The Van Buren press., 1861-04-24
The United States Forts at Key
West

Recent events indicate the determination
Of the United States Government to retain
full, entire and complete possession Of the
forti6cations ON the Florida reefs, near Key
West. To put these works, therefore in
complete state of defence, they have recent
ly reinforced by United States troops. fully
pyovisioped for long siege. and . supply
Of ammunition furnished. sufficient to sink
half dozen respectable sized navies. Key
West is celebrated as a naval station il 10
the headland of the Southern coast, situat-
ed on the northwest Of an island Of tho
same name, otherwise called Thompson's
Island it is four miles long and one mile
wiue. 1t has fine hsrbor. admitting vcs-
sells drawing twenty-seven feet of water.
and il well defended. - We shall hereafter
describe. 1t is the key to the northern pas
sage Of the Gulf of Mexico, as the passage
here is safer and ninety miles nearer than
around Tortugas. The thermometer at this
place ranges FROM fifty to ninety degrees of
Farenheit. The whole island lies on . bed
of limestone, about one foot beneath the sur
face
FORT TAYLOR, KEY WEST.
This is also . new. first class Fashioned
fort the work of which was commenced in
1s4a. Like Fort Jefferson. It is brick
fort, built upon granite foundation. It is
nearly finished. tho barracks and few plat
forms for barbette gnns being alone incom-
pleted. In shape the work is IN irregular
quadrangle. having three channel curtains Of
equal length, and . gauge or shore curtain
Of much greater length. 1t is situated st
the sonth part Of the island. at the en-
trance of the harbor of Key West, in from
six to twelve feet Of water, and distant from
the shore about three hundred yards. Tho
scarp walls are eight feet in thickness. and
rise abruptly from the water to height of
forty one feet. The work is pierced for three
tiers of guns-.two under casemated bomb
proofs and the other open or en- 6us6eee. 1t
mounts one hundred and twenty ten-inch CO.
lumbiads on the channel fronts, and forty
five heavy guns ON the shore frort. Its full
war armament is one hundred and eghty-6ye
guns, most Of which are in battery and ready
to stand . protracted siege. The fort is we'll
supplied with provisions. fuel. ammunition
hospital and artillery stores, and has first
rate quarters for its oficers and barracks for
the II oops. Its present force consists Of
about two hundred men, under the command
of Capt. j. NJ Brannan, of the First Unit
ed States Artillery, and Capt. E. B. Hunt, Of
the Corps Of Engineers
Fort Taylor is considered the key Of the
Gulf The only vulnerable poiat Is facing
the land side but even 70 make sny imrres-
sion upon it by an enemy would require
large forcs and the sacrifice Of an immense
number of lives. and tho expenditure Of
srxe amount Of treasure.
FORT JEFyInsoN. roaTUcAs.
This work was commsncsd in 1646. and
10 now nearly finished. In . stratsgicsl
point Of view. Il is designed 70 command
the admirabls harbor. lying in the hsast Of
this group Of Keys. The fort u a i'm.
msnse bsstioned work. the walls Of which
su Of brick. with granite foundation.
Thus fsf il has cost ths Govsrnmsnt over
one uillios af dollars. Ths work covers
an area Of bstwesn thirtssa aad fouytssn
acres. Although not fully armed. il il com.
plstsly cloassd and impssgnahls against an
scalading panty. Ths work j. pisresd fost
three tiers Of guns. two uAdsr bomb-psoof
end 60 oqn a SD4ssSsess. TAs
-ssens.ed tels sss espsS!s % mounting $50