The Sun.
London, England, 1861-05-14 00:00:00

-109, all told—at the time of the attack.

The walls of the fort are dented on all sides by
shot marks, but in no instance was any approach
made to a breach, and the greatest damage, at one
of the angles on the south face, did not extend more
than two feet into the masonry, which is of very
fine brick. The parapet is, of course, damaged,
but the casemate embrasures are uninjured. 'On
landing at the wharf we perceived that, the granite
copings had suffered more than the brick work, and
that the st..ne had split up and splintered where it
wasstruck. The ingenuity of the defenders was evi-

dent even here. They had no morter with which to
fasten up the stone slabs they had adopted as blinds to

the windows of the unprotected south side, but Nlijor
Anderson, or his subordinate, Captain Foster, had
closed the slabs in with lead, which he procured

from some water piping, and had rendered them
proof against escalade, which he was prepared also
to resent by extensive mines laid under the wharf
and landing-place, to be fired by friction tubes
and lines laid inside the work. He had also
prepared a number of shells for the same
purpose, to act as hand grenades, with friction
tubes and lanyards, when hurled down from the
parapet on his assailants. The entrance to the
fort was blocked up by masses of masonry,
which had been throwr. down from the walls of the
burnt barracks and officers' quarters along the
smith side. 4A number of men were engaged in
digging up the mines at the wharf, and others were
busied in completing the Min of the tottering
walls, which were still so hot that it was necessary

to keep a hose of water playing on part of the
brickwork. To an uninitiated eye it would seem
as if the fort was untenable, but, in reality, in spite
of the destruction done to it, a stout garrison, pro-
perly supplied, would have been in no danger from
anything, except the explosion of the magazine, of
which the copper door was jammed by the heat at the
time of the surrender. Exclusive of the burning of
the quarters and the intense heat, there was no
reason for a properly-handled and sufficient force
to surrender the place. It is needless to say
Major Anderson had neither the one nor the other.

He was in all respects most miserably equipped.
His guns were without screws, scales, or tangents,
so that his elevations were managed by rude wedges
of deal, and his scales marked in chalk on the breech

of the guns, and his distances and beatings scratched
in the same way on the side of the embeasures. He
had not a single fuse for his shells, and he tried in
vain to improvise them by filling pieces of bored

out pine with caked gunpowder. His cartridges
were out, and he was compelled to detail some of

his few men to make them out of shirts, stockings,
and jackets. He had not a single mortar, and he
was compelled to the desperate expedient of plant-
ing long guns in the ground at an angle of 45 de-
_

grees, for which he could find no shell, as he had
no fuses which could be fired with safety. He had
no sheers to mount his guns, and chance alone
enabled him to do so by drafting some large logs
down with the tide against Sumter. Finally, be
had not even one engine to put out a fire in quar-
ters. I walked carefully over the parade and could
detect the marks of only seven shells in the gr ,und,
but Major Whiting told me the orders were to
burst the shells over the parapet so as to frustrate
any attempt to work the barbette guns. Two of
these were injured by shot, and one was overturned,
apparently by its own recoil, but there was no in-

jury done inside any of the casemates to the guns
or works. The shell splinters had all disappeared,
carried off, lam told, as " trophi(s." Had Major
Anderson been properly provided, so that he could
have at once sent 'his men to the guns, opened fire
from those in barbette, thrown shell and hot shot,

kept relays to all his casemates, and put out fires
as they arose from red-hot shot or shell, he must. I

have no earthly doubt, have driven the troops off
Morris Island, burnt out Fort Moultrie, and silenced
the enemy's fire. His loss might have been consi-
_ _

derable, that of the Confederates must have b(ea
very great. As it was, not a life was lost by actual
fire on either side. A week hence and it will be
impossible for a fleet to do anything, except cover
the descent of an army here, and they must lie off,

at the least, four miles from the nearest available

beach.

(From another Correspondent.)
NEW YORK, APRIL 30.

