The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1861-01-09
W HOLE NUMBER $40.

1
The height of the parapet above the water
line Is sixty feet. On the eastern snd
western sides tfs the barraekssfor the priv.
ates, mess hall, kitchen. &c. On thesOulb.-
ern sides are the officers quartsrs which are
flashed in very handsome style.
II ia mounted with the heaviest guns ef
the United States service, arranged in three
tiers, the two lower being easements, and
the upper Blrbette guns. The Cssemate
guns are those which are fred from an em-
brasure in the scarp walls, and are protected
from the enemy's shells BY an arched boom.
proof covering overhead; the Barabette,
those which FIRE over the parapst, which ex.
poses the connonniefs 10 the FIRE Of the en-
emy, although in this instance, the height Of
the rsmparts is so grea, that there is COM
paratively no danger from the shot Of an
sueny's aeet, The srma9eRt ccnslats 81
40 pieces, pisesd .faahe following order -.
The heaviest guns; such as the SO and 81
pouudeye, en- the first tier; "a and 80 pound.
ers on the second tier; Columbtads (eight
and ten iach) and heavy sea coast mortars
on the tcp of the ramparts.
The heaviest pieces are turned towards
the harhor, the lighter assinet the land side;
which aide is further protected by musketry,
for which loopholes are cut in the scrap wall.
The number of each kind of gun is about
thirty 81 FOUNDERS, the came number of 81
FOUNDERS, forty "a Founders, ten Of each
! cni5re of Columbad, ten l3 inch and ten
10 inch mortsrg, capable of throwing about
four Thousand (4oOo) pounds of of shot, and
four thouaand three hundred (4,sOo) pounds
o. she'll ct each discharge.
Ga the terra.parade plain are situated two
furnaces for heating ehot. The magazines
ere eitulled on the inner side of the sally
ports, and contain, at present, 40 900 pounds
Of powder, and proportionate quantity OF
shot and she'll, Tha landing TO tho fort is
cn the southern, or land side, and is Termed
by whutf projecting towards the shore,
and slso extending the length Of that face.
Thio fort would be nearly impregnabls il
finished and properly manned. 1t 10 at
present 50 far completed, that with little
temporary work it could be made so strong
as 10 DEFY any attack by feet OF large Ves-
sells. It's weakest point is on the south side,
OF which the masonry is not only weaker
than tAst CT the other sides, but is not
! protected by any flank fire, which would
sweep the wharf. Once landed, an entrance
may, at the present state of the construc.
ton, be easily made, for the blinds of the
lower embrasures, though six inches in
, thickness, may yet be easily blown away,
snd even II this wee impossible, scaling lad.
+. dora can reach those of the second tier,
. which are not protected in this manner.
r This concludes the brief sketch of fort
d which is most perfect specimen of civil
: and military engineering. The whole work
8 has been conducted in manner that reflsc
] the highest credit upon the engineers, and
is worthy to occupy the prominent position
3 that it holds. la conclusion, we take occa.
2 sion to aIlu1e to one point of especial beau
D ty-the construction of the arches, OF which
b. there are nearly every variety, the "Full
}, Centre" the Segment" the "Groind," the
Il "Askew" and the "Rempant"-and to add
,r that the walls at their base are IL feet thick
!, and at the top 81 feet thick.