The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-12-17
PRICE TWO CENTS.

THE CHARLESTON HARBOR DEFENCES.
ACTIVITY AT FORT MoULTRIE-THE STRENGTH OF THE
GARRIsoN-DETAns OF THE CONSTRUCTION OF The
MOAT AND GLACIS-NEW AND FORMIDABLE OUT
WORKS ARMAMENT OF THE FORTs-wHAT Is CO.
ING ON AT FORT SUMTER AND CASTLE PINCKNEY,
ETC., ETC.
Inc silent energy with which work is now being
pushed forward upon the Notifications erected for
ne protection OF the harbo7 of Charleston, is scme
mug at once new and extraordinary. To keep the
readers OF the Mercury fully posted in regard to
events transpiring round them, we present below
an interesting account of these active operatons of
the Federal authorities. 1t is proper, however
that the people of Charleston should know that the
Executive of the State is fully cognizant of all that
is going in relation to these fors and that their
honor and defence is safe in his keeping. Until
late in the past the defences of Fort Moul-
trie have remained in an unfinished condition; the
sand OF the beach, piled up BY the wind against the
south walls, had rendered them easily accessible
almost by single leap, and the empty guns were
suffered to gaze out in harmless majesty upon the
noble bay. fortnight has worked marvellous
change.
FORT MoULTRIE
is an enclosed water battery, having a front on
the south, or water side, of about 800 feet and a
depth of about 240 feet. 1t is built with salient
and reentering angles on all sides, and is admira-
bly, adapted for defence either from the attack of
stormlng party, or by regular approaches. The
outer and inner walls are of brick, capped with
stone, and filled in with earth, making solid wall
gress consists inleanng the sand from the walls of
the fort; ditching it around the entire circumfer
ence, and erecting glacis; closing up the postern
gates IN the east and west walls, and instead, cut
ting sally-ports, which lead into strong out-works
on the southeast and southwest angles, in which
l2-pounder howitzer guns will be placed, enabling
the garrison to sweep the ditch three sides with
grape and canister. The northwest angle of the
fort has also been strengthened by bastionette to
sustain the weight OF heavy gun which will COM
mand the main street of the Island.
The main entrance has also been better secured
and trap-door, two feet square, cut in the door
tor lngress and egress. At this time, the height
OF the wall, from the bottom of the ditch to the
top of the parapet, is 20 feet. The ditch is from
IL to 10 feet wide at the base, and Is feet deep.
The nature of the soil would not seem to admit Of
this depth being increased, quicksand having been
reached in many places. The work on the South
side is nearly finished. The counter-scarp Is sub
stantlay built of plank, and spread with turf The
gacls Is also finished. 1t is composed of sand and
covered with layers of loan and turf ali of which
is kept imy in place by the addition of sections of
plank naEfed to uprights sunk in the sand, and
crossing each other at right angles, making squares
The purpose of the gacis, which is an inclined
plane, Is to expose an attacking party to the fire
OF the guns, which are so placed as to sweep it
from the crest oil the counterscrap to the edge of
the beach. On the north side all the wooden gun
cases have been placed close together on the ram
parts, apparently for the purpose of securing it
against an escaade, but possibly as a screen for
battery OF heavy guns. good many are en-
gagged in clearing the ramparts of turf and earth
for the purpose OF putting down very ugly look
ing arrangement, which consists of strips of plank
4 inches wide, IL inches thick, and or s feet
long, sharpened the point, and nailed down so as
to project about feet horizontally from the top of
the walls.
noticeable fact in the bastonettes to which we
have above alluded is the haste in which one of
them has been built. The one completed is formed
of solid masonry. In constructing the other, how
ever, a frame work of plank has been substituted.
Against the inside of this wooden outwork loose
bricks have been placed. Both bastionettes are
armed with a small carronade and howitzer,
pointed literally so as to command the whole inter
vening moat by eross-fre.
In the hurried execution of these extensive i'm
provements, large force-about ITO men-are
constantly engaged Additions are daily made to
this number, and the work of putting the post in
the best possible condition for defence carried on
with almost incredible vigor.
THE GARRISON.
A few days ago Col. Gardner, who, for years,
has held the post of Commandant, and whose cour-
tesy and bearing had the friendship of all who
knew him, was relieved in the command bv Major
Robert Anderson, of Kentucky. Major Anderson
received his first commission as Brevet I'd Lieut..
I'd Artillery, July l, 1925, was acting Inspector
General in the Black Hawk war, and received the
rank of Brevet Captain, August 1888, for his sue
cesstul conduct in the Florida war. On September
8, lS47, he was made Brevet Major for his gallant
and mertorious conduct in the battle of Moiino del
Rey.
