Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1861-05-31
FORTRESS MONROE.

garrison, situated on that point of land
formed by the extreme western bank of
the Chesapeake and the extreme eastern
bank of Hampton Roads, and at the juno
ton of the two waters. It was discovered
during the war of 1894 that Chesa-
peake Bay was the key to all the waters
of Virginia and Maryland, and all who
are at all familiar with the history of the
country, will remember that British ves-
sells came into Hampton Roads, and not
only took the town of Hampton, but
threatened to apply the tor Oh to Norfolk,
that, Phenix-like, had sprung from the
ashes of former war with that power.
Peace was declared in 1915, and when the
next Congress met they took into consid-
Grafton the subject of coast and harbor
defenses; accordingly a board of engineers
was appointed, and an appropriation made
for the prosecution of such plans as might
be decided upon.
About this time the grand army of Ma
poleon was quiet, and several of his prin-
cipal officers made our republican country
their home; among them were General
Bernard, an experienced soldier, and one
of the most skilltul engineers then exist
ing. He was accordingly invited to as
sist in the work of arranging our system
of coast and harbor defense, and in 1916,
in company with several American officers
projected Fortress Monroe and Fortress
Calhoun, more generally known as the
"Rip-raps." The work was laid off and
both works commenced in 1919. From
that to this there has been more or less
work going on at Fort Monroe, and while
that work is sufficiently advanced to be
placed in state of defense, it is far from
being finished. The extent of the work
may be judged from the fact that it is
far from being finished. The extend of
the work may be judged from the fact
that it is over mile around the ram
parts; the wall covers space of twenty
or twenty-five acres, and there are about
fifteen acres inside the garrison. Besides
barracks, officers quarters, and chapel,
there are stone houses, work shops (not
now in use,) laboratory, an office, and
several unimportant buildings within the
walls. ....
The classmates commence in the vicinity |
of the postern, behind the water battery,
and extend, with little intermlssion, to
the arched doorway; on either side of
the entrance are classmates which are used
as quarters for the officers of the day,
guard house and barracks for the guard.
Those nearest the portcullis have embras-
ures which are intended to protect that
point from attack. Indeed all the case
mates are supplied with embrasures, be-
hind which are AZ Founders. On the
ramparts at those points where there are
no easements, are mounted guns upon wood
en- carriages, whose saucy looking muzzles
are plain to be seen above the green turf
that caps the ratification. At the ex-
IRENE southern bastion floats the stars and
stripes, while just below it on the inside
of the garrison, is neat little Episcopal
church, where the chaplain, Mr.. Cheever,
still continues to offer up his prayers for
the Union and it's President. A deep moat
surrounds the whole work; this moat is
supplied with water from Mill Creek, and
while the gates are open, GIBBS and flows
with the tide.
The Water Battery, like all the masonry
on this fort, is beautiful piece of work
it is built of stone, ard is sufficiently thick
to withstand any shot that can be pro-
jected against it from the bay beyond
1t is finished with easements, the arches
of which are turned with brick and rest
upon granite columns in the rear. This
battery has AZ embrazures,' and is sup
piled with q like number of AZ Founders,
which, like all the rest of the guns in the
garrison, are fully mounted aud ready for
action. 1t covers all that face of the gar
rison that fronts upon the channel of the
bay, and is only intended as means of
offense and defense when attacked by a
force on the water. This portion of the
work, like the rampars is covered with
green turf. and presents beautiful and
pleasant promenade in summer affernoons