The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-08-24

striking contrast with these dreadful
times, well equipped life saving sta
ton, with a sturdy crew of brave hearts
and strong arms, always alert for signals
of distress at sea.
WAR DEPARTMENT RECORDS
FORT CASWELL
Fort Caswell, at the mouth of Cane
Fear river. North Carolina, was COM
menced in the year 1926, the first ap-
propriation for its construction being
under act of Congress approved March
9. 1925. 1t was reported as about com
pleted by Captain Alexander J. Swift,
United States engineers, October 20
1888. at a cost of $473, 402.
Fort Caswell was an Enclosed penta-
gonal work, with loop-hoed scarp
wall. fanked by caponniers, was CON
structed for an armament of siXty-one
channel bearing guns, mounted en-bar-
bette. and a few small guns for land
defense. Capacious defensive barracks
called citadel occupied large part Of
the parade.
Upon its evacuation by the Confeder-
ate forces in January, 1865, an attempt
was made to blow it up. All the scarp
wall of the southeast face was over
turned by mine explosion in the scarp
gallery of that face; a portion of the
scarp of the north and west fronts was
badly shattered by the explosion of a
magazine on the covered way near the
northwest salient, and the citadel on the
parade of the works was burned.
Until recently the old fort was greatly
dilapidated, but recently the United
States Government has made extensive
improvements in the way of batteries.
and it is now one of the best fortified
forts along the Atlantic coast.
EVACUATION AND EXPLOSION
OF FORT CASWELI.
The defenses during the civil war of
Oak Island were composed of Forts
Caswell and Campbell, the latter a large
earth fort, situated about one mile down
the beach from Fort Caswell; Battery
Shaw, and some other small works, all
under the command of Colonel Charles
II. Simonton, now Judge of the United
States Circuit Court.
Fort. Fisher fell about O'Clock Sun
day night, January 10, 1865, and by mid
night orders had been received at Fort
Caswell to send the garrison of that fort
and Fort Campbell down the beach and
into the woods before daylight in order
to conceal them from the Federal
fleet. The troops were Immediately
withdrawn from the forts, and, under
cover of darkness, marched away. Ac-
cordingly. the barracks and forts were
destroyed. The buildings, without the
fort and the citadel within were at once
set on fire, and were soon blazing from
top to bottom. Trains had been laid dur
ing the day to each of the seven maya
zines at Fort Caswell and the five maya
zines in Fort Campbell, and under the
lurid glare of the burning buildings the
match was applied to the trains and
magazine after magazine exploded with
terrific reports. One of the magazines
in Fort Caswell contained nearly lOo.-
900 pounds of powder, and when 1T ex-
ploded the volume of sound seemed 10
rend the very heavens, while the earth
trenlbled and shook, the violence of the
shock being felt in Wilmington, thirty
miles distant The sight was grand be-
yond description. Amidst this sublime
and impressive scene the flag of Fort
Caswell was for. the last time hauled
down and carried away by the officer in
charge. who, with his men, silently de-
parted-the last to leave the old fort,
which for four long years of war had SO
CALAMITY guarded the main entrances TO
the river.
FORT JOHNSON, n. G. "a
The erection of the original fort was
provided for by an act of the Colonial AS
sembly. held at Newbern, April ~, lIfJ
image 94 of the Laws of North Cafollna).
1t recited that, 'Whereas, from the
present war with France and Spain
there is great reason to fear that s1ieh
parts of this province which are STU
ated most commodiorls for shipping TO
enter. may be invaded by the enemy
and. whereas. the entrance of Cape Fear
river. from its known depth of water
and other conyeniences of navigation,
may tempt them to such an enterprise
while ii remains in so naked and defense
less condition as it now is; therefore,
for the better securing of the inhaDitahts
of the said river from any insult anu
INVASION" etc. Ihaf the 10.
or battery shall be called Johnston 5
fort, and shall be large enough to contain
mt least twcnty-fonr cannon, with par
racks and other conyeniences Tor SOL
diers."
This was before the opening of New
Inlet. This opening, which was caused
by d violent equinoctial storm in l46i'
increased in Importance, so far as to
form q new mouth for the Cape Fear
river. deepening from six feet at low
water in 1897 to ten feet at low water
i'm 1899 had a marked effect upon the
river, diminishing the depth of water
upon the main bar entrance from fifteen
feet in 1897 to nine feet in 1889. Prior
to the opening Of New Inlet, and even
until 1899, Bald Head channel was the
natural and main entrance to the river.
From 1889 to 1872 both the Rip western
channel and New Inlet were the man
entrances, and the use of Bald heau
was discontinued Since 1872 and the
closure of New Inlet, Bald Head mas
again become the main channel.
LIFE SAVING STATION.
About a mile from Fort Casswell, fac
ing the dangerous middle ground upon
which many a gallant ship has met her
doom. is situated Oak Island life say,
ing station, the crew of which patrol
the beach south of the main bar, While
their fellow life savers of the Cape Fear
station on Bald Head, watch the white
line of breakers for miles to the north.