January 11, 1861, The New York Herald
WILMINGTON, N.C., Jan. 10, 1861.
Forts Johnson and Caswell were taken possession of on the night of the 8th by the Smithville Guard.
DESCRIPTION OF THE FORTS SEIZED.
FORT MACON, BEAUFORT, N.C.
Fort Macon protects Beaufort, N.C., and is situated on a bluff on Rougebank, one and three fourths mile from the city. It commands the entrance to Beaufort harbor, having full sweep of fire on the main channel. The opposite entrance to the harbor is Shackelford bank, one and a half mile across. The fortification is of hexagonal form, has two tiers of guns, one in casemated bombproof and the other en barbette. Its armament consists of twenty thirty two pounders, thirty two twenty four pounder, two eighteen pounder, two twelve pounders, three field pieces for flanking defence, twelve flank howitzers, eight eight inch howitzers (heavy) eight eight inch howitzers (light) one thirteen inch mortar, three ten inch mortars, two Coehorn mortars. Total eighty seven guns. The war garrison of the fort is three hundred men. This fort, however is sadly in need of repairs; the masonry requires pointing in many places; nearly all the iron works, such as doors and window fastenings, are rusted away. One of the wooden bridges across the ditch is decayed as also the shingled entire slope of the convert way. The hot furnace is useless, the store rooms need renovation, and the roadway requires to have its embankment repaired, and a new bridge to be built across the canal. The wharf, having its piers undermined by the sea current and its wooden superstructure much decayed, requires to be rebuilt. The fortification cost the federal government half a million dollars.
FORT CASWELL, SMITHVILLE, N.C..
Fort Caswell is a first class fortification, of a hexagonal form, built of massive Northern granite masonry, having two tiers of guns under bombproof casemates, and one tier of guns en barbette. It is situated at the entrance of Cape Fear river, two miles from Smithville. Its armament consists of twelve thirty two pounders, twenty two twenty four pounders, four eighteen pounders, four twelve pounders, three field pieces for flanking defences, six flank howitzers, six eight inch howitzers (heavy). two ten inch mortars and two Coehorn mortars – in all eight seven guns. The work is surrounded by ditches and advanced works, and is in every particular a first class works. It cost the federal government $571,000. Its war garrison consists of 400 men. The work is generally in very good condition. A change is required in its armament, so that more guns may be mounted upon the gorge of the main work of the covered way, as these portions now bear directly upon the channel, which has shifted from the east to the west shore. New Platforms for these guns will require to be constructed. The batter Johnson, mounting ten guns, situated at Smithville, with a magazine, is auxiliary to Fort Caswell.