Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1863-03-20
Our Armp Gorrrsponotntt.
FROM GEN. FOSTERS COMMAND,

NEwnERN. n. q. Feb. 27, psi

NEwBERN, n. c., Feb. 81, 1868.
Mr.. Editor Being destitute Of any bet
ter way to kill time, viii give you rough
description Of the detences and defenders OF
this city. 1t is built on the north eide of the
Trent and west side Of the Neuse, in the an
gle formed by the junction Of the two. Inc
Neuse is about two miles wide here The
eastern shore is covered with wood as far as
can be seen, but il is said to be settled back
few miles. On this bank, about mile
above the city, the 9th New York regiment
have built small forth which three 64-pound
guns are to be mounted in few days They
do picket duty over there, and are also cut
ting down the trees for a mile or two to get
range for their guns little higher up the
river, two or three gunboats are anchored.
Then landing on the western bank, and GO
ing in a south-westery direction about half
mile, you come to Fort Roam, which has five
large guns and some smaller ones About
half mile further is Fort Person. just built,
and occupied by the 9th Massachusetts, regi-
ment, which is to mount eight guns, and con-
nected with it is long rhe-pit. About one
mile more, and in the rear of the city, is Fort
Totten, the largest and most formidable of
all. 1t is pentagonal in shape, having FIVE
equal sides and as many angles. At the front
one is the gate and magazine. At each Of
the other angles is bastion. Three Of the
bastions have three 32-pound and one 2
pound guns. The other one Ga, three 80 and
one l2-pounders, and there are four guns on
the back side There are five traverses in the
Fort, the principal one running nearly across
the back side, about one hundred feet from
the wall. 1t is about four hundred feet long,
twenty-five feet wide at the bottom, eighteen
at the top, and twenty-three high 1t is built
Of hewn timber about thirty feet long, being
put about seven feet in the ground. The top
is held together by timbers running across,
and being locked the same as the beams to
house. Then the middle is filled with dirt
and clay, and pounded down, and the top is
to be covered with dirt five feet higher This
is to prevent shells from being dropped into
the Fort from the rear. There is a magazine
in each end of it, also one in each bastion, all
OF which are well supplied with ammunition.
The powder, | see, is from North Benning-
ton. The walls of the Fort are about thirty
feet wide at the bottom and fifteen at the top,
and about eight feet high. The whole is sur
rounded by ditch eight feet deep, and from
twenty to fifty feet wide. Another ditch,
about eight feet wide, extends from the south
side about half mile To the marsh, which is
in about half mile of the Trent river. At
the lower end of the ditch is another earth.
work, in which is to be placed eight field
pieces. Then in the river there are two old
gunboats moored, with number Of large
guns. Then on the south side of the Trent,
two miles from the city, is Fort Amony,
which has FIVE 32-pounders and number of
small guns. Then there are two or three
other Forts on this side of the river. Those
Forts and gunboats are so situated that there
can be cross-fre over all the land in their
range So much for the defenses.
Now for the defenders. We have ten
Massachusetts, regiments, and many morel
from New York and Pennsylvania, of infantry, Il
one of cavalry, one of heavy artillery, and
nine batteries Of light artillery, and a dashy
set of fellows the latter are too. The takingFI
Of this place at the present time would be nd
easy task. Gen. Foster had grand review
Of all the troops here on the 25th inst. II
was beautiful day, and everything passed off
in grand style.
The weather here at present is about like
the middle of May in Vermont. Dandelions
and other flowers are in bloom, and the peo-
pie are beginning to plant few of their
gardens.
The hospital arrangements here are excel
lent This regiment is very healthy. We
went into camp the first of October, and have
lost but one man he died yesterday Of fever.
Yours, &c,
IrouTu Mass