Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1861-08-02

-Sepats Eoiat-AerPort Ne'gs-klegd
and onion Guns.
[From Our Special Correspondent
FORTREss MoSROE, July 20, 1861.
Old Point Comfort is familiar as house
hold word, but we think the namea a misno-
mer, for we never ielt the rays Of the sun
more severely than here, without a breeze to
modify them. ~
OF the shape and position Of Fort Monroe,
the Autographs give a good idea It's walls
Of stone are 25 feet high with, IN addition,
turf embaukment Of ten feet on top Of
which the guns are mounted, sH bdrbettE to
the number Of 100. The distance around
the ramparts Is one mile and a quarter, which
may give you a tolerable idea of the area Of
the Fortress. A moat, or ditch, so feet wide
and 10 feet in depth, surrounds the Fort
which is commanded by its guns, Outside Of
the ditch, near the beach, is the water bat
teiy Of 40 guns of large calibre. The cele-
brated Union Gun is to be mounted on the
beach within a stone throw Of this battery.
The Rip Raps ere about three miles frsIn
the Fort and four from Sewalrs Point The
work on the Rip Raps was commenced in
1916, and the foundation for the fortifcations
was formed by transporting an enormous
quantity Of stone, and creating an artificial
island, which is now 900 feet long and 300
feet in width. The original work progressed
for twenty-five years and was then stopped
by order of the Government. Upon exami-
nation, some four or five years since, it was
found the work had settled FIVE feet, when It
was decided 20 demolsh it and commence
anew, building the new fertilization Of gran
ite, and on more scientific and approved
plan. The present work is under the super
intendence OF Col. De Ruse, of the U. S. To-
biographical Engineers. and when completed
will be one Of the strongest fortihcatious in
the world. The walls are eight feet thick
and will be sixty feet in height, and mount
300 guns. A breakwater will be construct
ed connecting with the shore opposite, %
miles in length, closing navigation on that
side. The walls are nov ten feet high, and
four columbiads are mounted, commanding
the channel on the north east side, and or
the pier on the same side is the Sawyer gun.
To the courtesy Of Capt Leeoh, of Mass, who
has charge here, VIC are indebted .or intor-
nation in reference TO the works.
There are fifteen Secession prisoners con-
6ued here, and they invariably bear testimo-
ny to the kind treatment received since their
arrival. None OF these are from the rebel
army.
The rebel batteries on Sewells Point are
not visible, being concealed in the bushes or
masked.
Newport News, ten miles from Fort Mon
roe, is situated at the mouth Of James River,
which leads to Richmond Between three
and four hundred FEDERAL troops are en-
trenched there. under command of Colonel
Phelps. The 18th New York, Col. Bendix.
Col. Aliens Regiment from Troy and Alba
ny, and Zouave Regiment, comprise the
forces within the eatrenchmen's. Two men
of-war blockade the river at Newport News
and Eve or six at Fort Monroe
The Floyd gun was dismounted last week
TO make way for the Union gun, which will
be mounted in its place the last of this or
first of next week To give you an idea Of
the immense proportions of the monster
Union gun, give you its dimensions It is
! fifteen feet in length; diameter at the breech,
twelve feet, or thirty six feet in eircumfer-
ence; and two feet in diameter ss the muz-
zle, or six feet in circumference, The hors
/ of the gun is one foot in diameter, and has
twenty-one grooves Its weight is $4,000
lbs, and it is calculated to carry ball or
shell seven miles The Floyd is ls feet in
length, and weighs $4,000 lbs. Both of
them are. constructed after the Dahlgreen
pattern. The Floyd is the larger bore of
the two, and is not rified.
The blnekading forces are on the look out
for a couple Of steel clad steamers from Rich
mond, who are hourly expected with the
intention of running the blockade. A warm
reception awaits them if they attempt it,
The Federal troops are in good spirits and
ready for the rebels, and anxious to treat
them to a little eGHRonieaL law. JUEIUs.