Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-05-10

the Norfolk Day Book, will interest many
perponE
Fortress Monroe Is strong fortified Rarri-
son, situated on that point OF land formed by
the extreme western bank Of the chesapeake
and the extreme eastern bank of Hampton
Roads, and at the junction Of thef nters.
II was discovered during the war uEMI3-l4,
/ that Chesapeake Bay was the key TO all the
waters Of Virginia and Maryland, and all
| who are at all familiar with the history of
1 the country, will remember that British YES
sells came into Hampton Roads, and not only
| took the town Of Hampton, but threatened
TO apply the torch to Norfolk, that Phenix.
like, had sprung from the ashes OF a former
war with that power. Peace was declared
| in 1875, and when the next Congress met
they took into consideration the subject of
coast and harbor defenses; accordingly, a
Board Of Engineers was appointed, and an
| appropriation made for the prosecution of
/ such plans as might be decided upon.
About this time the grand army of NApo-
leon was quiet, and several of his principal
officers made our republican country their
home; among them was General Bernard,
an experienced soldier, and one of the most
skillful engineers then existing. He was ac-
| cordingly invited to assist in the work Of
arranging our system Of coast and harbor
defense; and in 1916, in company with sew
| eTdl american pIuJtCNcu
Monroe and Fort Calhoun, more generally
known as the "Trip Raps." The work was
laid off, and both forts commenced in 1919.
From that time to this there has been more
or less work going on at Fort Monroe; and
while that work is sufficiently advanced to
be placed in a state of defense, it is far from
being finished. The extent of the work may
be judged from the fact that it is over mile
around the ramparts; the wall covers a
~ or nkxy.f II
there is about fifteen acres inside of the gar
rison. or
The classmates commence in the vicinity
of the postern, behind the water battery, and
extend with little intermission, to the arched
doorway. On either side Of that entrance are
classmates, which are used as quarters for the
officer of the dsy, guard-house and barracks
for the guard. Those nearest the portcullis
have embrasures which are intended to pro-
teet that point from attack. Indeed all the
casemates are supplied with embrasures, be-
hind which are mounted forty,two-pounders
On the ramparts, at those points where
there are no casemates, are mounted guns,
upon wooden carriages, whose saucy-looking
muzzles are plainly to be seen above the
green turf that caps the forti6cation. AT the
extreme Southern bastion floats the stars
and stripes, while just below it, on the in
eide of the garrison, is neat little Episcopal
Church, where the Chaplain, Mr.. Cheevers,
still continues to offer up his prayers for the
Union and its President. A deep moat sur
rounds the whole walk; this moat is supplied
with water from Mill Greek, and, while the
gates are open, ebbs and flows with the tide.
The water battery, like all the masonry on
this fort, is beautiful piece of work; 1t is
built of stone, and is sufficiently thick to
Withstand any shot that can be projected
against it from the bay beyond. 1t is fin.
isbed with case mates, the arches of which
are turned with brick, and rest upon granite
columns in the rear. This battery has forty
two embresures, and is supplied with like
number of forty-two-pounders, which, like
all the rest of the guns in the garrison, are
fully mounted and ready for action. 1t COW
ers all that face of the garrison that fronts
upon the channel of the bay, and is only in.
tended as a means Of offense and defense
when attacked by force on the water. This
portion of the work, like the ramparts, is
covered with green turf, and presents
beautiful and pleasant promenade in the
summer afternoons.
At the upper or northern extremity of this
battery commences q redoubt or breastwork
| that extends around 10 the point of that bas-
ton in which the magazine is situated in
| the middle Of this redoubt is sally port or
| postern that leads out to an outer work mot
yet finishedl, that is intended to protect the
fort on the land side. From the water
battery to the magazine is decided the weak
| est portion of this fortress, and a well or
| ganized force OF one thousand men could
| readily carry the Notifications at this point.
| Besides the fact that there are no casemate-
guns on these two faces, the gates that
supply the moat with water are on this side,
and at the low tide might be closed to pre-
| vent the water from coming in on the change
! of the tide, and thus could land force re.
| duce the draught of water to such an extent
| as to enable them to wade across alad scale
the walls, which of course could only be done
under murderous fire.
| The gun from only one shoulder could be
brought to bear upon the scaling party, and
that one, or even two, would be so depressed
as to render their effect doubtful. Besides
this, storming party could reduce the gar.
rison to submission in a short while unless
the elements conspired to furnish them
water, for there is not spring, or well, or
a pump on the works, but, like the good peo-
| pie OF Norfolk, the soldiers at Old Point have
| 10 depend on the clouds for their drink.
We were led into the above remarks, be-
cause of the fact that Fortress Monroe is con-
| sidered impregnable, but such is not the fact;
| 1t lacks much of it as it now stands, and even
| if it was completed, we give our idea of the
work, when we remind our readers that Sc
bastopol and Gibraltar fell before resolute
enemy.
The Richmond Enquirer, in copying the
above, says;
AS no fortifcstion is impregnable to o
well appointed army of res0lute and deter
mined men, the question of reducing Fort.
ress Monroe is one to be determined by the
wisdom and judgment of the civil and mill
tary authorities OF the Confederate States !;
taking into consideration the necessary loss
of life that must ensue in its successful cap
fnra IInnn this mint wa
ion, leaving it to the wisdom and discretion of
President Davis and his able officers in COM
mand of the State and Confederate forces.
The garrison at Fortress Monroe, is doubt
less very large and well appointed at this
time, with the capacity, on the part Of the
United States authorities, to increase it to a
larger amount.
We have no idea that the report as to the
number Of troops now at Fortress Monroe,
variously estimated at from three to five
thousand, are correct. But that large and
strong garrison is now within the fort we
have no doubt.
Commanding the entrance of Hampton
Roads, its guns effectually blockade the
james and Elizabeth Rivers, stoppinR all
vessels bound either to OF from Richmond.
Petersburg or Norfolk. Great annoyance is
thus given to the trade of Virginia and
North Carolinaj but as the same blockade
Coulu De maze Dy vessels OF war, within or
without the Capes, it may be a question
with the authorities whether Fortress Mon
roe should be reduced by Investment or
conquered by forcing the capitulstion Of
Washington City.
GENERAL SCoTTs MODE OF LIFE.-A Wash
ington correspondent gives the following
sketch of General SCOTS mode of life, and
his untiring industry and vigilance:
General Scott has left his house, and taken
up day and night quarters at his Office. He
is feeble In Indy hut vary clanr cnrnnrnhnu.-