Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1883-11-15
the FORTS ON THE DELI Ware.


Ill LAtTthcl Ihe Ahhuah EhSpoIt
of the Chief of Engineers.
The annual report OF the chief Of
engineers, Submitted to the Secretary OF
| War Friday, makes the following
| references TO Notifications on the Della
ware river:
Fort Delaware Ia a oasemated work,
| with granite scarp, situated on Pea Patch
Island, about AZ miles below Philsdel
phia and IL miles below Wilmington,
Del. The position is very important
| one, commanding both channels, the
eastern or main ship channel passing
within 1000 yards of the fort. The
masonry of this fort was begun in 1852
No appropriations have been made for it
since 1876, and the notifications then in
progress to adapt it to the greater size
aud power of modern ordnance remain
suspended. This work and the batteries
opposite on the Delaware and New Jersey
shores form the lower line Of defense for
the Delaware river, but the fort is in no
| condition to contest the passage of
modern ships of war, and neither the
thickness of the scarp nor the magazine
walls are sufficient to resist shot from
guns now in use.
Nothing has been done during the past
year, and the condition of the fort re-
mains as reported last year. Extensive
repairs are required to the fort and
buildings and the dixie around the island
should be raised at least two feet to
insure safety from inundation. The
appropriation asked for the next fiscal
year is $55, 200.
Battery at Finn's Point-The construo-
- L. l.aks
which forms the left Of the lower line Of
defense for the Delaware river, was COM
menoed in 1872, under the approved plans
of the board of engineers for fortifcations.
In 1876 work was suspended for want of
appropriations, and since then only slight
repairs have been made from time to
time. The sea wall and the unfinished
embankments have suffered much damage
from Rtorms, but most of the sodded
slopes and breast. hight walls are In good
condition. During the past year that
part of the sea wall lying below the
wharf and length of 1870 feet
of that above the wharf has been
repaired and raised to hight of IL feet
above low water, two feet higher than
heretofore, to afford adequate protection
to the exterior slope of the battery. 1t
ia necessary that the repair and raising
of this sea wall should be continued,
An appropriation is asked for the next
fiscal year to repair the dixie and sea
wall ; construct four gun platforms, with
beast-hight wall, two magazines and two
traverses covered passage from the
wharf, through the battery and to con-
tinue the embankments. The appropria-
tion asked for next fiscal year is $75, 900.
Mortar battery at Finn's Point-This
work was commenced in 1872 and forms
part of the earthen battery at Finn's
Point. No appropriations having been
made for it since 1874 it remains in its
then incomplete condition. Since then
the embankments have been washed away
to great extent by severe storms, which
badly damaged the sea walls at their
foot.
Fort opposite Fort Delaware-This
earthen barbette battery ia on the Della
ware shore, opposite Fort Delaware, and
commands both channels of the river
below Pea Patch Island. Its construction
was commenced in 1873 and continued
until 1876. Since that time no apprL pri-
ations have been made and the battery
remains in an unfinished condition. The
oohPiotou pait5t lueiuuiu& tuo bouueu
slopes, are in good order. The river dixie
was broken down by the severe storm of
October, 1878, and is wearing away
every year. 1t needs to be re-
paired and built up to proper
hight. No work has been done during
the past year. An appropriation is
recommended for continuing the con-
struction of the battery, under the plans
of the board of engineers for Notifications
and the protection of its site, to be
applied as follows: Rebuilding the river
dlk., completion OF the torpedo cable
gallery, construction of six additional
gun platforms, with the necessary breast
hight wall; three magazines and three
traverses and continuing the embsnk.
ment of the battery. The appropriation
asked for next fiscal year is $75, 600.
Mortar battery opposite Fort Delaware,
the construction OF this battery was COM
menced in 1872 and in the next year two
magazines were nearly completed. The
terra pleni was formed aud the parapet
embarked about Z ieet above that level
Nothing more was done until 1876, when
small balance of an old appropriation
WAS applied to completing the two maya
zines and embanking the two traverses,
with the parspet in front of them, to
nearly their tull hight. The work is in
an unfinished condition.
An appropriation of $4,000 is also
asked for Fort Mifflin, where the follow
ing work is proposed
Constructing torpedo casemate gallery,
completing exterior earthen battery,
constructing earthen battery on north
face of demi-lin constructing an ear then
battery on south face, with two traverses,
and commencing storage magazine for
exterior earthen battery.
No appropriation has been made for
work on the proposed deienses at Red
Bank, New Jersey, although the site is
an important one. The occupation of the
bluff by a suitable aImam ent, which
would command the channel at short
range, is Indispensable to any attempt to
defend the port of Philadelphia.