Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-04-30

Fortress Monroe:
Fortress Monroe Is a strongly fortified CARR
son situated on that point of land formed D.
the extreme western bank Of the Chesapeake
and the extreme EASTERN bank Of Hampton
Roads, and n, the junction Of the two waters
Il was discovered during tho war Of lsl3-l+
that Chesapeake Bay was the key to all tn
waters of Virginia and Maryland, and all viii
are at al! familiar with the history Of the coun
try, will remember that British vessels cam
into Hampton Roads and not emily took tn
town Of Hampton, but threatened to apply tn
torch to Norfolk, that, phGnix like, mad spruni
from the ashes Of q former war with tina
power. Peace WAS declared in 1915, and whe'
the next Congress met they took into conslde
ration the subject Of coast and harbor deien
ces; accordingly g board Of engineers was ap
pointed, and an appropriation made for tn
prosecution Of such plans as might be dccide'
upan. About Ibis time the grand army o
Napoleon was quiet, and ~seysrui q MS princI
pa! officers had made our republican %countr!
their nome; among them was General Bernard
ST experienced soldier, and one Of the most
skiliful engineers then existing. lie was &C
cordlngly invited to assist in the work OF at
ranging our system Of coast and harboT defence,
and in 1915, in company with several Aineri'
can officers, projected Fortress Monroe and
Fort Calhoun, more generally known as the
"Trip Raps." The work was laid Oft and both
forts commenced in 1919. From that time TO
this there has been more or less work going on
ut Fort Monroe, and while that work Is suti
GENTLY advanced to be placed in a state OF de.
fence, it is far from being finished. The ex'
tent Of The work may ho judged FROM the fact
tina. it is over L mile around the ralnPartS; the
wall covers a space OF twenty or twenty-five
acres, and there are about fifteen acres inside
of the garrison. Besides the houses given In
tho rough cut above, there are store houses,
work shops, mot USED now Z laboratory. an
office, and several unimpurtant buildings.
The classmates in the vicinity OF
the postern, behind the water battery, and
extend, with little intermlSsion, to The arched
doorway, designated abore as the main ell
trance, On either side Of that entrance are
casemates which are used as quarters Tor the
officer Of the day, guard mouse and barracks
for the guard. Those nearest the port cul!IS
have e~mbrasures which are intended 70 protect
that point from attack. Indeed all the case
mates are supplied with embrasures, behind
which are mounted u Founders. On the ram.
parts, at those points where there are no case
mates, ale mounted guns, upon wooden car
RACES, whose saucy looking muZzles arc plain
" TO be seen above the green turf that caps
the fertilization. At the extreme Southern
bastion floats the stars and stripes, while just
below it on the inside Of the garrison, is =
neat little Episcopal Church where the Chap
lain, Mr.. Cheerers, still continues TO otter up
his prayers Tor the Union and its President. -
4 deep uloat surrounds the whole work; this
moat is supplied with water from Mill Greek,
and, while the gates are open. e6os and hows
with the tide.
tn, Water Battery, like all the masonry on
this fort, is a beautiful piece OF work 1t Is
built Of stone, and is sufficiently thick to with
stand any shot that can BIZ projected against it
lrurn the bny beyond. 1t is finished with case.
mates, the arches Of which arc turned with
brick, and rest upon granite columns IN the
rear. This battery has forty-tTo em5raSures,
and is supplied with a like number Of Il pound
crs. which, like ali the rest Of the gu;'s IN the
garrison. are fully mounted and ready Tor AZ.
ton. 1, covers all that face OF the garrison that
fronts upon the ehunnel Of the bay, and is Only
intended as 4 means Of offence and defence
when attacked by a force on the water. ihi'
portion Of the work, like the ramparts, IL co.
vered with q green turf, and presents ii heaut'.
81 ,,l ,t.,r,pt prpmataUp ~ thp summer al
ternoons. At the upper or northern eXtrein'
Ity OF this battery commences a redoubt or
b~reast4ork that extends around TO the point Of
that bastion in which the magazine is situated;
in the middle OF this rcdoubt 10 O sal!y-port or
ucstcru that leads OUT 10 all outer WORK mot
yer iinished) that is Intended to protect tie
fort from the land side. From the Water Bat.
terry TO the Magazine is decidedly the weakest
portion of this fortress, and d well ORGANIZED
lore. Of one thousand men could readlly carry
the ratification at this point. BESIDES the TACT
that there are no caseDatc guns OH these TWO
faces. the gates siat supply the moat with
water are on this side, and at the io% tide,
nigh, De closed TO prevent the water from
coming in On the change Of the tide, sid titus
could q land force reduce the drought OF water
10 such IN extent az 10 enable them 10 wade
across and scale the walls: which, ui course,
could only be done sndcr 4 ,hnrderous IRE
TIE gun from only "nc shoulder could be
trough. 20 bear upon the scaling party. and
that U.e, Or even two would be SO depressed
as 10 render It's effect doubtful. Besides this,
n storming party could reduce the garrison to
submission in n short while, unless the ele.
ments c]onSpired to furnish them water, Tor
there IS not u spring, or a well, or a pump on
the work; but like The good people Of Norfolk,
the soldiers at Old Point have TO depend On
the clouds for their drink, except when they
drink whiskey, and then they depend upon
their own ingenuity
NJ we're lrl into the ADORE remarks, be-
cause OF the FACT tnst Fortress Monroe is con
siderci impregnab!c, but >uc: is nnt the Tact
it lacks much Of it as It now stands, and ever
if it naS completed, we give orr i,iea Of th'
work, when We remind cir readers that Sc
bas:npni and Gibraltar fell before d ~resolnit
enemy.
As no fertilization is ilnpregnabIe 10 . wei
appointed army OF ~resolute md determine:
men, the question Of reducing Fortress Non
roe is one 70 be determined BY the wisdom enc
judgment OF the civil aid military authorities
Of the Confederate States; taking int
consideration the necessary lcss of life tina
must ensue in i:s successful capture. Cpol
this point wo venture 40 opinion, leaving It Il
the wisdom and discretion OF President Davi!
and his able officers in command Of the Sia;'
aud Confederate forces.
The garrison at Fortress Monroe is, doubt
less. very large ard we'll appointed at this time
with tine capacity, N the Part OF the United
States authorities. to increase it 10 l. large
amount.
We have no idea that the reports Us 10 the
number OF troops row at Fortress Monroe, va
riousiy estimated at from three to Ave thou
sand, are correct Blu. that q large and stron,
| garrison is Row within ;r.e fort We haze u
doubt
Commanding the entrance uc uampto!
Dad ire on,u aT.,t,.U- hI.cL. a.. ~. Law