Should the enemy manage to penetrate the first line of defence, namely, the guns of the fort, they would be confronted by the dry ditch, 40 feet wide and 30 feet deep. Enemy soldiers in the dry ditch would find themselves confronted by rifle fire from the fort's 302 rifle loopholes.

The well on the west side of the ramp is the only part of the first Fort Henry still standing. The water supply for the present fort is located inside the lower fort.