The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1860-12-28
The Charleston Forts.


The Charleston Forts.
The Charleston correspondent Of the
Tribune gives Me following Interesting de-
scrip!ion OF the Forts in the harbor Of that
city:
They are three in number, namely Fort
Moullre, Fort Sumpt snd Castle Pinck
ney. The fort is on Sullivan's Island,
which is principally within the corporate
linj.1 Of the City OF Charleston.
This island is separated from the mnin
land by narrow channel, wEith some.
times Mt low tile may be forded, though
/! would be very uumi.itary thing for
an attacking expedition to rely on this
method Of approach. 1t is precisely here
thai the bridge spoken Of, as i. is row
clearly foreseen, will be wanted, and. it is
said lhat the means Of supplying is in n
considerable state Of forwardness, though
the resuta thus far have not been
altogether satisfactory. Fort MoulLrie is
on the seaward side Of the island, nearly
q mile distant from this channel, SO that
is passage would be measurably "in the
face Of an enemy" and directly so, should
The commanding officer erect batteries at
the pom. Of landing, which, however, is
rot certain 10 be done. Sulivan's Island
is quite thickly built up, generally with
wooden tenements, and horse railroad
traverses the whole distance. The Fort
itself is NJ, extensive work, well provided
with everything bus men. It's guns are,
many Of them, Of The largest and best de-
scri7tion, and nearly all the recent i'm
provements in explosives have been in
troluced, in the use Of which the men
are well drilled. Indeed, may state
with confidence that the officers and men
at Moutrie very much excel in this par
ticulsr. Recenty-withn the last ten
days--a trench has been dug around the
en.lre Fort, and, without going into mi
mule detail, it will be enough to say tina:
everything is being done necessary to
place the works IN the best possible con-
dit;on Of defense. She has recently re-
ceved six months provisions. What is
wanting in men will in measure be made
up by discipline and completeness OF
deatL dealing appointments. The dis.
tAnce between Fort Moullrie and the city
is about three miles. ....'
Castle Pinckney stands in the harbor,
wholly surrounded by water, which can
not be bridged readily, between Moultrie
and the city, and can be operated on only
by heavy guns. 1t mounts large nam
Der Of heavy guns. and has recently been
very much strengthened. In 1889, Gen.
Scott did much to strengthen this position,
and most of the works then added still re-
main. An engineering force of limited
number Of men. has, for the last two
weeks. beer engaged in rendering the foY
;icalon one of really formidable char.
acter. Like Fort Moultrie, it only wants
men.
Fort Sumpter rises out Of the water
further down The harbor. about three snd
a half miles from the city, nearly abreast
Of and not over one mile from Moultrie.--.
Il not only commands both the other forts,
but, it is believed, the city could be
euecualy shelied from it. 1t is thor.
oughly appointed with all the larger de.
scripton OF gums. Outwardly itresembles
the round, yellow fort on Governors
Island, though larger. It is thoroughly
OomG.proof, and believed to be irnpleg-
nable 10 anything likely to be brought
aga!ns it. Though out at sea, it has q
fire well Of fresh water. For some time
past upward Of 100 men, most of them
mechanics, have been actively engaged in
placing the guns in ord4r. The effect oI
Capt Forbes efforts are plainly visible
even 10 the unprofessonal eye. There
, have heretofore been no more soldier,
. than wee necessary TO act As keepers
, Moderately well garrisoned, Sumptel
, would be an ugly customer TO Charleston
and its surroundings, should it ever come
10 thNi. One would suppose TINT il would
7 40, be dittioul! or men when driven ou
/ Of Moulrie. if supplied with boats, to pal
over . Sumpler and 10 very brief spact
Of time make it hot work for the cap.or!
ia MCuitrie.