The President, by proclamation dated the 27th,
orders a blockade of the ports of Virginia and North
Carolina, in addition to that already directed of the
ports of the other seceding States. For foreigners
this extension of the blcckade is cf little conse-
quence, as the trade of Virginia and North Caro-

lina is almost entirely domestic. The newspaper
despatches from Washington say that these
blockades will be resisted by foreign Governments,
as ordered without notice. I cannot believe that
such will be the case, for no European Govern-
ment, unless false to European instincts, can array
itself actively upon the side of African slavery in
this contest.

The Herald of the day before yesterday gives a
list of the various sums that have been contributed
in the North for public uses in the war, without
including, however, the large private donations
given for the benefit of favourite regiments, or to
equip or aid some particular recruits. I enclose a
copy of this statement. Its magnitude may well
surprise any one who thought that there was a
diversity of opinion at the North which would
show itsetlf as soon as hostilities should break out.
The total amount of unconditional gifts, accordiug
to the _Herald, is 11,239,000 dols., of which
3,000,000 dole. Are contributed by the ptato of NOT

York, and 2,155,006 dols. are furnished by the
city of New York.
The popular organisation under which this great
amount of money has been raised and the extraor-
dinary movements for the defence of the country
have been made deserves special notice. In vigour
and effectiveness it has rarely been equalled, and
never, I venture to say, surpassed. It is a fort-
light to-day since the President's proclamation de-
claring a state of war, and calling upon the gover-
nors of the various States to furnish their quotas of
militia, was made public. Two more days were
consumed in making the distribution of the forces
amongriotthee,
avoadr ifooursfivSetadtaeys,s then came
the
the
l Balti-
moreerep
people were
cut off from all communication with their Govern-
ment. And yet, in spite of these obstacles, with-
out taking into account what New Jersey, Penn-
sylvania, and the West have done, betweeen 10,000
and 11,000 men have gone forth from the city
eo
of
,New York, fully armed and equipped and
ready for service more than half of them men
who were not enlisted ten days age, and all of 4
them men who two weeks since were pursuing
their various peaceful avocations. The men who have
found their way to Washington have done so under
difficulties which might well have tried mere expe-
rienced troops. One regiment had to fight its
way through a Baltimore mob. The famous 7th
Regiment of New York (made up of rank and file
of the sons of gentlemen) marched from Annapolis
to Washington, laying the railway track which had
been torn up by the Secessionists, while the regi-
ment of Lowell Machinists and Alechanics repaired
the locomotives and reconstructed the bridges. Be:
sides doing this, Fort Munroe has been reinforced,
an agent has been sent to Europe with a large credit
to buy arms, a steam navy has been improvised out
of the port of New York for the blockade, and a
transport service has been created for the Govern-
ment. Money has been raised faster than it was
needed and beyond present wants, and abundant
means have been secured for future necessities; and
the Government at Washington has begun to appre-
ciate the patriotism and unanimity of the people,
and leads, at last, in the vigorous measures which
have been inaugurated. The executive force which
could accomplish such gigantic results is this :
When the first blow was struck the citizens of New
York. acting through the Chamber of Commerce,
appointed a Union Defence Committee, consisting
of leading merchants and bankers of all parties.
The city, in its corporate capacity, recognised the
movement by placing at the disposal of the com-
mittee 1,000,000 dols. 3,000,000 dols. voted by the
State authorities are also to be disbursed under its
superintendence, and large private subscriptions,
already amounting to over 200,000 dols., are put
into its hands as fast as received. These subscrip-
tions come in in sums varying from 5 dols to 20,000
(Us. The Government of the United States co-
operates entirely with this committee, its army and
navy officers being in the closest and most confi
(iential relations with it, so that both the Govern-
ment and the Union Defence Committee are cogni-
want of all disbursements and the application of
them. Thus, the Government is able, in the hour
when it most needs such help, to secure the best
practical business executive talent in the country,
which, combined with and directed by the science of
the army and navy officers, insures energetic action
nd economical and judicious expenditure. Without
such a committee I believe that the Government
would have been paralysed—at the best, it would
have taken it a long while, in the Secession atmo
sphere of Washington, to reach its present state of
healthy vigour. This committee is at present occu-
pied in sending forward the 75,000 troops ordered
to march from New York city, and in concentra-
ting here :uch other troops as the Government may
order here. Washington, they consider, as already
safe beyond a question. But if their advice is fol-
lowed, the Government will not rest content with
the safety of the capital. Baltimore must be made
a safe route to Washington. The railway through
Maryland must be made a military route carefully
guarded. Harper's Ferry must be reoccupied, and
so must the Norfolk Navy-yard. They are prepared
to aid the Government to the extent of all the wealth
in New York in securing these results. They have
already made every practicable provision to insure
t close blockade of Southern ports, and to overhaul
and catch privateers wherever sailing. They have
also found time to initiate the organisation of simi-
lar bodies in other States, cities, towns, and villages,
and they contemplate that there shall be established
such committees in every municipal organisation in
the Free States, however small or humble, to act in ,

