The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-12-26
OUR HARBoR FoRTIFICAT1OHs.

History and Description Of the Forts IT ths
Entrnncc to Now York Harber-Arrangc.
mcnts for Testing Heavy Ordnanc
The entrance TO New York harbor Ut the Narrows is
protected the Long Island side BY Forts Hamilton
and Lafayette and the Staten Island side
by Forts Tompkins and wadsworth. The channel at
this point about milo in width and 10 completely
under range Of ths guns Of the forts named On tho
site OF Fort wadsworth stood old Fort Richmond. The
erection Of Fort Tompkins begun during the
1912. Several militia regiments stationed there ct
the time; but the having to close the fort
left unfinished In digging foundations lately for
the present work several human skeletons disco.
vsred supposed the remains OF persons buried
that Time after the cessation OF hostes between
America and England these old forts abandoned
ana they fast fell into roins
1sAe sas s~vss~uns~s, sssaHs ths nsssssky ~.
manentIy terrifying this position, bought the whole pro
perry on which tho old forts above named stood from
the State paying thiythres thousand dollars for it,
In the spring OF 1s47 the work tho forts was
commenced and old Fort Richmond was torn down.
Tho plan for tho forts drawn up BY board Of
engineers OF which General Robert Z. Leo was en-.
bsr. The works commenced under Major (now
GcncraD Dcafeld In tho year lSls the entire founda
ton was laid though Of the works had be con.
structed 10 the water. Az raised 10 what
works then progressed favorably The port holes
we're lrst designed 70 be made Of copcrcte This
n and we're Su sh ons
works built Of solid granite block most Of which
brought from Maine and the remainder from larry
until 1850, when the nifty thousand dollars ap-
propriafed BY government was expended The
some time my were again stopped Tor want
Of funds but soon after resumed again. Tho late Ia
msnsed Genera McPhsson served assistant snglnser
under DelAaed from 1858 1850. and IL yes rsmsm.
bsred by many OF the old hands for bis energy and
kindness Fort wadsworth was finished In 1855 bu.
though ht for military occupation and use, was not
turned the government until August 1897. This
fort Il surrounded By moat seven fest water depth
msneemens OF the war the euas we're mounted in The
fort and some troop we're brought rom Fors Hamilton
70 man them the fort ~. h.lI.nszsson nsars Win
brss Il stands on The waters edge with glaciers and
cid battery, mounting twenty-five nftsen inch gups
and the north ank 10 the north clir battery which
these guns command perfect sweep Of ihs bag.
II 10 splendid locking fors, presiding massive and
and even ~ French ana Russian officers Who have
visited H. 70 be one Of the handsomss, and best finished
forts In existence
OF Fort wsdsworth, and commenced In 1851 II u
about hundred and twenty feet above Fort wads-
tie onicsrs Sasrisn All the land front 4 ready Tor
mounting the guns II will mount about sixty guns IN
tesn inch caiibre This fora which 10 be the gar-
sbe 70 garrison about Two thousand nsn in time Of war
The whole work. cassmatea galleries, &c, al built
OF the finest granite The countsncarp galleries arc
about twelve hundrsl feet In length and would also
garrison regiment IL required The grounds occupied
b. tho forts and suroundine them belonging 70 the
govsrnmsnt comprss about eiehv screa
tn general appearance Of the tive forts have de-
scrfbed gives The dea 81 great erength combined
with bsau,y and sxtsnsioa. The parade ground wthn
the garrison walls u nearly swo In extent The
ocsrs' quarters, ssaist yes 70 BE- buis and will
b the gorge 'front.' commanding splendid view Of
The bay The reason why work 10 not going ~
present s alleged TO Ne BECAUSE tho Board 81 Engi
having Charge Of TIE work cannot agree - 70
the plans.
just south Of Fort rompksns 10 bcins constructed
an experimental cassmatsd target designed for the
purpose OF trying The eject Of the different guns
All the works described under charge Of General
Gninora The present commando OF the posi- 70 Colo
mel Best Lsstcasns Colonel Ladlow Ia In command Of
the engineer departments