The other officers are Capt. Abner Doubleday,
Capt. L. Seymour, Lieut. II. Talbot, Lieut.. J. c.
Davis, Lieut.. N. j. Hall--a of the First Regiment
Artillery.
Capt j. G. Foster and Lieut.. G. W. Snyder, of
the Engineer corps
Assistant Surgeon S. W. Crawford, of the Medi.
cal staff.
The force, under these gentlemen consist of two
of Artillery. The companies, however,
are not full, the two comprising, we are inform
ed, only about seventy men, including the band.
short time ago two additional companies were
expected, but they have not come; and it is now
positively stated that there will be- for the present
at.Ieast, no reinforcement of the garrison.
VIGILANCE IN THE FORT
While the working men are doing wonders on
the outside, the soldiers within are by no means
idle. Field pieces have been placed in position
upon the green within the fort, and none of the ex
pedients of military engineering have been neglect
ed to make the position strong as possible 1t
Is sad that the greatest vigilance is observed in
every regulation at this time, and that the guns
are regularly shotted every night. 1t is very GER
tain that ingress is longer easy matter for an
outsider, and the visitor who hopes to get in must
make up his mind to approach with all the caution
ceremony aud circumocution with which the allies
are advancing upon the capitol of the Celestial EN-
pire.
SUMTER,
solld work OF masonry, octagonal in FORM pierced
on the north, east and west sides with a double
row of port holes for the heaviest guns, and on the
south, or land side, in addition to openings for
guns, loophOed for musketry, stands in the middle
of the harbor, the edge of the ship channel and
is said to be bomb proof. 1t is at present without
any regular garrison There is a large force of
one hundred and fifty in all-busi-
ly employed in mounting the guns and otherwise
putting this great stragetic point in order. The
of Fort Sumter consists of l40 guns,
many of them being the formidable ten-inch ''Co-
which throw either shot or shell, and
which have fearful range. Only few of these
are yet in position and the work ofmounting pieces
OF this calibre in the easements is necessarily a
slow one. There is also large amount of artillery
stores, consisting of about 40, 900 lbs of powder
and proportionate quantity of shot and SHE'LL
The workmen engaged here sleep in the Fort every
night, owing to the want of any regular communi-
cation with the city. The wharf or landing is on
the south side, and is of course exposed to cross
fire from all the openings that side.
CASTLE PINCKNEY
is located on the Southern extremity of narrow
slip of marsh land, which extends in a Northerly
direction to Hog Island Channel To the harbor
side the so-caed castle presents circular 'front.'
1t has never been considered of much consequence
as fortress, although its proximity to the city
would give it importance, II properly armed and
garrisoned. From hasty observation we find that
there are about fifteen guns mounted on the para
pets; the majority of them are eighteen and TWEEN.
ty-four Founders. Some "Coumbiads," )" are, how
ever, within the walls. There are also supplies of
powder, shot and shell. At present there is no gar
rson at the post the only residents are one or two
who have charge of the harbor light.
Some thirty or forty day-laborers are employed
repairing the csterns and putting the place gener-
ally in order.
This concludes our sketch of the present aspect
of affairs at the three torts which were meant to
be, and which should always remain at once the
pride and safeguard of our city.
FROM CENTRAL AND SoUrH America, BY the ar
rival at New York of the North Star from Aspin-
wall, we receive later advices from New Granada
and the Central American States. The news is
without any Importance. No reliable information
is obtained of the movements of the revolutionary
Chief Mosquera, in New Granada, but it was gen
orally believed the isthmus that decisive bat
tie had been fought and that President Ospina had
been victorious South Carolina officer, be-
longing to the flag ship Lancaster, at Panama, had
resigned in consequence of the secession move
ment, and another officer belonging to the st.
Mary's had signihed his intention of pursuing the
same course from the same valid reason. There is
nothing new from Honduras and Guatemala. From
Salvador, we learn that the crop of indigo is a
large one Costa Rica, politically and financially,
is in distressed condition. Another revo luton is
anticipated.
POPULATION OF THE GULF STArEs-The white
population of the Secession States, or those which
are relied upon to form tasSouthern Cenfederacy,
was follows in 1850:
South Carolina. 274567
rioIlua' .''''.''''-,..-........ 47,211
aIapanas ...............,. 426,S2
Louisiana ..,,............ 245, ,09I
Mlsslsslppl.. ..,,,.,,. 295,6lS
Arkansas. sas...........s.........,,... 1621S9
IeXas' ''''''...'''.,'.'.'... l04,634
Iotal'''' '.''''''''.'''.'''...2, sos
DEATH OF CHEvALIER BUNsEN.-The news ar