Rocky Ford enterprise., 1909-06-25

uttlnR, ana no excess OF galIantry Is
needed to make the assertion. The stronghold
was constructed n century ago. but 1t looks as
II 1t had been lifted bodily from some mediae-
val European principality and planted here on
the shore Of the new world.
You walk for a full mile on the ramparts be-
fore circuit OF the post Is ended. and below
you all the way lies the moat running in from
the sea. Masonry. pierced with portfolios and
rGofed In deep with sand and sod. Is the ma
Vial Of this bulwark Of defense.
The live oaks that grow within the fortress
are green through the year. They are older
hedge them IL protectingly from the winter
sea blasts. Under n group of the oaks at the
ocean side Of the parade ground are placed the
priceless war relics of the revolution. They
are the old brazen smooth-bore cannon which
CORVALLIS yielded up to Washington at York.
town. The British visitor to Fortress Monroe
is left In doubt to the identity Of these
bits Of antiquated ordnance. In bold relief
Just above the trunnions is inscribed the state
ment that the cannon were a part Of the fruits
of the American victory over the troops of
King George.
The French allies OF the continentals must
have made merry over the taking OF one OF
these field pieces. The name Of the maker let
into the knob OF the cascabel shows that the
gun cast in France. Another inscription
shows that the English took II from the French
on n Canadian battlefield. The Frenchmen
took the cannon. and with 1t revenge, on the
field at Yorktown. II probably was out OF
sheer generosity OF spirit that the allies made
claim to the cannon on the ground Of prior
ownership. They gave the trophy to Washing.
ton. and II is in the safekeeping of the soldiers
of his country to-day.
There are 500 artillerymen at Fortress Mon
roe. and when the statement is made that
there is room for their maneuvers as foot SOL
diers the drill parade plain a better idea
may be obtained OF the extent of the field
a. fnrSr ha xnI hy
ERE figures. The barracks face the parade.
ana fanking them the officers quarters.
OF fashioned frame structures Of the southern
style. suggesting summer comfort The com
fort has no strength beyond the suggestion.
however for some Of the suffering ones say
that the high rampant walls cut OF all the sea
breeze in summer.
A few OF the bachelor officers and a number
OF corporals and sergeants are lodged in the
old classmates Of the fortress-a cool, II some
what cramped. quartering. 1t was in one of
these classmates that Jefferson Davis. presi-
dent of the confederacy, was confined for some
time after his capture. II is the general belief
that the place where Davis was imprisoned at
Fortress Monroe was a dungeon. The case
mate is occupied to-day by junior officer OF
artillery. and he makes no complaint of hard
ship. The mistake in Jefferson Davis case
was in putting him in irons. Miles did it
under orders. and did 1t protesting II Lincoln
had not been assassinated Davis probably
never would have been in chains. and his i'm
prisonment would have been of the briefest.
The south realizes this. and some OF the bitter
ness of the episode is said to be lost.
There are so officers of artillery stationed
at Fortress Monroe. Fewer than one-ffth of
the number appear the rolls as officers Of
the garrison. The rest are students at the
postgraduate artillery school, which the gov
eminent conducts at the fortress for the
younger commissioned men of the service.
The officers have a club which is qnartered In
a place having no counterpart in America
The casemates of the ramparts of the fort are
connected by arched passageways. forming
long stone gallery. generous sec
ton of this battlement interior has been pre-
empted for the lighter side of army life.
In every casemate is embrasure through