
FORTRESS MONROE.

Book, will Interest many persona:
Fortress Monroe Ia stroDg fortified garrison, sitn-
aed On that ron, of land formed by the extreme west
ern bank Of the Cbesapeake and the extreme easern
bauk Of Hampton Roads and at the junction OF tne
two waters. Ii was discovered duting the war on
IsI3-l4 that Chesapeake Bav was the Key 10 All the
tiers ~ Virginia and Mary land and all who arc AT
all familiar with the history of the country, VIII re-
member that Britisb els came into HAMPTON Roads,
and not only took the town OF Hampton utthrsaehed
TO apply the torch to Norfolk, THAI PLcenx like hsd
sprung from the sthes of a forEaer war with that
power. Peace was declared in 1875 and when me
next Congress met they took into consideratioi the
subject of coast and h'rbor defenses; accordingly
board If enti GERS was appointed and an appropriation
made for the prosecution of such plans as might be de-
cded upon.
Abon, this time the grand army of Napoleon was
quiet and several Of his principal officers made our TO-
publican country their home; among the n was ten
Bernard On experienced soldier, aud one OF the uos'
skillul engineers then existing He wac accordingly
invited to assist in tho work Of arranging our system i
and habOr deen-e and in 1916, IT, company Win
several American officers, projected Fortress Monroe
and Fort Clhoun more generally known az the " Nip
Raps." The work was laid off and both forts COM
nenced in 1919 From that time TO this there has been
less work going on at Fort Monroe, and While
that work IL sufficiently advanced to be placed III
state of Defense i, is tar from being finished The ex-
tent Of the work may be Judged om the fact that II IL
over mile srUnnd the rsmparts; the wall covers
Of twenty twenty Gveacres, and there's about
fifteen acre. III ide Of the garrison.
The classmates liz the vicinity OF The post
ern, bthipd tie water battery, aud extend with little
interrission, TO the archei doorway On either side
Of Ibrt entrance IRE cssemates which used quar-
tiers for the ocer OF the day ardhouse and barracks
for the punId Those nehrest The pofrulis have en-
brsures which are inen6ed 10 protect that point IRON
attack. Indeed al the cHscnates are supplied With
embrasnite heh,ud which are mounted i2pounders.
On the raDI arts at those points VIII 10 there are no
caseinates are mounted gus, upon wooden cariagee,
wh+e saocy looking muzzles are plainly 10 be seen
above the green that caps tie forihoaion ~ the
extreme sonthcrD bsstiOn floats the esis aud stripes,
while Just below il, The insiGo Of the garrison u
little Episcopal Church, where the Chaplain, MI.
Cheevers, e continues to offer up bis prayers i0r the
Union and the President. deep moat surrounds the
whole work this meat is suprhd with water from
Mill Greek. and while the gates are open, Gibbs and
flows with tie tide.
The wster-battery, like all the masonry on this fort
is beautiful piece OF work. 1t is built Of stone, aud
Is sufficiently thick to withstand any shot than can be
Projected ssiusl irom the bay beyond. II Is finished
with classmates, tie aTC}es of wUch turned with
brick aud rect upou granite columns in the THIS
battery has fory two embrasures and Is supplied with
"a lik. number OF 42-iouncers Which, like all the rest
OF the guns in tie garrison, aIe fully mounted and
ready for action IL covers all that lace Of the gari
son thaf fIous upon the channel OF the bay and Is
only INTENDED nm am oil ohense hnd deiehfe wien
alta, ked 10y force tie water Tbs portion OF the
work like the Iamphus, IL covered VIII green tui,
ana peeen,e beautiful and pleasant promenade In the
| Summer aternOOns
| At the upper or northern extremity OF this battery
commences redoubt or heastw0rk that eNteuds arou
to the ,ont of that baion IN which the magazine Is
etnat la the middle 81 this edoubt II sally oft or
potern that leads 10 an outer work not yet hirhed,
that intended protect the fort from the land side
From the battery TO the magazine l. decidedly
the weakest por Ion OF ui iorres-, ana Wen organ
lied force of 600 could readily carry the iofh-
cation nj tls point. BeiGc he fact that there are
ca emae guns these two faces, the gaer that cup
ply the oat with water tits eide, and at the
low tide might lie closed 70 prevent the water from
coming n on the change Of The tide, and thus could
Ind i0rce rtduce the JfHit Of waller to such IN extent
"a 10 enable item to wade across aud scale tie "al',
which of courre could only be done under nnrderus
fire. The gun from only one shoulder could be brought
10 bear upon tho scaling party, ana tbhi one, or even
| Two would DO depressed as 10 render lis enect
doubtful Beside tlis s'orniGg party could reduce
The garrison 20 submission an shOrt whc uhle-r the
elements con, pired 10 furnish them water, Tor there
not spring or well, ora pump. on the work. bn'
like an. good pe,ple OF Norfolk the soldiers ut Old
pin, have to depend on the clouds for their drink
we were LEAD into tie above r-nhrks became OF the
fsc, tbat Fortress Monroe is considered imprognAble,
lint ,ub In not the fact; il lacks much Of IL as now
stands and even II II coups'ed, we give our oes
Of the work. when remind our Ttadfro tnai seess-
| Torso! and Gibraltar fell before a reeoiute enemy.
IN, Lsesmond sF7rirsr, IN coping ve shove
I SAFE.
;Aspo fertilization ismpregnatis . q well aprointed
army Of resolute and determined uen re question 81
reducing Fortress Monroe is one I" lie Determined ~
the aisdum and jud gmept Of tie ptil aud u,ihtafy
authorities OF the Confederate Sntcr taking iut0 con-
sdetion The necessary loss of life that must ensue IN
i,v snoces,,ul aptur. Upon this point wo venture nc
oiiuin, having IL TO the "IsSa'p ana discretion o.
Prr,d.nt Davis and bis able ooere IN command OF tie
| State end Confederate forces.
The earrison at Fortress Monroe IL. doubtless very
Iarcc and t1ri ted NJ ts tinio with The capacity
ON the ar Of tie United States authorizes, 10 increase
il 10 larger amount.
ave hive no dea that the reports ~ 70 tie number
Of toops now NJ Eortress Moroe, variously etmai ID
NJ f,on three 10 five lhonsaud correct But that
large aud strong garrison IL Low within the fort We
have 10 doubt.
Conn aocing the entrance Of Hampton Roade, III
guns efectuully blotknde tie Janes d Ellabetl
fiyers stopping al bound dherto or from Rich
mond. Petersburg or TX. Great annoyance l.
TINS given 10 the rade Of Yird iaand North Carolina;
bur as the same III ckade could be made by vessels Of
war within or without The Caps, may be question
with the nuihoriIi,5 whether Fortress Monroe should
be reduced by Investment conquered by forcing tie
cauituation Of Washington city."