Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1861-02-01
THE FoRTIFICATIOYs NEAR KEY WEST.
Correspondence Of the Journal Of Commerce.
W. T,,,,a,- VI,


KEY WEsr, January 20 1861.
The United States steamship Crusader Lieut. Mafit,
commanding, sailed for Havana the l4th instant
She is expected back to-day. The United States steamer
Mohawk Lieut.. Craven, sails this evening or tomorrow
morning for Maanza Cuba with dispatches for the De-
plrments.
The steamship Josep, Whitney arrived at Fort Jeiier-
SON. Toruga on the 18th instant, with Major Arnolds
company OF Artillery from Fort Winthrop, Boston har
bor major As command will garrison Fort Jefferson.
Capt NJ c. Megs engineer corps has charge of the con
sirucuon OF the fortiicatons while Major Arnold i' mill
tary commander only
Fort Taylor a large rstcass fertilization at the
trance of the harbor OF Key West s nearly finish
ed, the barracks and few platforms for barbete guns
being alone uncompeted. Capt T. b. Hunt engineer
corps in command account Of the seizure Of South
works by State authorities, has given the military
command of the fort to Capt John NJ Brannan, first
artillery, United States army, and he, with his officers
and men, are now quaTtered within the walls. The fort
is irregular quadrangle with three channecurtains OF
equal length and gorge or horecurtan of much great
length 1t is situated the south west point Of
the island in from six twelve feet of water and dis
tant from the shore three hundred yards The founda
ton is granite and the superstructure brick The scap
walls eight feet thick and rise to the height OF forty
one from the waters edge 1t has two tiers OF case
mates and one barbette tier and mounts one hundred
and twenty and lOlnch Columbads on the channel
fronts and fortyhve heavy guns on the shore fronts
Most Of the armament is in place, enough TO sustain
protracted seige. The troops well supplied with or
dnance stores, provision, wa,6r fuel Ac. and are proba
bly, better fitted TO resist attacks han Maor Anderson at
Fort Sumter.
With the cooperation of the naval vessels in this
station, Capts. Branuan and Hunt will be able TO hold
Fort Taylor as long the Federal authorities choose TO
retain command Of the key of the Gulf The following
are the officers OF the garrison John NJ Brannan, Cap
tain first Aruery, in command; f. wsd B. Hunt Cap.
tain Corps of Engine ,rs Avan c. Glom First Lieu
tenant Artillery Charles II. Wibber, Lieutenant Artl-
lery.
NAPOLEON Ill. SEATING AT PARis.-The Paris cores
pendent of the LoadOn Herald writing on the 18Th,
gives the following account Of the in which Ma
poeon ILL., sometm diverts himself The Emperor ar
rived at the lake in Il Bots de Bouogne about three p
N. on Friday in plain chariot drawn by two horses
and unattended by any escort He alghted from his
ge aud crossed the lake on his skates He was soon
cognized by some men wearing bouses who raised cry
OF "Here is the Emperor Vve lEmpereur" The cry at
acted universal attention. and everybody cheered The
Emperor continued 10 skate apparently delighted with
the enthusiastic reception he met with. The Emperor
seeing child in a sledge, pushed forward by nursery
maid took the place OF the and drove the sedge
Having amused himself for about half hour, more
ike aschoolboy enjoying holiday than Emperor he
eft as quietly as he came. There several fashion
ably dressed English ladies among the skaters.
REPORTED SAFETY or THE IIEyAEr-The Trenton o..
J papers state that information has been received that
the soop Levant for whose safety much ankle
~ has been felt, was spoken by whaer from the Sand
wich Islands at Panama. Captain Hunt the commander
who belongs in Trenton desired the captain of the whaler
TO report that he compelled visit of the other
Islands IN the Pachc, consequently he would not be at
Panama for two months from the time he Ipaced
This intelligence comes via Washington TO which place
1t was conveyed by the doctor of the ship ST. Mary
who sailed from Panama on board the whaer.