The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1861-06-05
Fortress MOur0e--Ehe Seat of Ina
poFtnnt ffiIftary ODsratiOpei

PoFtlnt Military OpsFssttOnst
The recent statement that Generals Wool
and Butler have been ordered to Fortress Mon.
roe, the TACT that transports have for weeks been
pouring in reinorcements provisions and mt
nitions Of war-eighi regiments from Nav York
having been ordered there yesterdsy.-and the
further fact that the last Of the women aad
children were sent away on Wednssday ell in-
dicate that an important movement Ia about 10
be made The following from the New YORK
Advetiser OF late date is highly interesting
10 this connections
(Corresp"ndence Of the Conhmefcial Advertiser
CHESAPEAKE BAY, May 13.
The waters OF the Chesapeake and its princi-
pal tributaries, constituting the "sest Of war"
are the scene OF many interesting and important
movements at the present moment. Beginning
at the key of the inland waters of Virginia and
Maryland-H Hampton Roads-we find rigid
blockade maintained by the feet of which Com
modore Prendergsst, of the Cumberland is flag
officer. Neither ingress nor egress TO the James
River, except to some minor craft, hound 10
Northern ports, is permitted. several prizes
are anchored under the guns of Fort Monroe,
and The number il increasing almost daily. A.
mong the prses il large invoice OF cotton,
considerable portion Of which has been trans.
erred to the fort Up the James River to the
neighborhood OF Richmond; are the steamers
Jamestoton aid Yor2toson, which the rebels have
provided with heavy armaments but 50 long as
the blockade is rigidly maintained there is lie.
tie prospect of their active employment in the
business Of privateering, for which they were
designed. Is is not improbable however, that
they way undertake to elude the blockade on q
night favorable to such an exploit. They are
supposed to be commanded by officers OF reoog-
nrzed ability. and who lately held honorable
positions in the United States NAVY.
At Fortress Monroe the greatest activity pre.
vails AMI among the m5st important facts con-
nected with our movements within the circle OF
our present observations is the order of Major
General John Z. Wool to take command oftfiis
most important post. There probably rs sig
nifcsnce in this designation VIII ch will at an
early day develop itself. The garrison OF the
FORTRESS is not as large as il has been stated ts
be, and is by no means as great as the mag4i-
tude Of the post requires. 1t soon will be, iFit
has not already been, reinforced, and before sna-
ny days the garrison will be increased to nearly
or quite two thousand men. 1t not improbable
that Fortress Monroe may soon become ths
seat Of important military operations. 1t is of
itself admirably fitted for the concentration Of
troops in large numbers. Between the village
Of Hampton and the fortress, and immediately
under the protection of its guns, is spot adrni-
rably adapted to grand encampment from
which an embarka ion, whether for Norfolk or
other points on the James River, or for the Po-
tonic or Yo k Rivers.
But for the atttude of MARYLAND, and the
reasons which it affords for choosing Annapo-
lis, Id Point Comfort, as q strategic point,
would pre- .ent vastly superior advantages. A
glance at the map with any thing OF . military
eye, will establish the soundness of this conciu.
sion We may safely assume that the plan of
the Government to carry out the enunciations
o. the Presidents proclamation, viii embrace
the retaking of Gosport Navy yard, and as ne
cessary part OF the enterprise, the occupation Of
Norfolk, now strongly occupied by the rebels.
This alone renders Fortress Monroe post Of
first consequence in the present war; as It rs the
largest in magnitude among the ortifcations
OF the country, and renders the concentration
Of a large body ftroops there certainty. Il
IS not unlikely that the occupation by Federal
troops ofa strip Of country between York and
James Rivers as high up as Yorktown will take
place.
The distance across is about ten miles. and
whoever occupies it will command the inland
waters Of Virginia Occupied firmly by the re.
bells, in sufficient force, the line OF investment
OF Fortress Monroe will have been established.
Held by the Fedcaal forces, the waters OF the
York and James Rivers will not only be held,
but the fortress secured against possible invest
ments or attack. With Fortress Monroe in the
hands of the Government, Virginia though she
were successful at all other points; wonid havs
done but little toward the accomplishment of
her purposes. We may assume therefore IL
Virginia believes she can accomplish one half
Of what she boasts, and IL she walks boldly up
to the work, an early demonstration on Fortres
Monroe is highly probable. At Norfolk the
rebels are in force to the number of about S coo
men. They have erected batteries at different
points on the bav, and on Craney Island at the
mouth Of James River; and they are doubtless
prepared to offer formidable resistance to any
attempt to occupy the place or retakc the Navy
ward ~