Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1898-07-21
Letter From Fort Mott, N. J.
Fort MORT. n. J.. July II. 1S9

Fort MORT. n. J., July II, 1898.
DEAR REGIsTER-This finds me at ort
Mott. in the l4th Regiment, CompanyG,as
a soldier and think it is my duty to tell
nv friends something about Fort Mott
and surroundings. This fort is situated
on the Jersey shore at the Delaware nv
err. thirty miles below Philadelphia. On
small island in the river is Fort Della
ware, and or the opposite shore Is Dela-
ware City. These three forts control
the river. which, at this place, is about
three miles wide. | have not had an
opportunity to examine the other forts.
but Fort Mott is a wonderful piece OF
engineering. 1t consists of long wall
of granite and concrete cemented togeth-
er in one solid piece, and IS as hard as
flint. This is probably twenty feet high
and forty feet thick, and in the front OF
this there is perhaps sixty more feet OF
earth. 1t is low and is scarcely notice
able from the river, the masonry being
painted sky color. Behind this several
monster steel cannOns are mounted on
disappearing carriages, range finders,
etc. The guns. forty feet long, are capa-
BILE of hurting 900 pounds OF steel twelve
miles down the bay. To see one of these
mighty engines of destruction. charged
with IS pounds of powder. slowly raised
from its resting place, and with mighty
roar hurl 1000 pound shot down the
bav, and TO watch this projectile strike
the water seven or eight miles away and
lift a column of water 200 feet high, Is
a grand sight \ hostile fleet would Ger
tainly receive a warm reception here.
We are camped ina meadow just back
of the fort We are placed in small tents
like sardines in a box, five and six to
tent. Our ratiOuS are not what they
should be-many times scarcely more
than sour bread and coffee. But the boys
eat it without word, for they feel this
is IA soldiers duty We are all thoroughly
Disguised with the lazy routine life OF
soldier and are hoping against hope that
we shall be sent to the front.
The country here is almost level. The
people are very intelligent and hosplta-
BILE. and are very kind to us. The Jersey
mosquito is here too, and he also IS very
afTectionate All the stories you hear
about Jersey mosquitoes are true. TINS
is an old country, older than Philadel-
phia by nine years. There is a brick
house here built in 1901 in good state
of preservation, with family living IN
it. This country was settled by the
English and SwedeS about the time OF
William Penn Near here there is an old
hotel where some of our soldiers were
killed by the HesSians during the Rev
oluton, and the spattered blood stains
can still be seen on the garrett walls.
where they were surprised and put TO
the bayOnet over hundred years ago.
Rough and hard as our life Is, am
glad | am here | came into this war
only after mature deliberation and have
found it as | expected. | am here not
only because | think every young man
should come at his country's call. but
because think we are right. and only
hope that we may soon get 10 the scene
of action. where | can do the most good
for my country and humanity in this
the grandeSt war in which We have ever
been engaged. | am willing to run
chances between life and death to help
this country strike a winning blow.
guess | have told you about ALL |
will close with three cheers for the stars
and stripes. STANLEY NJ. Long.