The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1861-05-15
Fortress Monroe.

As our readers must feel deeply inter
ested in evey thing relative TO the
strength aud extent Of :hose fortifications
against which our noble volunteers may
ere many days be fighting. We give oe.
low an interesting desert ',ion Of Fortress
Monroe, taken from the Richmond En-
9uirer
Fortress Monroe is a strongly fortified
garrison situated ON that point Of land
formed by the extreme western band Of
che Chesapeake, and the extreme eastern
bank OF Hampton Roads, and at the
Junction Of the two waters. II was dis.
covered during the war Of 1Sl2-l4, that
Chesapeake Bay WAS the key 10 all the
waters Of Virginia and MARYLAND, and all
who are at all familiar with the history
OF the country, will remember that
British vessels came into Hampton
Roads and not only tookothe town of
Hampton. out threatened to apply the
torch 10 Norfolk, that, phoenix like, hal
sprung lrUm the ashes Of u former War
with that power. Peace WAS declared in
1915, aud when the mex, Congress met
they look iuto consideration the suljec,
Of coast aud barbor deiences according
ly board Of engineers WAS appointed
aud an appropriation made for the prose
cu'ion Of such plans as might be decided
upon.
About this time the grand army of
Napoleon WAS quiet, and several Of his
principal officers had made our republi
can country their home among them
was General Bernard, AN experienced sol.
dier. and one OF the most skiful engi
psers then existing. lie WAS accordingly
invited 10 assist IN the work Of arranging
our .s'ein of coas, and harhor defence,
aud III 1915, III COMPANY with several
American officers, projected Fortress
Moh!ce AID Fort Calhoun, more gener
ally known as the RIP Raps." The
work Was ixld "ll and buln lor,s com
meuced III 1919. From that time TO
,i': there l,s been more or less work
goms ON al Fort Monroe, aud While that
work II sufficiently advanced to be placed
III sale vi Geience, il is TAR from being
finished. The cAtent oi the work ma,
be Judged fom the iaci that il is over u
E!'i. around he Tauparts the wall GOV
trs space oi t~ei.ty Or l~enty five acres,
md there are about fifteen acres inside ui
The garrison. Besi,cs the houses, there
are store rnas,s, work shops, (not used
nov. y labor Tory, nn ofiiee, and several
un:npor,nn' hrdiIgs.
The casema'-s cuu.n. euce in the v;cini
I! OF the ros;cr1, bch nd the water bate
~, aud ex euG, with little inttrmisslon,
tu 'he aTched doorway, d-s gastsd rs the
n.a'n euuahcc Ua either side Of that Oh
tU.mcr are casr'n"r"s, which are used ss
Ynmr,e,s .or The utiicer Of the day. guar,
l'"use and b.irack. for the guard. Those
aIe.t The port cullis have embrasurv,,
which ARE INTENDED TO prevent that point
rom attack. luueed all tho csseinH'.y
nre Supplied With embrasurcs, bshirG
which are mounted AZ poubders. On
The rampars, 4 those points, wher-
there aIo "o :asemn es. are mounted guns
upon wooden carriages, whose saucy
looking muzze's are plainly to be seen
above the green turf that caps the fcrtif
cation. Al lbe extreme Southern bastion
hoats the star. and stripes, While just be
low il, on the inside Of the garrison, is y
neat little Episcopal Church where the
Chaplain, MIR. Cbeevers, still CONTINUES
to offer up his prayers for the Union and
its President. A deep moat surrouuds
the whole sork this moat is supplied
with water from Mil Creek, and, while
the gstes are open, ebbs aud flows with
The tide.
The Water Battery, like all the ma
Aonry on this fort, is beautiful piece Vi
work; Il is built VI atone. and is sufficient
ly thick TO Withstand any shot that eau
be projected against It from the bay hey
OId. II is finished with casems.es, the
arches Of which are turned with brick,
and rest upon granite columns in the
rear. This battery has fryitwo embras
ures, and is supplied ~ilh like number
OF 42 FOUNDERS. which, Ike all the tea, oil
the guns in the garrison, are mounted
Snd ready Tor aclion. il covers oil that
lsce OF the garrison that fronts upon the
channel OF the bay, and 10 only intended
- a means OF offence and defence when
attacked by n force on the water. This
portion Of the work. like the rampasts, ia
covered with green turf, and presents 4
Sbsautifui and pleasant promenade in the
SuDmsr afternoons. Al the upper OF
porshssn extremity Of this battery com.
msnces rsdoubt or breastwork iha, ex
tends around TO the point Of that baslioa
jn which ,hs magazine 10 situated /; in
The middle of ,ba redoatt 10 q ssliy. port
or postern that leads out &c an outer
work mot ye, 6eish.d) that 10 intended
10 protect the fort from The land side.
F'on' hs Wster Battery TO the Mag
sz'ne Is decidedly the weskest portion OF
this fortress, and we'll organised force Of
one thousand men could readily carry
the ior,ifica,ion at this point. Besides
the fact tbsi there are no caser,at, GUN.
on these two faces, the gsses that supply
II