The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-09-24
TO PUT A GARRISON AT TYBEE.
TWO ARTILLERY BATTERIES WILL
BE STATIONED THERE.

board of Artillery Officers Visits the
Governments. Property-A Site Sc
Iected For the Barracks-Wiu
Probably BE at the Rear of the
FOrtifcatiOns-POst viii Have 1870
Men Under Command of a Major.
officers Left Last Night For SuIIi-
vans Island.
Tybee is to have a garrison of artillery.
There seems to be so little doubt on this
point that it can be stated as a certainty.
1t is not expected that this garrison will
be stationed on the island at any early
date. The Notifications that are now in
process of construction must be finished
and the guns of their armament put in
place before it will be necessary to have
the artillery force in barracks on the is
land.
A board of officers of the artillery arm
of the United States of the
service was in the city yesterday,
and during the afternoon visit was paid
to Tybee by means of a special train.
Comprising the board are Col. John
Rodgers, Fifth Artillery; Lieut. Col. Henry
c. Hasbrouck, Fourth Artillery; Capt
Crosby P. Miller, assistant quartermaster;
and Lieut., C. P. Townsley, Fourth Ar
tillery.
These gentlemen went over the ground
owned by the government on Tybee Island
with the view of ascertaining if there
might be suitable location for the cree
ton of the barracks that are to be built
Ia do of
There are 203 acres of this land but it
lies in such a way as to be rather incon-
venient for the construction In the proper
location Of a building of the size that will
be necessary for the barracks. The forti-
fications will be almost in the center Of
the governments strip. 1t would not be
possible TO have the barracks located in
front Of the Notifications as that would
be obstructing the guns. A considerable
portion of the land lies to the front of
the Notifications, and, were it not for
this fact Of the building interfering with
the purpose for which the works are be-
ing constructed it would offer the best
location.
The land lying to either side of the forti-
hcauons is in measure subject to the
same objections The portion 10 the rear
C.
and that remaining is not of sufficient
area to admit of the erection of a build
ing of the dimensions that will be neces-
sary for the accommodation of a garrison
OF the size it is believed viii be stationed
on the island. Consequently it will be
found that it win be necessary for the
government to purchase additional land
on the island
1t is probable that the force to be placed
IN garrison on Tybee will consist of two
batteries of artillery. The officer in COM
mand will be a major A battery in the
artillery arm of the service corresponds
to company in the infantry 1t is
thought that will be about the number of
men necessary for the care of the guns
that will be mounted on the fortifications
There is a complement of about sixty-ive
men to battery, and there will, 1t is
said, be four of the heavy gums and a
battery of sixteen mortars
This board of officers was appointed re-
Gently by the Secretary of War for the
purpose of considering the location and
distribution of the present force of the
artillery arm in the care and preserva-
ton of the sea coast armament and ma
terial With respect to the group of bat
teries forming the defense of each harbor,
or of harborS contiguous, the board is in
structed to indicate the size and location
of the garrison that should be provided,
and, with respect to the separate bate
ries that belong to the group, the num-
Der of men required as caretakers and
guards of each. IF sufficient land is not
already had for garrison uses the board
will indicate the area and site required at
each place.
Existing barracks accommodations will
be utilized wherever possible, and general
estimates of cost will be submitted for
additional buildings, also for drainage,
water supply, wharves or whatever else
may be found necessary.
The officers of the board were seen last
night at the De Soto by a Morning News
reporter. They were not ready to antici-
pate their report to the war department by
giving out its details. but the general in
formation received indicates that the gar
rison will be established as stated.
The board has already visited several of
| the points where the coast defenses are
now under construction. Among these was
Portland, Me, where quite a good deal
was found to demand it's consideration.
| The defenses at that point are necessarily
| distributed widely, the approaches to the
harbor being from several sides.
The officers left last night for Charles
! ton, where they will investigate the sit
uation at the fortihcations in progress on
| Sullivan's Island.
The board was impressed with the sit
uation of the Notifications at Tybee. The
officers believe that the entrance to the
| harbor will be readily defensible from the
| point that has been selected The report
to the war department will be rendered
| on or before Oct 10