Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-04-04
Position aud StrenR,h Of Fort Taylor, and
r ... the Character of Key West.

r the Character OF Key WEST
The Newport Or. ~ Mercury publishes an
interesting letter from Key West, from which
we copy the following:
Fort Taylor is rectangular in shape; that
is, it has three regular fronts and one irreg-
ular OF gorge front, 1t rests on an artificial
island the base sixteen feet high and eight
feet thick, is of Northern granite, bedded in
the coral. The fort is constructed of Pensa.
cola brick, the walls being eight feet thick.
1t has four bastlons which rake the fronts
with twenty. four pound hOwitzers. 1t has
two tiers OF, easements, armed with eight
inch Columbiads. The tier plane, or upper
tier, has forty.four ten inch swivel guns and
twelve ten-inch travice guns. The fort has
but one entrance or postern, which is nine
feet wide, The gorge front is $50 feet in
length, and the three other fronts are 800
feet each.
The fort is about 1900 feet from the shore,
and is connected by temporary bridge, but
when completed this space will be finished
for officers quarters, as a dyke sixty feet
wide will be built and covered. The shore
line will have breast-high wall, defended
by six twelve inch Columbiads. With the
completion Of this covered way the fort will
be completed, and will be one of the strong.
est in the world .. .. ~
Owing to the disturbed state of the country,
Captain Hunt, on his arrival last FALL imme-
diately commenced TO put the fort in proper
state of defense. This was done by remov.
ing the wharf at the west front, constructing
drawbridge and closing the lower ports,
except those occupied by guns. He has
continued through the Winter to strengthen
the fort in every possible manner, and after
making it impregnabe he gave the military
! department to Captain Brennan, First Artil-
| leTy, U. S, A.
The force to be stationed at the fort will
] consist of three companies of artillery, under
Major French, who is on his way from
| Texas
Beside the work done to put the fort on a
war footing, very great amount Of work
has been done toward completing it; the
| number OF men employed being about one
/ hundred, forty of which were slaves The
men are very orderly and free from dissipa-
ton, and not only willing to work for an
honest living, but, if need be, fgM for the
Union. The health of the men has been
unusually good so far, and they expect to
close their work about the middle of April
Had not Capt, Hunt placed the fort in q
state of defense as soon as he arrived here,
it would have been in the hands of the Sc
cessonists, but by his foresight the fort is
preserved TO the Government, who can hold
it as long as they desire. -.T 81
The town of Key West is situated on an
Island ak miles long and two wide,- the
highest elevation of hich is about twelve fee
above the level of the sea. The population
is about 81 800, 500 of which are negroes, thu
rest are a heterogeneous set from ali quarters
but the larger part are known as Conks
l from the Brshmas Islands. Their occu
patton is gathering sponge, of whicl
they sell about one hunpred thousand dol
lars worth per ,yeari many of the inhab
/ itants are wreckers, and the rest get living
by their wits. There are but very few old
Southern families here. On the island art
four churches, courthouse, jail and two
whipping posts. Drunkenness abounds
License for selling liquor, $50 per annum
For drinking, the penalty is either four hour
in the sweat box, 500 tine, or thirty-ntn'
lashes. q % ~
y The Federal officers here are all disunion.
lists, but a majority Of the people are for tht
j Union and are true and would make good
officers for the Government If desired.
H I H " . H.. j