concert with the central organisation, and
cor-
respondence with the Government through the
Governors of the several States. New York, from its
position and wealth, must remain throughout the
war the centre of all Executive action; bat with
such an organisation that may be made in 10 days'
time, how will the efficiency of its action be in-
C' eased ! Its effect is already felt in the hesitation
of Maryland and the alarm of Kentucky and Vir-
ginia. What it will be when the energy of
united people, indignant at a succession of insults
and injuries that have been borne in quiet for years,
shall strike as one man through such au arm can
scarcely be imagined. It is sad to contemplate the
inevitable fate of the Border States, if they con-
tinue to defy the Government. Maryland already
falters. Her Legislature votes not to secede, but
to refer the question to the people, and private
letters from Baltimore assure us that Baltimore
shall be hereafter kept quiet. Virginia has elected
to cast her fate with the Confederate States. _ She

has seceded and joined that Confederacy, o
t
held
ot
no
approval by the people at anelection
the 23d of May, under the guns of Jefferson Davis s
troops, and meanwhile she enters into an alliance
offensive and defensive with them, inviting their
aid in her defence; but, alarmed at the strength of
the Government, her Governor dismisses the local
militia to their homes, and says that he has no
design of attacking the Washington Government.
I suspect he would be very glad to get a declaration
to the same effect from the Washington Govern-
ment. In Tennessee Mr. Bell,who has hitherto been
a sort of half and-half Union man, countenances
resistance. In Kentucky the Governor has con-
voked the Legislature to act in the emergency.
Those States have now to elect which side they
will take, for, in the present temper of the North,
the Administration will not be able to take any
halfway measures, even if they wish to, which has
ceased to be the case.
The Administration is at last united in its deter-
mination to prosecute the war vigorously. I have
it from the highest authority that they will " lead
the people." All ideas of reconstruction on the one
side, or concession on the other, are thrown to the
wind ; and, unless the rebels are prepared at the
expiration of the 20 days given in the President's
proclamation (they expire the sth of May) to yield,
they will be made to do so if there are men, money,
and patriotism enough left in the Union to mako
them. I am desired to assure you that peace will

not be made short of the restoration of the fortresses,

money, and vessels of the United States seized by
by_
the rebels, and the re-establishment of t
_niovne.
far,
reignty of the United States over wholetheeouthulis
Of the troops that have been cailed
2,000
stye
at An-
-18,000 are already in Washingtoanv,re..Grace and
napolis, 3,000 are between
through Mary-
;11,8;00, who left here
Annapolis, 4,000 are on thenidr
land from Pennsylvania, And
Thus before the evening of
yesterday, are at sear.ow
General Scott will have
a t Annapolis, Washington,
which
the day after to morrow
these,
troops
as a garrison
5,000 will
whole line of
nearly 30,000
be for
road between
is to romocprs at
be
etified and held
and the
town,
there and Washington occupied by troops. Com-
-1 munication is then to be opened through Baltimore
at all hazards. The Government believes that it
can be done peaceably ; but if it cannot be done in
that way, it nal be done in the other, aq the pos.

