Delaware State journal and statesman., 1861-11-12
LETTER FROM FORTRESS MONROE
LETTER No. ..
CAMP HAMILTON, FoRTREss MONROE, Va,
Thursday night, November Z.

FRIEND EcKsLt
We will give you few of our
Impressions nothing oOntraband-of the m-
iaense Fortress which stands up so boldly and
defiantly, commanding the waters of this port iion
of d xic, aud influencing the fortunes Of this
section OF the sacred sell to the effect of keeping
ii in traces much against its will. Having been
inside OF the Fort on n number of occasions, We
are prepared 10 say, that it struck US as being
large, formidable structure lis what is term
ed Star Fortress built irregulaily in the shape
Of star The amparts arc mile il extent
You may judge of the area of the enclosure by
the circumference. The water in the moat
washes the stone walls il would be Impossible
to scale these walls. There are, we believe,
about five hundred rooms, including the case
mates, inside.
The parade ground which is extensive, is beau
tifuly shaded in spots, with various kinds of
trees among which the live oak, growing in
ulumps is the most striking. This has been an
object of attention with many of us, who had
never seen live oak before. There are some
pleasant looking buildings painted yellow, with
in the enclosure, most of which have yards in
front, aud adorned with sbiubhciy, The ineyi-
table white tents are intersperscd generally over
the grounds. Ambulances, wagons, gun carli-
ages and cannon meet the eye in all directions.
Wagons are all the time driving through the
massive archway. The Post and Express Offices
are in the easements. These long ranges Of
buildings with n small porch supported by pillars
in front of each door numbered, give the place
business like appearance, while the large resi-
deuces with the universal portico, scattered
about at short distances from the walls, impari
to it, home appearance. Men in uniform are
seen at every step; payements lead from the
part of the ground to another, while grass plats
are all over the parade. The interior OF the
Fortress upon the whole, is II pleasant looking
place, and one feels sense of security in there,
for he knows it would require many secession
balls to do any execution to those walls.
As to the architect, the following is explana-
tory. few days ago in one of our walks, we
came to an old burrying ground within quar-.
ter OF mile of our camp. But two simple
slabs supported each by six pedestals, anil n few
mounds, attest the presence Of the dead. a
weeping willow stands over their burial place
no enclosure is about it, it is in the open field
one, dreary. On Que OF the slabs we read the
following; "Sacted to the memory of Bolitla
Laws, bonn in Kent County, State of Delaware
died Nov TO- 1873, aged AZ. Forts Washington
and Monroe are proud monuments of his worth
rs M artisan, he being the undertaken of hotn. '
] Nl sl,n 4
wife.
Whilst we are On grare subjects, we might as
well tell you that portion of our encampuent
-for instance about two avenues Of tents, &C.
cupiss the site of an old grave yard. Now don't
think this one vast Golgotha here, where sol.
der with his spade in entrcnclng, has only to
dig down to throw up skull, with an exclama-
tUn Of "aas poor lorick.' We omenly hap
pened to pitch upon spot where there were
two burying grounds in the vicinity. One tent
is pitched Immediately over vault, which cir
cumstancc became apparent when it was
necessary to dig "a hole, The proprietor learn.
ing the fact, remarked that he didn't much
fancy the idea of having two occupants to that
tent, but philosophically determined that the
vault would make bully" place to build n
fire in, when the weather became colder. lle
walked over the arch very giDgery at first fear
ing It might cave in, When the heavy rains
rendered it necessary for three of our companies
to remove their tents to a higher piece OF ground
few yards Distant this spot consecrated many
long years ago Wy the dead who were there
deposited, but since, year after year, furIowed
by the plough-being the most elevated iu the
vicinity, was the site selected. 1t is said, hv the
by there was quite Il scramble for the ridges,
which wetc once graves, for these were better
calculated to shed the water. Some euterlrsing
fellows got their tents directly over one of the
highest mounds. A little digging developed a
portion OF q deeayed coflin and a skull, at which
one of the drollest Of the occupants remarked,
boys, if the resurrection should happen To-
night we should be in ID Of a fix, wouldn't
we" An old slab inscribed with characters .
which the fingers of time has Leeu marrinr and
detacing' has been appropriated by another mess
VINO hav'nt u horror OF anliuuatei marble.
though it have the associations Of the grave
investing it, and placed On its side in front of
l
will drop this subject which has The dsagrceable
olor O; the tomb about. 1t il not our design TO
provide you an entertainment of horrors.
Suffer US for an instant to bring up theme
equally sombre, hut more mirth-warranting-tbe
cOntr,bands, the innocent cause Of large DOR.
ton of our troubles, Whole bands of tlese
scek-iaeed colored gentlemen, with spades and
picks on their shoulders, on their way to pit
from which clay is hauled, march by every day.
with kind Of an attempt n military step and
file, Frofuse in ivory, and looking happy enough.
We occasionally watch with considerable inter
est, these squads at their labor Their Language
reminds one of the peculiar lingo that Mrs.
Stowe puts in the mouth Of the true Southern
black. The Delaware daikcy talks generally
much more correctly. These conirabanls for
the most part are dressed very wen you see
very few ragged ones We believe Uncle Snm
feeds and clothes them, and as they get enough
to eat, they have little to trouble them. They
ARE all tile time playing some practical Jokes
upon one another: are running over with mirth,
and the war don't appear to couoern them much.
They still continue to come within our lines
We inquired of one the other day how he man-
aged to escape through the rebel lines In reply.
he observed, "Why we done gone right by dem
lie seeesh pekets don't watch dey sleep"
We will now cfcr you brighter subject for
coutemplation-mOonlieht if you take any
interest in it. If you don't, you may leave it 10
younger and unmarried ones to them it is said
to be " beauteous light that brings sweet
farcies to the thought 1t is pardonable for
them to become sentimental occasionally, and be
alive to the attentions of the 'silyer light with