Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1861-10-26

In tnc ldSt WAT Will Lug iIu's, SnS GU
trance BY the ene,ny's feet If the wa
ters of the Chesapeake. and subsequent
sacking If Washington, were not the ]
least striking events demonstrating the
importance Of Hampton Roads, not
only as the chief r,.adstead on the South
ern coast. but as the key to the waters
of Virginia and Maryland. The first
Congress that met after the declaration
of peace in 1915, created board ofna- ,
val officers and engineers, of which
Gen. Bernard, distinguished French
Engineer, was one, intrusted with the
selection of sites for great Northern
and Southern naval depot; and, i'll 1919
they recommended Brumelrs Bay, on
James River for the one, and Charles
town in Boston, for the other. Fort.
ress Monroe and Fort Calhoun, on the
Rip. Raps," were projected at the
same time, having been recommended
more especially by Gen. Bernard.
These forts were at once a necessary
part of the plan for establishing the ma
val depot at Gosport, so lately the scene
of the lamented attempt ut destruction
by the Government, to prevent the Ma
w Yard, Arsenal, and several OF oul
finest ships from falling into the hands
of the rebels. Situated on the point Of
land formed by the extreme eastern
shore of Hampton Roads and the ex-
treme western shore Of the Chesapeake,
known as Old Point Comfort, Fort
ress Monroe is not only the largest mil
itary post in the country, but is one of
the most important, not only for de-
fense against invasion, but for suppress
sing rebellion. Began in 1919, it can
scarcely be said to be completed yet,
althoug gh work on it has been going on
ever since. The cost has been little
short of 81, 500,O 900. The outer walls
of the fort embrace an area of about
65 acres, and the fine parade ground
inside is little less than 25 acres in ex-
tent, regularly laid out and finely shat
ded by the live oak.
Fortress Monroe is FASHIONED work,
an irregular heptagon in plan, and the
most extensive fertilization of any sort
in this country. The walls are chiefly
of granite, aud are thirty five feet III
height. Built at an early day, the ma
somry does not, perhaps, in all respects,
compare f;.vorably with some other
works more recently constructed. The
embankment backing the walls is Of
sand and clay, and being of great thick
ness, ishardI y capable ofbcing preached:
The easements are bomb and shot proof
and roomy. The embrasures were
originally designed for 42-pounders,
but would prove capable of admitting
Columbiads Of the largest description
in use. In some of these officers have
their quarters in Others are the quar-.
ters of the officers of the day, g'lard
house and barracks for guards. They
are both convenient and comfortable
especially in the hot season. The case
mates are near seventy in number, and
commence near the postern in rear of
the water battery. and extend around
to tho main entrance. On the RAM
parts where there are no casemates,
are mounted 42-pounders or CoIum-
biads, which are the first objects that
greet the ey in approaching either BY
sea or land. A moat faced hy dressed
granite, surrounds the whole work,
through which. when the gates are
open, the tide ebbs and flows, the Wa
ter being. according to the tide, from
eight tn tiaeen feet deep. and from IS
tO 150 feet across. This is a beautiful
and very important feature Of the k'rt-
ress, and contributes greatly to its ca
pacity for defence.
Perhaps, however, the feature of the
fortress, which, bath from its import
amce in defensive operations, and its
beauty - . piece Of masonry, most
worthy If mention. is the Water Bat
teey. II tfaces the SEA. is built If stone.
aud has . thickness and s.'lidity that
will enable it ut all times I" bid def
ance To tho heaviest shot. II il finished
with en,brasures ot the most substantial
description, which IRE ~ in number.
aid have . corresponding number of
42-,sunders. Concerning the frsnt
lM,lking sexward, this hsttery renders
the f.rf as nearly as posihle imrreEna-
ble from naval attack. Its slope. like
the rsmparts of the fort generally, Is
covered with grcen turf, andis II
write i.romensde. From the northern
extremity Of this battery leads sre-
doubt or hresstwork. which extends
uund to the r.,ints "f the bseti"n near
the principal mAgasine. In the centre
IT THE redonbs u . sally-P"et ~ Postern
leading to an outes-work for the pro-
tscti.,m Of the land side of the f'rt.
Duilt. - the fnrts of our country hare
been. fns protsotion from attack from