cwhiituh,e
food, op f
od, ,
cannon,rom
whichand
the r
d shellsel can be
shells—is.
iudisilenfusia.nbish
l,-
fore the aggressive move is me in front.
gas called for 75,000 more troops, mi".
in all 150,000 already called for. General Wool
Wool says they can have three times that number
if thoy want them. In addition to the New York
troops already sent, there are now formed in the
city of New York 13 regiments of 1,000 men each.
Some of these are encamped at Fort Schyuler, some
at Staten Island, some at the Battery, some in the
little park in front of the City Hall, and some at
motrhreethhCeaevsneotnanloofPark, and waiting for their arms anti
equipments, which the Union Defence Committee
are furnishing as fast as possible, Besides these,
tifsshoi
erxa
forwardness.
otherr:a rwidg nrh
eel
casery
Idi volunteertrsoe4ifnitn
Washington-square
rnatr:
ehgeiregiments are being organised,
and have already reached
entirely
giternrenenitay-sst
geninruoaaowdrree
nenaspssc
Inasmftpapastsensooenotdsef
this morning,corn hros
served
da are.
p drillingita Frenchin some
f
maGnSaedcnromdgt
esnac.
ino
dbrTyse They
ffmn
ewfnnoeffitrrs e,cs
officer
soldiers
the Mexican war, an Italian '
regiment, and a
British regiment. The attachment of the natu-
ralised citizens to the Stars and S. • is •
regiment,
Stripes quite as
strong as that of the native born population. Of
the regiments that wentyesterday onein particular
deserves notice—the F iremen's Zouaves—a regik
ment made, up of picked firemen of New York, and
for muscular development and athletic training and
all the elements of a good soldier, unsurpassed in
any service. Every man is a trained athlete, and
of tried courage. The other firemen of the town
turned out to escort them to the steamer, and if it
were not that you must be already tired of the ac-
count of similar displays I should like to dwell upon
this, which in numbers and brilliancy of colour ex-
ceeded the previous ones. From the interior of

the State of New York we learn that the rural po-
pulation is also in motion, forming a camp at Elmira,
;_bute I am not able to stikte the number pf„MaiapaWith
precision. The Ohio-troops tire foriniig at Volum=
bus under charge of General McLelland, a graduate
of West Point, in whose skill and military science
General Scott places the highest confidence. The
Ohio quota is already full, and more rejected than
were accepted. I have nothing new from the In-
diana and Illinois troops since my last letter. A.
new call has been made upon Pennsylvania, and
within forty days she will have 50,000 men in the
field well armed and well equipped. General Pat-
terson has charge of these troops and of the organi-
zation of that large department. He is working
vigorously and effectively as General Wool is here.
His men will be armed with the best weapons that
the Government has at its command—many regi-
ments with the Miu'e and Enfield rifles, and will be
the first to move forward, under his directions, in
the southern march.

What the South are doing to meet these gigantic
preparations for offensive war your Special Corre-
spondent can tell you better than I. We hear
rumours that Southern troops are marching on
Richmond in large numbers, but no one here has
accurate information. It is believed here, how-
ever, that the Secession epidemic does not rage in
Georgia, Alabama, and Louisiana with as much
virulence as it did three months sicce, while in
North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and perhaps
Missouri, the disease has just assumed the violent
epidemic form. It is believed that the violent re
medies already applied have cured Maryland, and it
is hoped that neither Kentucky nor Missouri will
yield to it. If they do, it will only make the task
of the Government a more difficult one; it will not
make it change its settled policy.
There are many incidents connected with the
marching of the troops and their reception in Wash-
ington that I should be glad to notice did time per..
mit. You will find most of them detailed in the
New York papers of yesterday and to-day. I have
preferred to use the space you gave me in detailing
es I have hitherto done, the more important mat-
ters that have passed under my own eye or come
within my own knowledge.