The National tribune., 1904-06-30

said to be the largest fort in the world.
Its high walls of solid granite seem to
rise directly out of the water, but in front
of them. running clear around the point.
is an extensive and powerful water-bat-
terry planned to fire pOintblank across the
surface Of the sea. and strike hostile YES
sells at the waters edge. The water-bat-
terry has massive casemates OF cut granite,
with embrasures for AZ guns.
All around the fort, which is mile in
circuit, is a granite-faced moat. ditch
about $50 feet wide, and having in it from
eight to Is feet of water, according to the
state Of the tide.
The granite walls Of the fort rise to
hight of 80 feet, and are backed by thick
bank Of packed clay, wide enough to make
plenty of room on the top to work the
great barbet guns, which stand few PAGES
apart all along the crest. The thick stone
walls and backing of earth are pierced
by high, arched vaults for the guns. which
fire through granite-faced embrasures. Be-
tween these, on the inside of the walls,
and facing the parade grounds, are high,
rOOmy casemates, many of them fitted up
for officers quarters, others for barracks
for the men, storerooms, guardhouses,
magazines, etc.
The fort is quite as formidable on the
to it is over narrow strip Of sandy
beach, which has special Notifications, and
is swept by the gunfire from several an
gles Altogether there were 371 guns
mounted in the fort. No wonder that the
rebels had no thought of taking the place
in 1861, though at that time it was gar
risoned by only small force Of heavy ar
tillerists.
1t was the only place in Virginia that
we held. from the first.
Fort Monroe was the result Of the les
sons taught us by the War of 1872, when
the British sailed up Chesapeake Bay. and
burned Washington. 1t was begun in
and up to 1861 had cost So, 500 600, an i'm
mense sum for those days.
When the boys and their wives attempt
ed to go up toward the fort they were
stopped near the dock by guard.
"Yez can't go up to the fort to-day, Sar-
jints," tall, very straight Sergeant Of
heavy artillery, with three enlistment
sentinel, said pleasantly. "Arders forbid
any one comm nigh the fort. It's kape
OF the grass for outsiders, the day"
There it goes again, ST." said Shorty.
''That comes Of being in your company.
The Governments afraid you'll carry OF
that famous OO-pound Coiumbiad,. and
hide it somewhere till you're mustered out
That comes of having got bad reputa-
tion in South Carolina"
whats the matter, Sergeant" in
quired 81 rather testify. "We're not going
to harm their old fort. We're soldiers
from Sherman's Army. We've been hear
ing so much about this place that we'd
like to take look at it, with our wives"
'I'll be responsible for his good be-
havor," said Shorty. 'I'm from Sher-
mans Army, too, but I'm known as the
only strictly honest man in it. never car
ried away anything weighing more than 4
ton in my life. Then you can search us
as we come out, and take away any of the
siege guns we may've hid on our persons"
"N0; faint on account av Sherman's
min comm up that we're guardin' the fort
so closely. though that'd be good enough
rayson," answered the Sergeant good-hu-
moredly: Lads that'd shtale the Capital
wouldn't be safe to let loose around Fort
Monroe. We ought to take it in av nights,
till they're gone by. Oh understand that
at Washington they're putin chains over
the Capitol an the Treasury. But that's
not the rayson, at all, at all. We're ex-
pectin' distinguished guests, who mustn't
be affronted By bein' crowded by Yankee
mudsills."
'The thunder you are" said Shorty.
"Who are these super6ne gents? thought
about everybody had got 90 used to being
bumped mp against BY Yankee soldiers
that they took It 40 q regular thing.
Eyes, up In Washington the man or
woman who couldn't bear to associate with
private soldiers has had to take to the
woods: There's NO other way to get rid Of
thsm."
who's coming, that's % much more
gflt-odged than they are In Washington,
evenT repeated Shorty.