The Evansville daily journal., 1861-04-09
Fort TAYLOR and Key West.

The Newport Mercury publishes an inter
esting letter from Key West, dated March
10. We copy the following extract:
Fort Taylor is rectangular in shape; that
is, it has three regular fronts and one irreg-
ular or gorge front. 1t rests on an artificial
islaud 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 bastions which rake the front
with twenty-foUr pound howitzers. It has
two tiers of easements armed with eight
inch columbiads. The tier plane, or upper
tier, has iorty-four ten-inch swivel guns
and twelve ten-inch travice guns The fort
has but one entrance or pOsteri, which IS
nine feet wide. The gorge front is 60 feet
in length, and the three other fronts are $50
feet each. The fort is about 200 feet from
tie shore, and is connected by temporary
bridge, but when completed, this space will
be finished for officers quarters as dyke
sixty feet wide will be built and covered
The short line will have brea5t-high wall,
defended by six twelve-inch coumbiads.-
With the completion of this covered way
the fort viii be completed, and will be one
of the strongest in the world
Owing to the disturbed state of the coun-
"a CdiJA1i4I 4tuAtl OLi IAo di ittob lclll
Immediately commenced to put the fort in a
proper state Of defence. This was done by
removing the wharf at the west front, con-
structng u drawbridge and closing the low
er parts except those occupied by guns. He
has continued through the winter to
strengthen the fort in every possible man
ner, and after making it impregnable, he
gave the military department to Captain
Brennan, First Artillery, United States
Army.
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.
Besides tile work done to put the fort
upon a war footing, a very great amount of
work has been done toward completing it,
the number of men employed being about
one hundred, forty of which are 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, fight 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 Captain Hunt placed the fort in
the state of defence as soon as he arrived
here, it would have been in the hands of the
Secessionists, but by his foresight the fort
10 pL6SGIhGu " the OOFSI uLHCAl3 WIZ C&u
hold it as long as they desire.
The town of Key West is situated on an
island six miles long and two wide, the
highest elevation of which is about twelve
feet above the level of the sea. The pop
ulation is about $500, 500 of which are
negroes, the rest are a heterogeneous set from
all quarters-but the larger part are known
as Conks, from the Bahama Islands. Their
occupation is gathering sponge, of which
they sell about SIOO 900 worth per year;
many Of the inhabitants are wreckers, and
the rest get a living by their wits. There
are but very few old Southern families here.
On the Island are four churches, court
house, jail, and two whipping posts
Drunkenness abounds. License for selling
liquor, $50 per annum. For drinking the
penalty is either four hours in the sweat
box, $50 fine, or 80 lashes.
The federal officers here are all disunion-
lists, but a majority of the people are for the
Union. and are true, and would make good
officers for the government, if desired. But
l must now bid you goodbye.