April 30, 1861;
Richmond Enquirer
Richmond Enquirer
We are indebted to the Norfolk Day Book for many of the following facts in regard to Fortress Monroe:
Fortress Monroe is a strongly fortified garrison situated on that point of land formed by the extreme western bank of the Chesapeake, that the extreme eastern bank of Hampton Roads, and at the junction of the two waters. It was discovered during the war of 1813-14, that Chesapeake Bay was the key to all the waters of Virginia and Maryland, and all who are at all familiar with the history of the country, will remember that British vessels came into Hampton Roads and not only took the town of Hampton, but threatened to apply the torch to Norfolk, that phoenix like, had sprung from the ashes of a former war with that power. Peace was declared in 1815, and when the next Congress met they took into consideration the subject of coast and harbor defences; accordingly a board of engineers was appointed, and an appropriation made for the prosecution of such plans as might be decided upon. About this time the grand army of Napoleon was quiet, and several of his principal officers had made our republican country their home; among them was General Bernard, an experienced soldier, and one of the most skillful engineers then existing. He was accordingly invited to assist in the work of arranging our system of coast and harbor defence, and in 1816, in company with several American officers, projected Fortress Monroe and Fort Calhoun, more generally known as the “Rip Raps.” The work was laid off and both forts commenced in 1819. From that time to this there has been more or less work going on at Fort Monroe, and while that work is sufficiently advanced to be placed in a state of defence, it is far from being finished. The extent of the work may be judged from the fact that it is over a mile around the ramparts; the wall covers a space of twenty or twenty-five acres, and there are about fifteen acres inside of the garrison. Besides the houses given in the rough cut above, there are store houses, work shops, (not used now,) a laboratory, an office, and several unimportant buildings.
The casemates commence in the vicinity of the postern, behind the water battery, and extend, with little intermission, to the arched doorway, designated above as the main entrance, on either side of that entrance are casemates which are used as quarters for the officer of the day, guard house and barracks for the guard. Those nearest the port cullis have embrasures which are intended to protect that point from attack. Indeed all the casemates are supplied with embrasures, behind which are mounted 42 pounders. On the ramparts, at those points where there are no casemates, are mounted guns, upon wooden carriages, whose saucy looking muzzles are plainly to be seen above the green turf that caps the fortification. At the extreme Southern bastion floats the stars and stripes, while just below it on the inside of the garrison, is a neat little Episcopal Church where the Chaplain, Mr. Cheevers, still continues to offer up his prayers for the Union and its President.–A deep moat surrounds the whole work; this moat is supplied with water from Mill Creek, and, while the gates are open, ebbs and flows with the tide.
The Water Battery, like all the masonry on this fort, is a beautiful piece of work; it is built of stone, and is sufficiently thick to withstand any shot that can be projected against it from the bay beyond. It is finished with casemates, the arches of which are turned with brick, and rest upon granite columns in the rear. This battery has forty-two embrasures, and is supplies with a like number of 42 pounders, which, like all the rest of the guns in the garrison, are fully mounted and ready for action. It covers all that face of the garrison that fronts upon the channel of the bay, and is only intended as a means of offence and defence when attacked by a force on the water. This portion of the work, like the ramparts, is covered with a green turf, and presents a beautiful and pleasant promenade in the summer afternoons. At the upper or northern extremity of this battery commences a redoubt or breastwork that extends around to the point of that bastion in which the magazine is situated; in the middle of this redoubt is a sally-port or postern that leads out to an outer work (not yet finished) that is intended to protect the fort from the land side. From the Water Battery to the Magazine is decidedly the weakest portion of this fortress, and a well organized force of one thousand men could readily carry the fortification at this point. Besides the fact that there are no casemate guns on these two faces, the gates that supply the moat with water are on this side, and at the low tide, might be closed to prevent the water from coming in on the change of the tide, and thus could a land force reduce the draught of water to such an extent as to enable them to wade across and scale the walls; which , of course, could only be done under a murderous fire.–the gun from only one shoulder could be brought to bear upon the scaling party, and that one, or even two would be so depressed as to render its effect doubtful. Besides this, a storming party could reduce the garrison to submission in a short while, unless the elements conspired to furnish them water, for there is not a spring, or a well, or a pump on the work; but, like the good people of Norfolk, the soldiers at Old Point have to depend on the clouds for their drink, (except when they drink whiskey, and then they depend upon their own ingenuity.)
We were led into the above remarks, because of the fact that Fortress Monroe is considered impregnable, but such is not the fact; it lacks much of it as it now stands, and even if it was completed, we give our idea of the work, when we remind our readers that Sebastopol and Gibraltar fell before a resolute enemy.
As no fortification is impregnable to a well appointed army of resolute and determined men, the question of reducing Fortress Monroe is one to be determined by the wisdom and judgment of the civil and military authorities of the Confederate States; taking into consideration the necessary loss of life that must ensue in its successful capture. Upon this point we venture no opinion, leaving it to the wisdom and discretion of President Davis and his able officers in command of the State and Confederate forces.
The garrison at Fortress Monroe is, doubtless, very large and well appointed at this time, with the capacity, on the part of the United States authorities, to increase it to a larger amount.
We have no idea that the reports as to the number of troops now at Fortress Monroe, variously estimated at from three to five thousand, are correct. But that a large and strong garrison is now within the fort we have no doubt.
Commanding the entrance of Hampton Roads, it its guns effectually blockade the James and Elizabeth rivers, stopping all vessels bound either to or from Richmond, Petersburg or Norfolk. Great annoyance is thus given to the trade of Virginia and North Carolina; but as the same blockade could be made by vessels of war, within or without the Capes, it may be a question with the authorities whether Fortress Monroe should be reduced by investment or conquered by forcing the capitulation of Washington city.
The disorganized, riotous horde of Northern mercenaries that now disgrace Washington City, with no general to command them, with no discipline to control their turbulence, would evacuate before our army under the gallant Lee. The people are eager for this enterprise, the army are impatient to be led against the vandal hordes that are now destroying all that was once so beautiful in and around Washington. But bravery, courage and daring, though necessary to every army, are not the only requisites. The commander in chief has a wider scope of vision than is permitted to any one else; he must determine that which is best for the army which he is to command, as well as for the State who has entrusted him with so much power and responsibility.
We would advise all persons to quietly await the orders of Gen. Lee. A feeling of confidence and security pervades the State.
The justice of our cause, the firmness of our purpose, the strength of our arms, or reliance upon the God of battles, will give us the victory, whether the field be before Fortress Monroe or Washington City.