New-York daily tribune., 1861-05-17
FORTRESS MONROE.

Il seems probable shat it IS part of the military plan
of tie Government 10 eOnccntratea large body OF troopd
at this important point. Up to the l2th inst. the num-
Der lid not exceed 2j0 of whom about $50 were reg-
lars belonging to the artillery service. Since then te
Vermont regiment and the recruits embarked FROM
Boston have been landed the fortress increasing tho
garrison probably TO not less than 2.sCO men, II g
suggested that the Michigan regiment will be cent
there 10 be followed by others. As 1000 men would
be amply sufficient for the defense of the fortress, un'
less fully invested by vastly superior force the con-
cenrati)n Of this large body of troops at that point |
dcates with great certainty that they are not for the
defense of the fortress alone, but that forward move-
men, is about to be made from that point The report
which reaches us that the taking Of Norfolk at an eay
day, "a necessary preliminary to The reoecupaon Of
Tue Nayy-Yard at Gosport, derives credi. from this
movement of troops toward Old Point. The designs-
tion OF oor.G neral Wool to The command Of the fot-
tre,s or TIE idea that is to become the base Of m-
poran, military operations. The occupation by Fed'
era trooDs OF the spur OF Virginia running down be-
tween James and York Rivers on line extending
across about ten miles at its narrowes part, and abons
Gfteen miles from the fortress, high up as Yorktown
is likely 10 be within the plan of those operations Ine
Rebel. are known 70 have thrown up batteries at dh'
frent points in that locality. With considerable
BODY of Rebel troops firmly intrenchet and defending,
thai line bv planted batteries the investments
of Fortress Monroe will have already begun. II sa
therefore OF no small consequence who occupies nas
Inc and it is to be presumed that the Rebel commands
ss are alive to the fact. I is to be presumed tlai
Gen. Wool VIII soon ascertain what tho Rebels baSS
done 10 secure footing there, clear that strategic lno
of their batteries, and take measures 10 retain tLa
peninula in lis own hands.
The number of rebel troops g; Norfolk ia probabls
between five and seven thousani, good part Of thez
North Carolinians and Gcorksns, generally well
armed. OF heavy guns and ammunition, they hayean
abundance. left behind in TIE NavyYari. There no
reason therefore why the batteries of the rebels hout
not be of a formidable character The channel to tho
harbor having been obstructed by sinking ships, and
the shores being lined with batteries, the approach 10
Norfolk BY an attacking force must be by land; tho
only practicable landing for which would be at Fair
haven, inside Of Cape Henry The distance to Norfolk
is about fifteen miles. There number Of indenta
;ons Of the shore by marshes and shallow bays which
might be crossed if not defended; if the route by
around them the distance would be greatly increased.
The fertilization OF these inlei has always been consd-
cred necessary pant Of the chaiu Of defenses of te
Gosyort Nayy-Yard since this route from Farhaven u
Norfolk is one that an enemy would be likely take
The subject Is specially mentioned in Gen. Toitens
report on the dcfenses ofthe country in 1852. Whether
the rebels have fortified these nets is not known, but
Il is not unlikely that they have. Whatever ia thu
fact movement against Norfolk must, almost
sarily, b. made by land.
Fortress Monroe is the only considerable military
poet. with the exception OF Pensacola, within tho
fee,-ed States, not held by the rebe. Though Nir-
cra were to be successful at all other points, with the
Fortress still held b. Federal troops she VIII have
accornlhed but little since she would still be eut oft
from the sea. This extensive fertilization therefors
will no doub become the center of important military
ooerstions. defensive rs well Is Offensive. recent
arrival from OF Point STAT hat the women and chil-
dren romanilg < in the t,rtoss bad been sent awayr
lecause an attack was expected. The families OF the
officers coamt NJ, leayr weeks ago. and are now AZ
For, Hamilton NJ that OF Col D'mmick did not eaVa
t;ltheghint This oa ure was taken for genera
oudenial sea. ors, and ao ON an apprehension oil aS
immediate attack. We pr, UNI that the mteilisenee
by the Bowman, whca bsou, ht Ito last OF the women
and children from the Fortress, that ian attack We
evnec,aj.V means nothing moie; though IL ougnI -
s,ar,le ma ,ne should the b army collected al Nor
sol, farm innton with a corresponding number iron
p;.b,oord 81 West Point on York River and makes
,;l descent upon the Fortress. Such an eApedrtlon
oi h, entirely feasible and has been 20 consldereds
and deemed not improbable in the Fortress. Whether
be .xned,ion would ever get than TWO mies0s
,ts walls is qnite another thing.
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