Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-06-06
THE EVENING STAR.

FORTRESS MONROE AND ITS woRKs.-It IL
rather difficult 10 describe the scenes of activity
Wnlch are Row witnessed at this immense and
eosuy see COST defence, where force Of between
I,ID aRd lieO men, including laborers, are at
Work In rendering the place impregnable by -
or V,nd, where companies at any time may be
sem engaged In the various infantry drills or ex-
e:cising at the guns. No one can form an idea Of
the amount of labor already performed without
passing through the interior
In the first place TO render the vast magazines,
seventeen in number, perfectly bomb-proof, the
inward fac'ngs, which are Of heavy granite aud
brick works, have been supplied with a wall
formed Of bags of sand, which, after a suitable
frame has been constructed, are piled up In many
successive tiers againstit until enormous width
and thickness have been attained. The sand Is
Obtained from the interior of the fort and the
bag, made Of coarse canvas, are each Of the ca
pacity OF couple Of bushels. Some time since the
American published Official statement show
Ing the armament ofthe place, the whole number
number mounted or ready for service now, but
their calibfe Is very different from what IL was
before Many Of the lighter guns have given
place to ten inch columbiads, which will throw
BALTIC the distance Of nearly four miles. Much
OF the space IN the interior ofthe fort 10 occupied
by cannon, gun-carriages, and long rows Of tents,
arranged with the utmost regard to order and
extra quarters.
received three cargoes Of gunpowder, one Of
35Op pounds, smother Of 10000 and a third Of
10000 making $500 pounds in all. To store this
amount Of vlliainous saltpee In the safest manner
has been work Of great labor and skill. In
walking through the works 1t was highly grati-
Tying TO meet with Col. De Russey-now ap-
preaching his S0th year, though hale, hearty, and
fun OF hfe-Coi. Dimmick, Capt Dyer, at the
head Of the Ordnance Department, Surgeon Guy
Ter. and others, all Of whom dignity the service
to which they are attached. We also find good
old soldier In Mr. Levers, principal Sergeant In
the Ordnance Department. post Of great re-
sponsibility. In order to gain admission into the
Fortress the visitor must receive passport from
Col DimU1ck, otherwise he will not be permitted
10 enter, and even then he Is either accom- panied
bYa Sergeant or particularly enjoined not to at
temrt ascending the ramparts, al there are work
tnsre not intended for the eve OF the civilian, and
even dangerous to the uninitiated.
The Floyd gun Is still mounted upon the Sci
beach, and immediately under the walls Of tn
Fortress. IL has been discharged ave hundred
times and not the slightest abrasure discovered
and Is pronounced hrst-rate piece Of work. Ii
some charges the amount Of powder used wa
double the usual quantity, and manv Of the balls
each weighing 400 pounds, propelled the distanc
Of nesrlv four miles In the direction of Willougt
by Point Light House. Others have been dil
charged into the sand and afterwards dug out
There are number of guns in the fort that wi
throw ball as far as the Floyd, but not half q
heavy.-Correspondenee Baltic American.