The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-12-26
OUR HARBoR F0RTIFIcAT1oHs.

History and Description Of the Forts NJ she
Entrance 20 Now York Harber-Arrangc-
ments for Testing Heavy Ordnance.
The entrance to Now York harbor at the Narows Is
protected the Long Island side by Forts Hamilton
and Lafayette. and the western Staten Island side
by Forts Tompkins and wadsworth. The channel at
this point about mile In width and completely
under range Of the guns Of the forts named On tho
site Of Fort wadsworth stood old Fort Richmond The
erection Of Fort Tompkins begun during tho Of
1872 Several militia regiments wcrc stationed there at
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 to DO the rsmsnsof persons buried at
that time after the cessation OF hostites between
America and England these old forts were abandoned
and they fast fell into ruins
ls4e no ssvsrnmsas, seeing the AssssiAy Of par
manenty fortlyns this position, bought the whole pro-
perry which the old forts above named stood from
the State paying thirty-thres thousand dollars for it
In the spring OF 1S47 the work the now forts was
commenced and old Fort Richmond was torn down
Tho plan for the new forts drawn up BY board OF
engineers Of which General Robert e. Leo was Nom.
Der. The works commenced under MAJOR lnow
GencrsD Delaeid In tho year lsls the entire founda-
ton Laid though Of the works had TO be con.
sructed 10 water soon IS It was raised 70 what
IL called the parade, the inside was all filled and the
works then progressed favorably The port holes
soon given up, and they were built with stone and
wrought iron throats twvs inches thick The entire
was brought from Maine and the remainder from larry
town. The works continued without interruption
| until 1850 when the My thousand dollars APP
works were again resumed Ia 1882 and after
some time they we're again stopped Tor want
Of funds but soon after resumed again. The late Ia
nsned Genera ncPhsson served - assistant engineer
under Delaned, from 1853 TO 1864, and IL yes rsmsm.
bsred by many the old hands for his energy and
kindness Fort wadsworth finished In 1865 bu.
though At for military occupation and use, was not
fort i. surrounded By moat seven feet water Depth
with drawbrdge and portcus entrance. AZ the COM
fort and some troops were brought nom Fors Hamilton
70 man them. The fort % half-hexagon figure with
iGu, sssOn With four s ss Of guns nsvng MOUNTED
slopes rsias behind. On the south Gaak Is the south
and on the flank che north c battery which
viii mount about the same number Of gunA All
II Is splendid locking fort presenting massive and
beautiful appearance II 10 said by competent engineers
and even by French and Russian officers who have
visited IL 70 be one Of the handsomssi and best nshsd
New Fors rompkns stands on an elevation 10 the rear
OF Fort wadsworth and was commenced In 1867 II Ia
about one hundred and twenty feet above Fort Wads-
worth: Its pretty nearly anishsd--in fact all except
the officers Quarts All the land front Il ready for
mounting the guns II will mount about sixty guns in
barbete Of which those bearing ON The channel will be
|
SON Of the place, about Two acres and win 10
able garrison about two thousand In time Of
II as ss s.s r.: 's
about twelve huodrsd feet In length, and would
garrison regiment II required The grounds occupied
By tho forts and sugroundne them belonging 70 fhe
government compriss about eighty acres
Ts general appearance Of the two forts have do
scribed gives the ea Of great strength combined
with beauty and sxsnsioa. The parade ground within
tho garrison walls Il nearly two acres In EXTENT The
50 on The gorge 'front.' cou,fnsndnr spisndId view of
the bay The reason why work u mol going on ~
present Is alleged 10 No BECAUSE the Board q Engi-
the plans
just south Of For Tonpkins 10 bcing constructed
an experimental cassmasd target, designed for the
purpose OF trying the effect Of the different guns.
All the works described under charge OF General
Gilmore The present a1der OF the post Colo
Best Lieatcnsns Colonel Ludlow u In command Of
the engineer department.