New-York daily tribune., 1861-05-14

Living In Casemntes-The Library LOYALTY
Of the Omcers-Priers i'm Norfolk -6sss-
port, Big Cams, Fish and Oy,sers-Ysrs
Calhoun-The Fsrsress INSIDE
| FORTRESS MONROE, OLD PoisT CoxYoRr. Va.
May II, 1861.
Reader Gid you ever live in casemate with port-
hole for window There is nothing Ike il in All the
world Like the great Kentucky cave, il is cold in
Summer and warm in Winter Nearly ell the case
mates in this Fortress occupied by officers as sleep.
ing rooms as well as Office quarters and nothing could
be better. Such roof few houses ever have neshse
such walls nor floors; nor, when tbe 42-pounder and
the IO-inch Columbiads are mounted such fmnitarc
But the guns not yet mounted in the cassmases ex-
eept in those Of the Water Battery. They being OK.
clusvely the water fronts, there is considered no
immediate necessity for mounting guns In them. In
fact all the guns Of the Fortress are barbee on tue
ramparts, except those 10 the Water Battery.
Many of the dwellings Of the officers are really fine,
having large gardens and grounds attached in which
figs and other fruits flourish Situated n the neghbor
hood Of NewYOrk, they would be considered elegant
suburban residences Within the last two weeks nost
of them have been vacated.
Connected with the Fortress is O large library Of
military books, most Of TEN in the French language.
Till within short time there has been school Of prac-
tice here Major Anderson is old favorte here this
having been bis post for ten years find that all the
officers warmly approve of his conduct at Fort SUMTER
and think him richly deserving Of the highest
bonors.
Areview of the list of the regular officers in tho
fortress dscoses the following facts to the States 10
which they severaly belong: New-York, 81 Delaware
l. Indiana, .; New-Jersey, q Michigan, q District
of Columbia, 9; Kentucky, l; Vermont, 1; Tennes-
gee, /; Pennsylvania, g. Illinois, Il Louisiana 4;
Massachusetts L. Missouri, /; Virginia, 4 Georgis.
/. Although the officers are from all quarters of the
Union, there is not the least division of sentiment
among them. As general thing, that which wouldbs
termed the coercive or aggressive policy fnds the
greatest favor. Devotion TO the flag is nowhere more
sincere than here. There have been no designations
nor will there be any, short time since Secession
st called on one Of the officers and fully expressed his
sentiments supposing that the officer who was from
one Of the Gulf States, entertained the same views,
and concluded bis remarks with the observation thai b
did not see how with such principles be could remain
in the army The officers reply was: "Sueh are not
nv principles. am traitor. II you have supposed
e capable of fathleseness to the Government you are
greatly mistaken. Large as Fortress Monroe is there
is not room enough in it for single traitor even for an
waiting even for his hour to expire Let the country
honor the officers at Fortress Monroe; though from
different States they are all equally worthy.
A gentleman vino spent few hours in Norfolk .
day or two since informs me that green pess are selling
for fifty bushel ripe strawberries for eight and
ten cents quart, snd other early vegetables in pro-
poriop These things viii not, however, feed an
army, and their eheapness proves that although from
e - a. .,J solI, in tha
of Norfolk, there is no market for these products.
Within the next two weeks, as the suppl! increases,
prices will decline one-half. The gentleman reforred
TO assured that friend offered him one dollar
pound for butter if he would bring him frkin for
family use. This fortress has been in the receipt OF
vegetables from the surrounding country but many
who have been in the habit of bringing supplies dare
not do so any longer account Of threats againse
them. notice, notwithstanding, that the table as
mess has suffered no material diminuiou. and thas
there is TO apparent ground for apprehending famine
Fish and oysters are very abundant the former never
so much So and never 80 fine this season. dollar
viii buy fish that would be considered cheap at three
dollars in Fulton Market. At time and at no price
do we have them of such fine quality those 90 sbnn-
dsnt in these waters.
Fort Calhoun, 10 which / have once OF twice re-
ferred is about mile and quarter from the Fortress,
rising out of the water abreast Of IT, II Is little more
than heap of stones now, and has no armament. IL
was built many Year, ago, but the settling OF the walls
caused il to be taken down. and this s s present con-
dition Built and furnished with complete armanens,
il would be to the Fortress and the surroundings whas
Fort Sumter was 10 Fort Moultrie and Charleston
harbor; only it would be somewhat larger than Sum-
ter, Ii 10 familiarly termed 1.-The Rip Raps
The Yankee is now here, and bias not been up York
River since she was fired on by the rebels Her com-
mander is man Of daring and recognized soai.y,
and with men and an armament 70 support him, wouio
soon enough dislodge that and all other rePei camps
within reach. Com. Pendergrs s understood 70 shArs
his views.
Nothing is heard here Of demonstration on Nor
folk or the Navy-Yark although the Rebels arc con-
stantly expecting one. This apprehension will csuss
s sS. AS Soy pf not Z
for guns tor several hundred Of the largest colunbs
were left uninjured. am assured also that the ms
chine shop ut Goepor 80 far from being destroyed,
was scarcely injured at all and was in full operation
again the next day. The exploit was most unfortu.
nate misadventure-s grand mistake, and a striking
illustration Of the eternal densire policy. Strange
ss il may seem, il s this same suicidal policy thss
menaees Fortress Monroe. Under it, the kebeh arc
no doubt busily engaged in establishing important
line Of investment. Will the Government extend fs
vision little way from the capitali
The weather is becoming very warn. A delightful
sea-breeze however, tempert the atmosphere. Within
the Fortress the deep shade Of the hyeoak and other
abundance Of flowers blooming in open air; the regu-
lsrly laid out gardens and walks; the trim, o,deiiy
appearance Of everything set of with the parapnernar
liza, "thc pomp and circumstance OF war, sumcsnsy
interest one unused TO such combined sttracuonA
fear that you will not hear from this post WIN any
degree of freclayity hereafter 10 probable that the
SEIZURE of the Seden at Norfolk VIII resn IN tne wo'
drawal of the Baltimore boats altogether: In seeh .
event our only ontlet ma facilities VIII be stray
steamer 70 Wsshington or an occasional trsnsRss%
r n