New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-12-28
FORTS IN CHARLESTON HARBOR


Fort MOultrie is situated On Sulliyan's Island,
at the mouth of the HarbOr and about 3 miles, in
directne, from the city, II is Of not destrOyed), an
inclosed water battery, with front on the
water side of about 800 feet and o depth of
abolt $50 feet The work was constructed with
salients and reentering angles on all sides, so as
10 adapt it admirably for defense, either from the
attack of stOrmng party or regular approaches.
The outer and inner walls are of brick, capped
with stone, filed in with earth, 20 as TO make
solid structure Is feet in thickness. Within the
last month the Fort has been very much strength
eDed, by closing the postern gates, by cutting
sally-pOrts, by placing I2pOunder howitz"r suns
Ia tic angles, 81 as 10 command all points, by
the digging of ditch - feet wide and 10 feet
deep, and by other improvements that added
materially to its defensive capacity. The garri-
son consisted of about 40 men, including officers
and musicians The following is LIST of the
officers:
lst Reg. A,tWtyy-Mai Robert Anderson, officer in
command. Capt. Abnor Doubleday, Capt T. Seymour,
Lieut. T. Talbot, Lieut.. j. G. Davis, Lieut.. N. j.
Hail.
Medical Sig6-Asst Surgeon s. w. Crawford.
EAgipocr COJpS-Capt. j. G.. Foster Lieut.. c. w.
Snyder.
Fort Moultre il memorable for the victory
gained by the American troops, commanded by
Col Moutrie, over a British squadron, com.
rnanded by Sir Peter Parker, Jan. Is, 1776.
The British force consisted of a fleet of 40 or 80
sail, and the opposing force of 1873 men, rank
and file, The Fort was hastily constructed. In
it's general plan it presented square with
bastion at each angle, built of palmetto logs,
doyetailed and bOlted together, and laid in par
ale rows sixteen feet asunder; between these
rows the space was filed with sand In the en-
gagernent which lasted from 10 H. till . p. NJ,
and which was one of the fercest Of the Reyolu-
tonary war; the British were defeated, their loss
being 90 killed and wounded, while the Ameri.
can lose was II killed and 20 wounded Fort
Moultrie was subsequently rebuilt on an enlarged
scale 80 as 10 render il one Of the most extern
sye fortresses on the coast.
Fort Sumter is a work Of solid masonry,
octagonal 10 FORM is classed as one OF the
strongest Notifications in the country snd is
generally regarded as being as nearly impreg.
nabe ~ possible. 1t is situated about in the
center Of the harbOr, on the edge Of the Ship
MOultIe, aud nearly three and hail miles from
the City Of Charleston which ii commands, as
il also does Fort MOultrie and Castle Pinckney.
II is situated on An island, though it seems 10
rice directly out of the water Ii "a pierced On
the north, east and west sides with double
row OF portfolios for the heaviest guns, and on
the south OF land side, in addition TO openings
lnla l.tr
proof. The armament of Fort Sumter consists
of $40 guns, many of them being the formidable
ten. inch " Coumbiads," which throw either shot
or shell, and which have fearful range. There
x ia the magazine large amount of artillery
stOres, consisting Of about 10000 pounds of
powder in addition 10 what has now been re-
moved there from tho abandoned fortress, and
proportionate quantity of shot and shell. Tie
wharf or landing Of Fort Sumter is on the south
side, and IL, of course, exposed 10 a cross-bre
from all the openings on that eide.
A large number of workmen have been IN
placing this Fort in condition for any emergency
that might arise. Gen. Scott, il is said, pro-
nounces the fertilization, when manned ono Of
the strongest in the world. Castle PiRckney il
located On the southern extremity OF narrow
clip Of marsh land, which extends In a northerly
direction To Hog Island Channel. To the harbor
side the so-called Castle presents circular front
1t has never been regarded as work Of frat
magnitude although It's proximity to the city
would. if garrisoned, give it Importance. Re
Gently some Improvements have been made in
aud about the Fort, with The view OF strength.