Dr Bro.

                        the post has under gone many alterations and is now nearly done the plan is the inside line at top of paraphet I think I wrote so you will understand how it is made but my first plan was so poor and not correct as to the shape that I thot I would try you with another It may not interest you at all if not it will not take but a minute to burn it and as you all wish me to write and I am most out of writing stock so excuse I have marked the places where the guns are mounted o—and the figures denote the size only those that are marked rifle are rifle. they are not all mounted as yet I believe that they calculate to mount 25 guns before they get thro. At present there is a bridge across the ditch at the gate but that will be fixed to draw in and leave but two timbers for the Rebels to cross on. The gates are made of 6 inch square sticks of pine 10 ft long put about 4 inches apart open in the middle and fasten by a bar of iron across from one post to the other The posts are logs set up each side of the gate the entrance at the gate is 14 ft wide 

 

At present the bomb proofs are the most there is to do I have marked their places on the plan they got one nearly done but it fell in I will try and tell how it was done first they are 12 ft deep they made a box of 2 inch plank and 4 by 6 inch scantling "all pine" this box comes up 3 ft higher than the top of the ground there is a foot between the sides of the box & the earth making the box 18 x 15 on the west side 2 logs are placed about 3 ft apart and 4 high for the whole distance [sketch showing "end view" "3 ft", "4 ft high"] or length of B.P. the logs are unequal length and the 4 ft logs are put across any where it is necessary and the sides are chinked up with pieces same as a log house on the east side which will be left open for windows & doors and the dirt does not come down the same as on west side There are posts put down 3 or 4 ft below the surface to H.P. some 3 ft apart and standing perpendicular with the logs put on top these posts are 4 ft apart lengthways. The logs are white and black oak from 6 inches to a foot in diameter [sketch showing "brace", "surface" and "3 ft"] the logs are now put across the top of BP resting on these logs at the sides and so it leaves a foot space between top of B.P. and the logs. the logs are 2 deep on top. dirt is then put on top 2 ft or more and the west side slopes off 2 to 5. it will be sodded in good shape. there will be 3 entrances on east side thro two heavy plank doors one at the top & one at the bottom of the stairs the doors are 4 inches thick and the the magazines are made in the same way as the west side of B.P. but one entrance on "east side" and that [?] 245 and opens with the slope of bank the other is at the bottom of the stairs. /

 

[top front margin]

 

It is now 8 pm it is raining quite hard any questions or suggestions you may make I will gladly look up & answer

please excuse

 

[diagram]

 

East

Washington

6 miles direct line                               Pivot gun                                             gate

from Fort in this

direction from the

Fort———North East

 

            mag                 hold 650 men              mag                 hold 450 men                 mag

                                    Bomb proof                                         Bomb proof

 

 

N                                 flag pole          100 ft wide      50 rods in Length

 

rifle                             rifle                                         rifle                             rifle     South

 

                                                            Munsons Hill

                                                            3 miles

 

Plan of Fort Ward

Please do not show this                                                          Ditch

to any one & oblige                                                                outside                         inside

                        Every time yours Frank                                  Profile of Bank

                                                                                                or paraphet

            west

SOURCES