Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-04-11
w. ID. WALLACH.
Forts at Key West.

Key West, as 10 well known, is an important
naval station; IL is the headland Of the South
ern coast, situated on the northwest end of an
island of the same name, but occasionally
known as Thompson's Island; ii is four and
one-eighth of a mile in length, and one in
width The harbor is magnificent, admitting
vessels drawing twenty-eight feet of water
and, most fortunately, is well defended at this
time. This point is the key to the northern
passage of the Gulf of Mexico, as this route is
much safer, and some ninety-two miles nearer
than around Tortugas. The entire island lies
on bed of limestone, about eighteen inches
below its surface.
Fort Taylor is a new, frst-class 'sbastioned''
tort, is Of brick, built upon granite founds-
tion, the work on which was commenced in the
year lS45. Ii is almost completed, few minor
jobs, such as the erection of platforms for bar
bette guns alone remaining to be done. In
form the fort is an irregular quadrangle, hav-
ing three channel 4" curtains" of equal length
and guage or shore curtain" of greater
length. It's situation is on the southwestern
portion Of the island, at the entrance of the
harbor, in from six to twelve feet of water and
distant from the shore some 800 feet
The work is pierced for three tiers of guns
two under casemented bomb proofs and the
other en- barbette, or open. 1t will mount l25
ten-ineh Coumbiads on the channel fronts and
~ heavy guns on the shore front have asoer-
tanned its full war armament consists Of 100
u
dltlon to withstand the most prOtracted siege.
The scarp walls of the front are eight feet in
thickness, and rise abruptly from the water to
the hight Of AZ feet inches. / am happy 10
inform you 1t is well supplied with provisions,
ammunition, fuel, hospital and artillery stores,
and In addition, has excellent quarters for its
Cticers and barracks for its men. It's force at
present is large, and they are under the CON-
mand Of Capt. j. NJ. Brennan, u. s. Artillery,
and Captain E. b. Hunt, Engineer Corps. To
take this tort would require an immense num-
Der OF Mississippi volunteers" the majority
OF whom, surmise, would Ego under" and
the expenditure Of an amount Of treasure
which States that have repudiated their debts,
or would like to, do not possess
Fort Jefferson, TortugaS, is an immense bas-
toned work, the wall being Of brick, with
granite foundation. 1t was commenced in the
year 1916, and in strategetical point Of view
rs designed to command the admirable harbor,
lying In the heart Of the FLORIDA Keys. The
tort Is pierced for three tiers Of guns, two un-
der oomb-proof classmates, the ether en- barbctts
or open. The casemated tiers are capable of
mounting 500 guns. A wide and deep ditch
communicating with the sea- surrounds the en-
tire work, and this is protected by counter
scarp Of immense length
The guns of this work command the inner
harbor. In time of war its armament consists
OF 400 guns and 900 troops. 1t is now well
manned, and is under the command of Brevet
Mal Lewis q. Arnold, U. s. Artillery, assisted
by First Lieuts Henry Benson, Matthew M.
Blunt, and Surgeon Adam w. MoLaren. Fur
ther than this, it is sufficiently supplied with
provisions, fuel, ammunition, artillery and
hospital stores These particulars have rea-
son TO believe are very correct.-CoTreS. ".
y. Tribune.