The New York herald., 1873-10-17
THE ISLAND FORTRESS.

Informal Inspection of the Government
Recruiting Depot at Governor's Is
land-Scraps OF History from Guns and
Grave Mounds-The Armament and
Garrison.
An informal visit was paid yesterday to Major
Roy, Sixth regiment United States infantry, COM
mandant at Governors Island, by party OF select
gentlemen OF this city, among whom were Brigadier
General Thomas Sweeney, United States Army;
Major General Charles K. Graham, Engineer OF the
Department OF Docks; General Mansfield Lowell.
Colonel McNally, United States Army, OF Fort
wadsworth, Staten Island and other gentlemen.
The party left the wharf at Whitehall slip in the
island steam yacht Governors Island at
noon, and first proceeded on flying
trip of salutation around the French frigate
Magicienne and the United States sloop-of-war
Frolic, both Of which vessels were lying In the
stream OF the Battery. The yacht was then
headed for Governors Island pier, where the party
landed and proceeded to the residence OF the COM
mandant. Alter brief interchange OF courtesles
the various
OBJECTS OF LOCAL ArD SCIENTIFIC INTEREST
on the island were visited; by rather curious
coincidence the arst place examined being the
cemetery where rest the remains OF Colonel Joseph
Plympton, late Colonel Of the Seventh United
States infantry and fatherin-aw OF General Lowell.
officer in the war OF 1912 and in the Mexican war;
and died at staten Island in 1850. Close TO the
terry gate Is a neat white marble slab erected to
the memory OF Sergeant Charles Henke, q native
or Denmark who died In 1872. at the age OF sew
enty-eight. fifty years OF which time had been
spent in service 10 the army OF the United States.
Further in this little metropolis Of warriors are
TWO grave stones, side by side, one Of which re-
cords the death OF Sergeant G. Hooker, in 1861, at
the age OF sixty-four years. The adjoining slab
bears the memorial inscription or Samuel q.
Hooker, son OF Sergeant G. Hooker, who was born
on Governors Island in 1914, and Killed In action
at Deserted House, Blackwater, Va, In January,
1868. Another obesk Is commemorative OF the
public service and death OF Samuel l.. RUSSELL cap
tain Second United states infantry, who was Killed
by the Seminole Indians In February, 1889, while
leading his company in action on the Miami River,
Florida. A rather peculiar inscription on an
ANCIENT BROWN STONE TOMB
If In the following words-'Here Is deposited the
mortal part OF Charles Frye son OF Frederick and
Margaret Frye. His soul alter sojourn here be-
27th OF September. A. d. I79s suffer little chill.
dren to COZ come unto Me and forbid them not; Tor Of
such Is the Kingdom OF God.i-Jesus.n
After leaving the cemetery the party, by this
time reinforced by Surgeon Milhau and some other
ON the wester aee see OF Is. water
barrack quarters and batteries OF Castle william,
the circular fort on the northwest angie OF the
consists OF casemae battery OF twenty forty-two.
FOUNDERS and five iiteen-inch guns, Of about
eono Snon, hiouuscu eis OuFOcttt On
terrepiein OF the fortification. This
PIECE or ENGINEERING PRowEss
however imposing in appearance from the deck OF
o ferryboat Is obsolete as defensive work, and is
chiefly serviceable as q barracks place oil connne
ment for prisoners, and s also useful for the firing
OF salutes. It was commenced In 1907 and .com.
pleated,v as appears by the record on the embou-
chure in 1911 Leaving Castle william, Fort Colum-
bus, the very respectable earthwork on the central
plateau OF the island was visited, and its covered
ways salients, f0sse scarp wall, salyports, draw
bridge and armament were examined with consid-
fufa
took no little interest In pointing ont the
quarters they occupied IN the enclosure
OF the fortress about twenty years ago,
when stationed here. The fort mounts about
ATTY guns, including q number OF s2pounder
Parrots, with 1b-fnch l00o-pounderl guns at the
ang,sa Yf the work. and veky nsndsQWo piece Of