The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1957-05-31

came TO England IN 1866 with
William the Conqueror.
Through the next 100 years
Notifications at this natural de-
fensive position were alternately
repaired and permitted to fall into
decay, depending on the frugality
or generosity of the House Of Bur-
gesses and the threat of aggres-
sion from Englands foes.
In 1928, after Spain declared
war on England, work was started
on the most substantial fortifica-
ton to be built there by the early
colonists. Named Fort George for
George II, then King of England,
it was destroyed by hurricane in
174S. Thereafter the few remain
ing forticifations existed largely
in caretaker status.
Construction of the present
Fort Moneroe was begun in 1919,
following plans drawn up by Cen
eral Simon Bernard, exiled staff
engineer and aide-de-camp to Ma
poleon.
1t officially received it's present
name in 1882, after James Mon
roe, president at the time the
project was initiated. There was
no "crash" program compulsion in
those leisured and peaceful days
Not until 1884 did the Corps of
Engineers report the fort largely
completed.
Meanwhile, a young lieutenant
of Engineers, Robert E. Lee, had
for a time been charged with eX-
cavation work and supervision Of
the erection of the walls.
The 25-foot-high granite walls
of the old fort stand today, COM
pletely surrounded by a water
filled moat with gun positions on
the terreplein.
During this construction period
there arrived a Private E. A.
Perry, later known to litera-
ture as Edgar Allan Poe.
Within six weeks he was pro-
NOTED to sergeant major, the
highest enlisted rank. He left
in 1929 for an ill-starred entry to
the U. S. Military Academy at
West Point.
General Lafayette, guest of the
nation in 1924 for a celebration in
his honor at Yorktown, was enter
tanned for two days in Quarters
No. 1 at Fort Moneroe. Still intact
in all its we'll proportional charm,
this house is now occupied by Ma
jor General Armistead D. Mead,
CONARC'S Chief of Infantry.
Following the Indian War that
bears his name, Black Hawk and
several of his chiefs were sent to
Fort Monroe in 1882 as hostages.
This sight proved so attractive TO
American tourists that Old Point
Comfort was launched as a resort
area.
Twenty-Five major Civil War
events occurred at or near Fort
Monroe which, even thought it was
in southern territory, remained
throughout in the hands of Union
forces.
One of international significance
was the battle between the
worlds first iron-clad ships, the
Union MONITOR and the Confed-
crate MERRIMAC. Hundreds Of
visitors lined the ramparts at Fort
Monroe to watch this unusual
battle.
Fort Monroe was the staging
area for the action to recapture
Norfolk two months later, in May
1862. This successful maneuvcr
was under the personal direction
of President Lincoln, who also
stayed in Quarters No. /.
The captured President of the
Confederacy, jefferson Davis, was
confined at Fort Monroe for two
years after the end of the Civil
War. During the first few months
of his Imprisonment he was held
in one Of the easements" or
rooms built into the walls of the
Old Fort.
Restored to its original simple
lty of decor and furnishings, this
room is now visited by thousands
every year.
Another tourist attraction in
side the walls of the Old Fort is
the lovely Chapel of the Centu-
rion, built in 1858. During the
troubled pre-war year of 1915
Woodrow Wilson often worshipped
there when he made trips to Old