The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1861-05-18

An lntrssiing DsseripHon-Ns Means ot
Defense and Points 9f Attock- TIE
Garrison, Ae.
At the present time the following dsss,ip.
ton Of Fortress Monroe, whieh ws 6pd in
the Norfolk Day Book, will interest many
persons:
Fortress Monroe 10 strong fortified gar.
rison situated on that point Of land formSd
by the extreme western bank Of the Chssa.
peake, and the extreme eastern bank Of
Hampton Roads, and ct the junction Of the
two waters. II vas discovered during the
war Of 1924, that Chesapeake Bay, was
the key to all the waters OF Virginia and
Maryland, and al who are at ai1 familiar
with the history Of the country, will remem.
Der that British vessels came into Hampton
Roads and not only took the town Of Hamp-
Norfolk, that Phnnix like had sprune from
Peace vas declared in 1915, and when the
next Congress met they took into consider
alton the subject Of coast and hsrbor de-
fenses; accordingly . board Of engineers
was appointed, and 40 appropriation made
for the prosecution Of such plans ~ might
be decided upon.
About this time the grand army Of Ma
poleon was quiet, and several Of bic prin-
cipal officers made our republican country
their home; among them was Gen. Bernard,
an experienced soldier, and one Of the most
skillful engineers then existing. He vas
sccordingly invited to assist in the work Of
arranging our system Of oosst and hsrbor
defense, and 10 1916, 10 company With ssv-
eral American officers, projected Fortress
Monroe and Fort Colhosn, more generally
known ~ the "Trip Rsps." The work was
laid OF and both forts commenced in 1919.
From that time to this there has bsen more
or less work going on at Fort Monroe, and
while their work . ss0cisotly advanced 70
be placed in state Of dsfssse, II 10 fer
from being finished. The extent Of the
work may Be judged from The fact that il 10
over mile afoaBd the Ssmpsrss the wall
covers . spses Of tvessy or twenty i've
sores, and thsrs il about fifteen sores inside
Of the garrison.
The casenates commence in The vicinity
Of the postern, behind the water battery,
and extend, with little intsYmissiop, TO tie
srehed doorway. % eithsr side Of thss
entrance are cssematss which ere ussd -
quarters for the o6sers Of The day, e6sYd
house and bsrrseks for The essrd. These
nearest the port sullis hsvs smbrasssse
which sss is.esdsA 70 protsst that poies
from attack. Isdssd all the eassaatss ere
supplisd With snbrsssrss, behind which ere
nouotsd forty.tws pesndsss.
On the ra0paSts, as tbsss poists whwe
there are 10 eaeeOasee, ere moosss6 eeaes
upos wooden carriages, whose sssey Iook-
ing naxslss are plainly = bs ssss sheet shs
grsss turf that caps The festi6oetioo. A.
the extreme southern basties 6oats he stars
and stripes, while jsss bslev IL, On the inside
Of the garrison, . . psat litsls Episcspal
Church where The chaplain, Ms. Chssvcrs,
still eostinuss 70 e4sr sp bic prayers for
the Union sud its Prssidsnt. A dsep most
sarrssnds the whole work; this nost b
supplied with water ffou Mill creek, aud
while the gates are open, sbbs aod aovs
With the tide.
The water battery, lite Ill The nssessy
% this fort, 10 . bsssGfsl piees Of work ;
IL u bails OF ssess, and 10 sulIeisotly thick
to Withstand say shot that can be projected
azsinss il fron the bay beyond. Il il fn-
isbed with casemates, the arches OF which
are tsrped with brick, and ths rest upon
granite columns In the rear. This battery
hss forsy-suo emtrasusss, and 10 esppIisd
sish like nuisber Of fof.y-two pounders,
which, like oil the rest of ths gnns 10 the
ga-risoo, are fully nouuted and rsady for
sction. IL covers ell that fses Of the gsr.
rison hat fronts spon the channel Of the
(coscLCDsS ~ SeCR5H YAcs)