The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1861-04-20

Description - The KleF1aa EeFeaAeasaons,
Key West, % b well known, 10 On important
naval station; Il 70 the headland Of The Southern
coast, situated On the northwest end Of an island
OF the sane name, but occasionally known A.
Thompeon's Island; It 10 four and one.eiRhsh Of
mile In length, and one In width. The harbor
is magnificent admitting vessels drawing twenty.
eight feet o. water, and, most fortunately. u we'll
defended ut this time. This point 10 the KEY to
TIE northern passage Of the Cult Of Mexico, a
TINS 10 much safer, and some ninety.two miles
nearer than around TortugaA The entire island
iies on . bed Of Rhinestone, about eighteen inches
below lie surface.
Fort Tyler 10 . new, tirst class abassionsd"
fort, IL Of brick, built upon granite Foundation,
the work on which vas commenced in the wear
ls4s. Il 10 almost completed, few minor jobs,
such - the erection Of platforms for barbette
guns alone remaining to be done. In form the
front Is an irregular quadrangle, having three
channel curtains" of equal length, and guage
or shore "curtain" Of greater length. Its situa-
ton Is on the southwestern portion Of the island,
at the entrance Of the harbor, in from six to
twelve feet Of water, aud distant from the shore
come $40 yards.
The work 10 pierced for three tiers Of guns-
two under case,nented bomb proofs, and the
other N bd,bsie, or open. It will mount l25 ten.
inch Columbiads on the channel fronts and 4s
heavy guns on the shore front. have ascer.
tanned Its full war armament consists Of 100
guns, the majority of which are now In such
condition Is to Withstand the most protracted
siege. The scarp walls Of the front are eight
feet In thickness, and rise abruptly from the
waite the height Of forty.two feet six inches.
am happy 20 inform you it 10 we'll supplied
With provisions, ammunition, fuel, hospital and
artillery stores, and in addition, has excellent
quarters for its officers and barracks for the men,
Ito force at present 10 large, and they are under
the command Of Capt. J. u. Brannan, United
States Artillery, and Capt. E. B. Hunt, of the
Engineer Corps. To take this fort would re-.
qure an immense number of Mississippi "volun.
teers," the majority Of whom, l surmise, would
go under" and the expenditure of an amount
Of treasure which the States that have repudia.
ted their debts, or would like to. do not possess
Fort Jefferson, Tortugas, is an immense 'bas-
toned" work, the wall being of brick, with q
granite foundation. It was commenced in the
year 1916, and in . strategetical point of view,
10 designed to command the admirable harbor,
lying in the heart Of the Florida Keys The fort
pierced for three tiers Of guns, two under bomb
proof classmates, and the other en- bdrbette, or
open. The casemsted tiers are capable Of
mounting $50 guns. A wide and deep ditch,
communicating With the sea, surrounds the en-
tire work, and this is projected by counter
scarp Of immense length.
The guns Of this work command the inner har-
Dor. Its armament in time of war consists Of
$50 guns and 1000 troops. 1t is now well man.
ned, and 10 under the command of Brevet Major
Lewis g. Arnold, o. s. Artillery, assisted by
First Lieut.. Henry Benson, First Lieut.. Matthew
n Blunt and Surgeon Adam w. McLaren. Fur
Their than this, it 10 sufficiently we'll aupplied with
provisions, fuel, ammunition, artillery and hos
pital stores.