National Republican., 1883-08-06
DEFENsEs OF THE POTOMAC.
Lieut.. Col. Gillmore's Report as TO the
Extensive Works ut Fort Monroe and
Hampton Roads.

Extensive Works ut Fort Monroe and
Hampton Roads.
Lieut.. Col. @. A. Gilmore, corps of engi.
neers, in charge of Fort Monroo-and the de-
fenses of the mouth of the Potomac river,
Hampton Roads, Gosport navy yard, and the
mouth of the James river, has submitted his
annual report to the War department..
The report says: This extensive work
commenced in 1917, occupies an important
position, covering in cooperation with Fort
Wool ION the opposite side of the channeD
the only approach from tho sea to Hampton
Roads, the cities of Norfolk and Portsmouth,
tho Gosport navy yard, and the James river.
These works, also, in offering safe rende-
vous for our own vessels of war; afford in
direct protection to Baltimore, Annapolis and
Washington, and all the harbors and towns
on the Chesapeake bay and Potomac river.
The work covers an area of eighty-siN acres,
and tho distance around IL is one and three
quarter miles.
The notifications that have been planned
and approved for adapting Fort Monroe to
the requirements of efficient defense against
war vessels of recent type, contemplate arm
ing tho channel front of the advanced redoubt
with heavy barbotto guns, provided with
suitable traverses and traverse magazines !;
mounting q similar armament in the re-en-
tering place of arms located on the right of
the redoubt in advance of front No. 8; con-
structing the new open battery for the bar
bette guns to the right Of the old cascmated
water battery and placing few heavy guns
in the salients of the main work and covered
way. There is plenty of room for mortar
batteries both within and without the work.
The work of making requisite notifications
has been suspended for several years past for
the want of appropriations.
In the advanced eartheu redoubt the two
traverse magazines are finished, except the
earth covering to one of them. and six gun
plate forms are nearly completed. Most of
tho earthwork of the redoubt is also finished.
In the place of arms tho concrete service
magazine is finished, but not covered with
earth, and the concrete foundations for the
gun platforms have been laid. The new ten
gun earthen battery has not been COM
menCed.
The operations of the past fiscal year wero
confined to the repairs, necessary protection,
and preservation of the work. Six hundred
and fifty feet of sheet piling breakwater,
between the hotel tract and the engineers
wharf, were built, and about 1000 feet of
granite on the beach were moved and stored
under contracts About $50 linear feet of
breakwater, which was damaged by storms,
was thoroughly repaired. Fifty eight hun
dred linear feet of railroad iron and ten
railroad frogs were taken up and stored. A
traverse magazine in the advanced redoubt
and another in place of arms were housed to
protect them. Several old plank walks were
taken up and 800 linear feet of paling fence
was constructed near engineers quarters.
Two brick flues were built with ventilators,
and other fixtures placed in the casemates oc-
cupied by officers in the bastion between
fronts 1 and 3 One thousand and eighty
seven linear feet of brick and gutter were
laid in the drain roadway skirting the parade,
and the roadbed graded Several brick
sewers were cleaned and enlarged, Repairs
were made to the slopes and parapets of the
main work. and in front of the three 15-inch
gun platforms on the east end water battery.
Repairs were made to the engineers build
ings, fences cisterns, &c. The grass was cut
on the parapets and exterior slopes of the
main work and on the gl acis in front of it,
No appropriation having been made no
work was done at this fortifcation during the
past fiscal year beyond its protection, preser-
walton, and repair. ..f.l,-... s. ,,.
The sum of $4,000 is asked for the next
fiscal year.
THE ARTEsIAN WELL AT FORT MONROE.
No work was done during tho last fiscal
year and none is contemplated during the
present fiscal year, for want of funds. The in
adequate and uncertain supply of water at
Fort Monroe is an evil which, it is conceded
on all sides, may at any time arise to serious
magnitude. The present depth of the well is
about 900 feet. 1t is recommended that pro-
vision be made to increase this depth to 1900
or even 1,500 feet before abandoning the pro-
ject of obtaining water supply by this
method. For the next fiscal year the sum OF
$4,000 is aked for.
FORT WOOL, HAMPTON ROADS, VA.
In reference to this fertilization, which is
Immediately opposite Fort Monroe, the re-
port says: This work unites with Fort Mon
roe in closing the sea approach to Hampton
Roads, being located ON the opposite side of
the channel from that work, and, therefore,
crossing its fire with it,
Fort Wool is an inclosed casemated fort.
1t was begun in 1878 by forming an artificial
foundation with stone of random sizes, un-
loaded upon a ten-foot shOal selected as the
site of the work. When the scarp walls and
piers had reached height to include the lin
tells of tho lower tier of embrasures settle
ment began, and work was stopped after
piling a quantity of stone upon the walls
sufficient to bring upon the foundations a
pressure somewhat exceeding that of tho fin
ished work.
The work of construction was resumed in
1855, and when it was suspended fifty-two
casemates of the lower tier with iron throated
embrasures were finished and ready for the
guns. On the second tier the scarp walls and
piers of those portions of the work bearing on
| the channel had reached nearly to the height
of the embrasure lintels, the embraSure irons
had been set, and the floors of most of the
casemates paved. On the go rye faces very
little work had been done.
During the past fiscal year the fort keepers
quarters and other buildings were repaired
and painted, and n portion of the masonry Of
the upper tier of easements was painted.
1t is designed to modify this important
work so that it may receive the heaviest mod
ern rihed guns, protected by impenetrable
iron armor. The work to be done, which will
require several years for its execution, can not
be left until the near approach of war, and IL
liberal appropriation for it is urgently recon-
mended.
No appropriation having been made, nc
work was done at this fertilization during the
last fiscal year beyond its protection, preserya
tion, and repair, as far as was possible with
the general appropriation made for this pur-
pose, and no other work is contemplated dur.
ing the current fiscal year for the samo rea'
son.
Appropriation asked for the next fiscal
year, Sl50,OOO.
I
The Anglers FaVOrIte Bird.
The kinghsher is specially dear to tn,
| xp,udnr;no Nv.Rsbnr In tho ghircs euy