Randolph County journal. [volume] (Winchester, Randolph County, Ind.) 1855-1862, 1861-05-16

Fort Monroe.

in the Fort to a friend In Massachusetts,. which
is published in the Taunton Mass Gazette. We
extract the following as the material portions:
The Fort is beautiful place; encloses co acres
of land; has a wall between 45 and so feet high.
of brick and stone, and from 35 to 40 feet wide;
has moat about it some 35 feet wide in most
places. and feet depth of water in the moat.
Three hundred guns, besides large number Of
mortars, can be placed in the casemates and on
the parapets. In case of Il seige-that is on all
sidcs-6,000 men would be required to properly
the guns. Five men can work a gun, but
there should be seven, and there should be in
such cases, three distinct parties to take their
turns at the guns, or reliefs, as they are called.
Outside of the most water batteries. The
danger nor would come from the land side. On
that side there arg no casemates, except those
which protect the gates. The Fort is built on
point Of land of about 100 acres, and is connec-
ted with the main land by long strip of land
300 feet wide. aad aboE. a mile and quarter,
or more, long. You see, if the place is assault
ted, the forces must over this strip Of san
dy land.
Now pointed over this strip of land are large
number of guns of heavy caliber. and number
of mortars; and any fosces coming over voHld
be exposed to terrible fire, and no doubt de-
stroyed. In addition to this strip, there is an
other long and narrow strip that, with BRIDGE
LEADS 10 Hampton. The brdseis now down, and
picket glaEd is established on either sde on
the one side by the regulars. and Oh the other
by the Hampton people The guard is more than
a mile out from the Fort. The guard (regulars
thus far feel that it is very uncertain whether
they return to the Fort alive, when they go out
there. Sixty acres arc enclosed by the Fort the
other sixty arc built upon, and it is quite wat
erng place Sentinels are set oil over the viii
lage outside at night These buildings will prob.
ably be destroyed soon, they would be in the
way in case Of ap attack. There is large hotel
owned partly by Union mana brother of vii.
lard of Washington,
The Government MACHINE shop IL outside the
walls, aud Is now operated by machinists from
our companies, John c. Briggs being foreman
Nearly all outside strong sccessionists, and
are by degrees leaving. as they know they would
be destroyed If they did not. Inside the Fort
there several threc-story brick houses, and
several long ranges Of barracks, barns, store
houses, church, and in addition, number ol
houses, as they call them, built in the casemates
which arches in the walls, ten feet high and
as many wide, in which, when the fort is in wal
condition, the guns are placed, firing them oi
course, through holes in the wall. These arches
are divided across the middle and formed into
two rooms. The officers OF our several compa.
mics. we'll as many Of those here, occupy these
houses.
The officers of the Fort here are extremely
pleasant.
The people out side of the Fort, and also in it
were surprised at our visit. They had, however
very different feelings in regard to us. The for
mer cuising the Yankees with awill, and the
latter breathing ireer, and from a state of inse.
curity, feeling perfectly safe. The night befor,
we came they expected fight, and every man in
the Fort slept, with arms in their hands. But
most were on guard You see il is a mile around
the wall. and for 800 men to guard the whole
place, and keep their pckets. and be prepared 70
work the guns besides, was great work.
a dozen or more are engaged in the machine
shop and in various other mechanical pursuits
The foreman of the maehinc.shop was a seces
sionst, ~ also most of the workmcn, consequent
" they left at short notice. and the shop was
closed. The closing of the shop was seriou.
matter To the Fort, "a the work was needed in
mounting the guns. The universal Yankee ma
ton" however, appearing soon set all things in
order. and, n,nes 10 the chagrin of Vrsinians
all things went faster than Mr.. John
e. Briggs is now foreman, and his Yankee skill
is appreciated as il ought TO be. The Govern.
Eent is putting In here great quantities of pro.
visions. It is considered, next to Washington
one of the most important points, and no doub,
it will be kept well supplied eish men. The
opinion Of the officers here is that it cannot be
taken, and that the attempt will not be made al
present Every day we making the Fort
stronger
The Cunbesland With Commodore Bender.
grast, Kentuckian, is now just OFF the fort, and
he is very smart and pucl;y man. He make.
every vessel passing up give al account of her
self, and gun now and then from the fort and
the ship, and tie success they have in bringing
the vessels too. is g.ite exciting.
A day or two ago the Commodore discovered
a schooner with her sails up, endeavoriag tc
make signals on the side of the sail toward
Z. Hampton, ridden from the fort. Soon steam
tug (the same employed by Governor LeieheT tC
sink the vessels in the channel,) put out with th'
intention of towing up tie schooner. He imme
diately fred shot across her bows froI- his boa
and she not ninding il, he fred another from
the ship. striking the tug on the rail on one side
and making au ugly hole in her bulwsTks on th'
, Other side She then came down 10 the Cumber
land, and the Commodore took possession, anC
then took the schooner. The tGg Le Eads yer,
useful, and has had il in active service eyer since
4 day or two afterwards he overhsaieds schoon
er with coal AMI found that just what he wanted
for his Tug | was on the wharf when tie FRS
schooner was made fast. When she was mad
, fast, the Commodore, With the greatest coolness
said to the Colonel of the Fort, There, sir, he'll
: yourself" The first interesting articles the
found was battery of tea guns for light artill
cry, quantity of rope and large lot of lead, &c
All these things, With the tug, made Il q valua
bic prize. The Commodore is smart enough an
the Cugbe'lsnd shows great many ugly teeth
Her marines aud sai:o-s, with heir cutIasses an
pistols and rapid movements, would be har
fellows to deal with
= A Correspondent of the Illinois State JosTna
a.-:..,n g.. tha foifowinr-