Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-06-11
BALTIMORE'S DEFENSE
EORCES STATIONED AT NEARBY
FORTS FOR WAR MANEUVERS.
Description of Fortifcations Along the
Patapsco River Plans Of the
Forthcoming Engagement.


BALTIMORE, Nd, June 10, 1905
The artillery forces, comprising the gar
risons at Forts Howard, Armistead, Carroll
and Smallwood, which will defend Balti-
more from invasion by the fleet under COM
mand of Admiral Dic1ns, are all in readi-
ness for the opening of hostlities. At mid
night tomorrow the guns on the fortifica-
lions will be manned and until of
next Saturday a viglant and ceaseless
watch will be kept.
The forts have been connected by tele
graph and telephone, and observation posts
have been established at Bodkin Point and
Sandy Point In addition, the forts are
equipped with six big searchlights, and
these will be constantly in use at night dur
ing the maneuVerS. The battle commander
of the land forces will also have at his dis
posal several scout boats, for use near the
mouth of the Patapsco river, but these YES
sells will not venture far from base for
fear of capture.
Description of Forts.
The first fort in the Baltimore district,
coming up the Chesapeake bay, is Fort
Howard, where Col. Frank Thorp, the COM
mander of the district, has his headquar-
tiers. 1t is situated at historic North Point,
and nearly opposite Is Fort Smallwood
Fort Howard is the strongest of the Balti-
more defenses, and Its great twelve-inch
guns can sweep the river and bay for d
distance of twelve miles. Its ramparts ap-
pear as great mounds covered with green
sward, and in these MISUNDERSTANDING
mounds are concealed the batteries, the dis
appearing guns and the mortars. The
equipment at Fort Smallwood consists OF
the heavy type of rapid-tire guns.
A few miles above Fort Smallwood is To-
Gated Fort Armistead, named in honor of
H1J i-tn uEn ms n q O.
Henry during the British bonn bardment in
1914. Fort Armistead, which is at Haw-
kins Point presents an appearance similar
to that of Fort Howard. 1t is strong,
modern fort and is fortified with heavy
guns on disappearing carriages.
Fort Carroll. the fortification nearest to
Baltimore, is directly in the middle of the
Patapsco river. 1t is old fort, pentag-
onal in form, and was built before the civil
war On four sides the granite walls rise
sheer from the water, and contain numer-
Gus ports for the old-fashioned guns. On
the fifth side, facing the mouth of the river,
the old wall las been replaced with mod
ern rampant, on which is mounted guns OF
the most approved type
Defense Provisions.
The defenses are divided into the first and
second fire commands, the first line consist
ing of Forts Howard and SmaHwood and
the second of Forts Armistead and Car
roll. During the Joint exercises the ie-
lenses of Baltimore district will be COM
manded as follows:
Battle communicated. Thorpe.
Assistant battle commander-Lieut Col.
Hoskins.
Fire commander first fire commando
Maj Marsh.
Assistant fire commander (frst fire COM
mand)-Capt. Hubbard.
Fire commander Second fire commando
Maj Crawford
Assistant fire commander Second fire
command)-Capt. Brutner
Mine commandments. Kessler
The officers and commanders at the four
forts are as follows:
The Commands.
Fort Howard-Col Frank Thorp, COM
mander of Baltimore district; Lieut.. Col.
j. D. C. Hoskins Majs Charles Wilcox and
F. Marsh Capts. e. w. Hubbard and w.
NJ. Cruikshank and First Lieut.. Compton
Wilson. post surgeon.
Fortieth Company-First Lieut. S. G.
Shartle and Second Lieut.. w. NJ. Davis.
Forty-second Company-Capt. E. L. Glas-
gov, First Lieut.. Joseph Matson and Sec
ond Lieut. C. e. Wiggin.
Fifty-third Company-Capt. William F.
Stewart First Lieut.. Louis E. Bennett and
Second Lieut.. H. L. Butler
Fffty-sixth Company-First Lieut. Will
liam H. Munroe and Second Lieut. F. r.
Weeks.
Fifty-second Company-Capt Percy NJ
Kessler, First Lieut.. William W. Ballard
and Second Lieut.. A. N. Barley
One Hundred and Third Company-First
Lieuts. Francis H. Lincoln, Chas. d. Winn,
Clarence Deems, jr., and econd Lieut.. H. S.
Brown.
One Hundred and Ninth company-capt-
John W. Kilbreth and Second Lieuts. W..
~ Michel and C. B. Ross.
Thirty-seventh Company-Capt. L. G.
Brown.
Fort Armistead-Maj. Medorem Crawford.
commander; Capt E. r. Schreiner, sur