The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1862-05-14

During the year 100, rowing Frenchrnan nAne0
Bienvlc, attracted by the magnificent proportions o6
what is known Mobile, landed with few follow.
ers made settlement ard built fort. probably upon
the present site Of Fort Morgan.
The exceeding saubrity Of the climate, together With
series Of fortunate prcspsred the little
settlement, the rapid growth Of which, when cedsd 70
England In l763, made place OF Importance even
at that early period. In 1850 IL again ceded, this
tmo by England Spain and in 1917 the city Of Mobile
was Incorporated.
The city Is built upon plateau elevated some fifteen
feet above high water mark, thirty miles from the
mouth Of Mobile lay, tho to this bay being
protected by Forts Morgan and Gaines.
Fort Morgan was known 10 Fort Boyer during NE
of 1872 when the gallant Major Lawrence defended
it successfully against repeated attacks both by land and
Tho fort since then has been rebuilt and strength
cnsi, and but short timc since Of the moss
picturesque and interesting Of defences N
shape it is pcnagon trace, built upon regular angles,
protected the front by strong water battery a
masonry and turf The greater number Of tho guns Ol
tho fort coumbads or heavy calbrs, with occa-
sonal ri1c upon salient. bombproof citadel in The
centre Of the fort pierced for musksy, affords secure
during bombardment, well dernier rssors
from successful stormng party The fort and water
battery with their full armament, mount guns
many or which protected by ths mantelct that waa
from .at place by Colonel Hardce which parsonage has
made excellent use OF the advantages Of his visit in the
rcatipg and strengthening Of Fort Morgan, where he
in command directly after the exodus Of Aabame
from tho Union. These manteets are maJc Of ropss
from inch and half TO two inches In thickness, laid
upon tho other and bound tightly together thas
they two thirds Of circle In extent, and
sembling somewhat mat Of very thick rope which ID
ac directly across the brecch Of the gum few inches
b., Of the trunons small aperture being left through
which the gunner takes his range. While occupied the
antols concea.s and protects those portions OF his per-
son that would not FOR the manteet, bc exposed
10 the deadly bullet OF astagh shooting party Of skir.
mishcrs. A mantcet firmly made is protection, a.
well from grape and canister as from the rife ball.
The ditch or Fort Morgan is protected by low and
close grove Of the bayonet palm whose thick stunt.
ed limbs, with their sharp branches and sword shaped
leaves form an almost imprcgnable abattis, nature
having done Fort Morgan day by day what our army
Washington with its thousands Of hardy foresters.
finds an easy matter to accomplish in few hours.
Among the officers now in garrison at this fort are
several unfinished specimens OF the West Point cadets
who left the military academy almost Immediately After
the news OF the nrst outbreak Of prsssno
troubles reached them. The hospital, ofhcerp
quarters and other barrack buildings are situatea
few hundred yards from tho FORT In souteasterIy al.
rccton the buildings being large well built and com
Portable The garrison Of the fort has been constantly
drilled in working their heavy guns which they certain.
y mannuvrs and dextcrously with astonishing re-
pidty some Of the guns bursting th9r shells high in ~
air Gar out in the direction Of nns lighthouse upon
Sand Island Az the site Of Fort Morgan Is historc W
subjon the following brief sketch Of s importance IN
tho war Of 1912 -
On September "a, 1914, British feet Of four vesssh
carrying nnetytwo guns, attacked Fort Boyer small
dred and twenty Amsrcansof1cers incuded-undsr ne
command Of Major Lawrence, and It's armament vas bue
twenty small pieces Of cannon, some Of which wsrs
almost entirely ussless and most Of them poorly
In batteries hastily thrown up and leaving the guns un
covered from the knee upward, while the enemy's land
force acting In concert with tho ships, consisted Of
wcnty artillcrsts, with battery or two guns, and
seven hundred and thirty Marines Indians and negroes
His ships carried Ave hundred and ninety men In aIl
This immense disparity Of numbers and strength did not
allow to the British military anil naval commanders the
slightest apprehension that four British ships carrying
ninety two guns and land force somewhat exceeding
seven hundred combatants, could fail in reducing O
small work mounting only twenty short carronadss and
defended by little than one hundred mcn unpror
vdod alike with furnaces for heating shot or caseassd
10 covsr themselves from rockets and Shells Never
thocss the enemy completely repulscd; the Brtsh
Commodoro's ship was entirely destroyed Tho snemy,u
loss in killed and wounded was two hundred and thirty
two men, while the American d ss only eight or nine
The present fertilization built Of Northern granite,
and In, ws believe embrasured for one tier Of guus n,
casematsd bombproof roofs, and another tier or guns
open or en- barbeHs the exterior Of the fort
ditch and glacs extending entirely around M There are
other advanced works the counter approaches TO The
fort.
ITS ARMAMENT.