Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1860-12-17
The Forts nt CharIsston.

The Charleston correspondent Of the New
York Tribune writes thusOf the Notifications
in the harbor; IfNUff Ar.
In order to give the reader some idea Of
this and the other forti6eations in this harbur,
will state briefly their location. They are
three in number, namely, Fort Mouitrie Fort
STUNT r, and Castle PInckney. The fort is on
s.' ' Island, which ispFincipally within
tle eo.gyiate limits Of the City of hairless
ton. This island is separate from the main
land by a narrow channel, which sometimes
at low tide may be forded though il would be
very unmilitary thing for an attacking ex-
pediGon to rely on this method Of approach.
1t is precisely here that the bridge spoken Of,
as is3now clearly foreseen, will be wanted,
and it is said that the means of supplying the
want is in a considerable state OF forward
ness, though the results thus far have not
been altogether satisfactory. Fort Moultrie
is on the seward side of the island, nearly
mile distant from this channel, so that its pas
sage would be measurably Sin the face of an
enemy" and directly so should the command
ing officer erect batteries at the point Of land
ing, which, however, is not certain to be done.
Sullivan's Island is quite thickly built up,
generally with wooden tenements, and a
horse railroad traYerses the whole distance.
The Fort itself is an extensive work, well
provided with everything but men. Its guns
are, many of them, OF the largest and best
description, and nearly all the recent i'm.
provements in explosives have been introduce
ed, in the use Of which the men are well
drilled. Indeed, may state with confidence
that the Officers and men at MOultrie very
much excel in this particular. Recently
within the last ten days-a trench has been
dug around the entire Fort and without
going into minute detail, It will be enough
to say that everything is being done necessary
to place the WOik in the best possible cOndi-
ton Of defense. She has recently received
six months provisions. What is wanting 10
men will in measure BE- made up by disci-
pine and completeness of death dealing ap-
poiRtments. The distance between Fort
Moultrie and the city is about three miles.
Castle Pinckney stands in the harbor Who'll
ly surrounded by water, which cannot be
bridged readily, between Moultrie and the city,
and can be operated on only BY heavy guns.
1t mounts large number of heavy guns aud
has recently been very much Strengthened
In 1882, Gen. Scott did much to strengthen
this position, and most Of the works then
added still remain. An engineering force Of
a limited number of men has for the last two
weeks been engaged in rendering the forti6-
cation one OF a really tormidi5.e character
Like Fort Moultrie, it only wants men. r'1-
Fort Sumter rises outof the water further
down the harbOr, about 81 miles from the
city, nearly abreast of and not over one mile
from Moultrie. 1t not only commands both
the other forts, but it is believed, the city
could be effectually shelled from it. 1t is
thoroughly appointed with all the larger des-
crlption of guns -OutRardly it resembles the
round, yellow fort on Governors Island,
though larger. It is thoroughly bomb-proot,
and believed to be impregnable to anything
likely to be brought TO bear against it,
Though out at sea, it has fne well of fresh
water. For some time past 100 men, most OF
them mechanics, have been actively engaged
in placing the guns in order. The effect OF
Capt. Forbes efforts are plainly visible evtn
to the unprofessiOnsl eye. There have here
tofore been no more soldiers than were neces-
sary to act as keepers. Moderately well gar.
tisoned, Sumter would prove an ugly custom
er to Charleston and its surroundings should
it ever come to that One would suppose
that it would not be difficult for men when
driven out OF Moultrie, if supplied with boats,
to pull over to Sumter, and in brief space
of time make it hot work for the captors in
Moultrie.
The United States Arsenal is at the west
side of the city of Charleston. In it are
stored upward of 1000 stands of arms and
a corresponding amount of ammunition and
other appointments Of war, excepting large
guns. It is now guarded, nominally, by a
military corps of Charleston, whose services
the government accepted to protect it from
the mob. 1t was an expert movement, a
peaceful capture. It will continue to be thus
guarded, till the time arrives for making
use of the extensive military store-house
against the Federal Government which in
this, as in many other things, has been
outwitted Dy the nullifeFs.
In order to show the aiimu5 of the peo-
pie of Charleston, who thus very kindly
guard the United States Arsenal, l will re-
late single circumstance which [ see has
lately been revived and made the subject of
a telegraph dispatch from Washington. The
commanding officer of Fort Moultrie ordered
Capt. Seymour and a squad of soldiers, in
citizens dress, to proceed to the Arsenal for
several boxes of light arms, and perhaps
some ammunition, which, though he could
do without he deemed best to send for
Most of them had been taken to the dock,
and the soldiers were engaged in placing
them on board of the boat, when body
of citizens appeared, commanded them to
desist, took from the boat what had been
placed on boari, marched the captain and
his men before the Mayos who sternly
reprimanded them, end bid them to return
to the Fort report the facts to their su-
perior, and never be caught in such busi-
ness again. Ever since Uncle Sam has been