The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1870-09-08

that such connection will be of immense ad
vantage to the garrison as enahlingosreops to
reinforce the forts rapidly and with little risk
to life in the midst of an engagement. 1t is
as well to say here that only the artillersts are
in the bastions at any time before an actual
attempt to storm the line. 1t Is not probable
that such an assault will ever be attempted by
the Prussians, should they besiege the capital,
as it does not offer the slightest chance OF sue
cess.
Until the present war broke out there was
not gun mounted upon the ramparts, nor was
the encients complete. To-day every bastion IS
bristling with cannon, and the entire inner
works are in complete state of preparation
for an enemy We have no knowledge what
size guns have been mounted, but they are
doubtless of heavy calibre, ranging from thir-
ty-six to sixty-four Founders. These will have
before them clean sweep of from one and
half to three miles, so that even if the Prus-
slams succeed in forcing passage between the
outer works they will be met at the onset by
concentric fire from two of the forts and from
the ramparts.
THE DETACHED FoRTREssEs.
Having described at some length, and we
trust clearly the line of inner works which sur
rounded Paris, we now direct the attention OF
the reader to the outer lies forts detGches.)
sizes. They cover a considerable length Of the
Sein river, which on the west makes deep
bend forming broad peninsula. On the south
east the junction of the Seine with the Marne
is covered by fort of which we shall speak
hereafter.
Beginning on the west we have Fort Mont
Valerien, situated on the mount OF that name.
This is the most powerful of all the fortresses,
and is regarded as absolutely impregnable to
assault 1t stands on the left bank of the Seine,
high above the surrounding country, which 1T
sweeps with its guns in all directions. Five
miles southeast of Mont Volerien is Fort d'Issy,
situated near the bend of the river. One mile
and quarter east of the last named place is
quarters distant to the east stands Fort de
Montrouge. Continuing on in an easterly di-
rcction, one mile and half off is Fort d.
Arcuei, or Bicetre, as it is more generally call
ed. The next mile and quarter to the east
northeast, Fort d. Ivry. These six forts are
all situated on the left bank of the Seine, and
cover a front of ten and half miles They
embrace within them the suburbs Ivry, Gen
tillv, Montrouge, Vanvres, Issy Sevres, Sares-
mes, and ST. Cloud. In front, the nearest high
ground is at Chatillon, distant three-quarters of
mile southeast of Fort de Vanyres and one
mile and half southwest of Fort Montrouge,
which last named fort is also one mile distant
from the high ground at Bagnex and three
quarters of mile from the hills near the acque-
duct. Both the forts named, aided by Fort d
Arcueil, command these elevations their guns
sweeping them at easy range.
Two miles and q quarter east of Fort d'Iyry,
on the right bank of the Seine, near its juno
ton with the Marine, and consequently near
the apex of the angle formed by the two rivers,
stands Fort de Charenton or d'Alfort Three
miles and a half northeast of this, and near
the Marne, is Fort de Nogent, another Fortress
of great strength, standing on ahigh hill whicn
commands the country for miles around
North-northwest, at distance of two miles
from de Nogent is Fort de Rosny, situated on
the extre me right of a tier of hills which ex-
tend in west-northwest direction to Pantin.
In the centre of this tier mile and three
quarters from Fort de Rosny, is Fort de Ro-
mainville while on the extreme left of the
tier, one mile and quarter distant, is Fort de
Noisy to the east of which, near by, stands
Partin, the place referred to in the foregoing
senteace. from this fort to Fort Aubervilliers,
two miles and half to the northwest, the
country is an open plain, through which runs
the Canal de Oureq. These six forts are all on
the right bank of the Seine, and cover front
of Fort de Rosny there is some high ground
near by, but it is commanded by Fort de No
gent as we'll rs by the fort it confronts.
Besides these forts, there are three impor-
tant fortresses. One mile and quarter north
west of Auburviliers is the strong redoubt La
Faisanderie and one mile and half northwest
of that is the double Couronne du Nerd, situa-
in front of St. Denis, and being one of the most
important fortresses around the city. One mile
west of this fortress is Fort de Ia Briche, stua-
ted directly on the bank of the Seine. From
Uolo~ t1,p.ac
there is a gap of seven and a half miles unpro-
tected by any forts. But it will be perceived
that along here is the great bend of the river.
In the event of an enemy crossing between
forts de la Birche and Mont Valerien, he would
run very great risk of being cut off from re-
treat by a movement of the garrison from the
north, and hemmed up in a narrow tract of
ground. From our statement of distances it
will be ascertained that the circle of fortresses
covers front of thirty-ive miles, or rather
that that number of miles is their circumfer-
ence Such front would compel the enemy,
if they sit down to a regular siege, to cover
circumference at least of ffty-fvc miles with
lines of circumvallation and contravallation
should the object be to cut off the besieged from
all chance of relief 1t will thus be seen that
the Prussian army has rather formidable job
to accomplish before it can shut up the French
in Paris.
Having minutoly located and named the diff
ferent fortresses, with the distances between
them, general sketch Of their capacity will be
found interesting. The fifteen forts combined
present ninety three fronts. Each fort is sep
arate and distinct work, intended to rely upon
itself in case of necessity, though receiving
support from the works that flank it. All are
casemates, and, combined, mount twenty-three
hundred guns of all kinds and calibres. Their
armaments have been in them for long while,
so that but little work has been required for
them since there was prospect of Paris being
besieged. Each has its own magazine, barracks,
storehouse and supply of water, so that should
one be captured the two on each side would not
be inconvenience in the slightest degree, while