The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1861-01-11
Description of Fort Sumpter

Fort Sumpter Is one OF the most power
ful military works in the United States
1t Is built on an artificial island, immedi-
ately within the mouth of Charleston Bay,
between Fort Moulirie and the site of old
Fort Johnson, Of Revolutionary memory,
and equl distant from those points about
three fourths of one mile. The ship
channel leading from the sea to the city
of Charleston is between Fort Sumpter
and Moutrie, and is entirely commanded
within half range Of them. Between forts
Sumpter aud Johnson the water is very
shallow, only available for vessels of very
Eight draft and then only at high water.
The artificial island on which Fort
Sumpter is built is constructed from the
reflse from the granite quarries of New
England. Ten years was consumed in its
completion, at a cost of half a million
of dollars The ratification is of pen
tagonal form, built of solid masonry. The
walls are fifty feet in hight, and from
eight to ten feet in thickness, and are
pierced for three tiers of guns. besides hav-
ing necessary loopho,es for musketry, and
designed for an armament ofOne hundred
and forty pieces of ordinance of all cali.
bres. Two tiers of guns are under bomb
proof classmates, and third or upper tier
open, or, in military parlance en- barbehe-
the lower tier for tortrtwo FOUNDER PAX
ham guns; the second tier for eight and
ten inch Columbians, Cor throwing solid
or hollow shot, and upper tier for mortars
and twenty-four pound guns.
The full armament Of the fort, however,
had not arrived there when major Ander-
son took possession, and it is fair, there
fore, to suppose all the available ordinance
will be equitaby distributed throughout
as judciousl7 as possible. 1t is thought
that with the present armament OF the fort
the guns would be capable of throwing six
thousand pounds of shot at each discharge.
In defensive or strategical point of view
Fort Sumpter radiates its fire through all
the channels from the sea approach to
Charleston, and has full sweep of range
in its rear or city side, ample to repel any
attack from that quarter.
The fort is sufficiently out of range from
any land artillery attack, so that all APP,
prehensions for preaching it may pc put at
rest. The maximum range of the guns
from Fort Snmpter is three miles, but for
accurate firing, sufficient to hull vessel,
the distance would require to be reduced
one>half of that figure. 1t can be entered
by al enemy by the embrasures, which an
attacking force must crawl through, one
man at time, and hence two men at one
Of these could defend it against five hum
dred
The fort at the present time has officers
quarters and barracks for seven hundred
men, its regular war garrison. There is
an ample supply of shot, powder and shells
for one years seige, and large amout OF
miscellaneous artillery stores The garri>
sors is amply supplied with water from
artificial wells, which are supplied by fire
quent showers of rain. The fort is now
under the command of Major Robert An,
derson, of Kentucky, who is assisted b,
the other officers enumerated above in The
former garrison Of Fort Moritrie There
is about 40 laborers employed on the
fort, and these can, with a little discipline
be soon taught to handle the guns The
present force, recapitulated, is as follows
Officers, 9; Band, Is; Attillerists, SO; La
borers, 10; Total $40.
Considering It's position and natural al
Fantages, Fort Sumpter, with the presen,
garrison, Is imPreguable from any attacl
of a local nature. Fort Sumpter and til,
the other defer,ces at Charleston, proper
" armed, would be able to mount NOR,
guns THAI Cronstadt, which detied Maple
and Gun;ias for two years; more than de
! teated Allies at SaJastopol; and any 0
Item can nave more artillery that Bomar
sund, which required a land force of IA,
GEO men to capture. Yet the create
part of this military strength is contribut
ed by Fort Sumpter, the others being mere
| ly auxiIiaries.