Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1861-05-10
Artitles,
Fortress j Monroe.

As our readers must feel deeply interest
ed in everything relative to the strength
and extent Of those Notifications against
which our noble volunteers may ere many
days be fighting, we give below an interest
ing description Of Fortress Monroe, taken
from the Richmond Enquirer:
"Fortress Monroe is strongly fortified
garrison, 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 june
tion of the two waters. 1t was discovered
during the war Of 1sl2-l4, that Chesa-
peake Bay was the key to all the waters of
Virginia and Maryland, and all who are
familiar with the history Of the country,
will remember that British vessels came in
to Hampton Roads, and not only took the
town of Hampton, but threatened to apply
the torch to Norfolk, that, pheuix-like, had
sprung from the ashes Of former war with
that power. Peace was declared in 1915,
and when the next Congress met they took
into consideration the subject of coast and
harbor defences; accordingly board Of en-
gineers was appointed, and an appropria-
ton made for the prosecution of such plans
as might be decided upon. ....
"About this time the grand army of Ma.
poleon was quiet, and several of his prin.
cipal officers had made our republican coun-
try their home; among them was General
Bernard, an experienced soldier, and one
of the most skilful engineers then existing.
He was accordingly invited to assist in the
work of arranging our system Of coast and
harbor defence, and in 1916, in company
with several American officers, projected
Fortress Monroe and Fort Calhoun, more
generally known as the Grip Raps." The
works 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 state of defence,
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 space Of twenty or twenty
five acres, and there are about fifteen acres
inside of the garrison. Besides the houses,
there are store-houses, workshops, (not used
now, laboratory, an Office, and several
unimportant buildings.
The casemates commence in the vicinity
of the postern, behind the water battery,
and extend, with little intermission, to the
arched doorway, designated as the main
entrance; on either side of that entrance
are casemates, which are used as quarters
for the officer of the day, guard house and
barracks for the guard. Those rearest the
portcullis have embrasures, which are in
tended to prevent that point from attack
Indeed all the classmates are provided with
embrasures, behind which are mounted AZ
FOUNDERS. 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 a.
bove the green turf that caps the fortifca.
ton. At the extreme Southern bastion
floats the stars and stripes, while just be-
low it, on the inside Of the garrison, is a
neat little Episcopal Church where the
Chaplain, Mr.. Cheevcrs, still continues to
offer up his prayers for the Union and its
President. 4 deep moat surrounds the