New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-03-02
THE PRO.SLAVERY REBELLION.
FROM SOUTH CAROLINA.
THE FLOATING BATTERY.

GOV. PICKENs-DIRRCT TRADE-MoRE LARGE
eUNs-&C.
From Our Special Correspondent.
CHARLESTON, s. c., Feb. 26, 1861.
The floating battery having been launched It's
appearance in the water has served to strengthen
Ne doubts concerning its adoption for the ser
v,os for which it was originally intended. She
sareens over toward the battery side about i've
eeet; when the guns are aboard it will settle
mere STILL in view of which it is not easy to see
Asv the concern is going to be ballasted so as
10 give her sn upright position. The structure,
according to the original design, will draw be-
treen ten and twelve feet of water. A new
same has been given to the thing, "HamiltOn's
Psily," in honor of the protector, Lieut.. Hamil-
bon, who resigned his post in the United States
Navy to enter the service of the rebels.
Readers Of history viii recOlect the experience
With floating batteries at the sege of Gibraltar,
l7e2. There were ten Of them built at an expense
Il upward of $5OO,OoO, and they were deemed
hvulnersble; they mounted from ten to eighteen
guns each, and were manned by picked crews.
As first the heaviest shots had but little effect on
Asm, but after terrific cannonading Of several
hours, the effect of the red-hOt shot from the
garrison became nrrarent and in few hours
more nine of the b.: r.s we're on fire. For the
especial edifcation Of the South Carolina rebels
who are to have the honor Of operating the bat
terry Just launched, it should be stated that all
but a small part of the crews and men who, on
hat occasion, were on board, pershed by the
flames, explosions, or drowning. In giving this
Bit of history, it 10 not my intention to shatter
he nerves of my rebel friends who expect to be
a board; but thought it might be pleasant
thing to know how floating batteries sometimes
work.
Yesterday, our streets were the scene of quite
fne military display, the occasion being the
presentation of stand of colors to the LIST Rife
Regiment numbering about 800 men. There
we're the usual number Of speeches, such "a
South Carolinians only can make on such occa-
dons. Col. Pettigrew, on receiving the flag,
which was of white silk, emblazOned with the
State coat Cd arms, promised, without reserva-
zion, to plant it on Fort Sumter. The redemp-
ton of that promise may fairly be considered a
matter Of some doubt. Nevertheless, it seemed
70 elicit &" thunders Of applause from the crowd,
many Of whom appeared to regard the Fort al
ready % good rs half taken. The occasion was
Aonored by the presence of Gov. Pickens, who
also made q speech, in the course Of which he
said he had seen the best disciplined troops in
the world but had never seen any to compare
with this regiment. This blarsey seemed to
make them willing to undertake. single-handed,
sAe capture of Fort Sumter, within the next
half hour. But the Governor reserved for his
seneluding remark his bot shot, broad
side of which be poured into the ultras
q the Rhett school, who have been eDdeavoring
- ocerce his Excellency into commencing the
sseee of Fort Sumter &" in spite of lamentations
here or elsewhere" The Governor improved
the occasion to assure the military and the
people assembled, that neither internal pressure
from over-heated zeal and patriotism, nor ez.
srnal buHyiag, should ever drive bin from the
path of independence and duty" This was not
% much relished as was the other assurance
which his E1cenency gave, that to maintain
the honor of the State he was ready to drench
tAe country in blood" That Yves emineuty
satisfactory, and the Governor retired amid the
cheers of the crowd who evidently thought he
lad done the fair thing.
Gov. Pickens has made the following batch of
appointments:
Gen NJ L. BoSHAn Of EdseheB MsOr.GenerG
r h. NELSON Of Sumter, Brgsdier- General.
Major Z. RHHTT, late Of the United States Army on
hs Western frontier BrigsderGenersl
sAxUkL MoGOWAS Of AObe'iLe Briesdier-G General
A c. GARLIEGTos ofNeEbeuy, BrigadieI General
There is a whole army OF disappointed apPI-
sants, to whom the privilege to swear has been
specially reserved.
About the only amusement in Charleston at
present is The Mercury newspaper. Its daily an
tcs, while they amuse US all, are / am bound
30 admit, but the Implication of a very general
idea on topics to which it gives so much atten-
tion. Just at present. the letters Mr. Rhett, the
Father Of Secession" as his followers style
him, written from Montgomery, wherein his own
grievances are poured out, are the particular
feature. His own rejection by President Davis,
and the appointment Of Mr.. Memminger to a
place in the Cabinet, has particularly stirred him
up, and is the principal topic in his last letters
He claims that the Secretary. of. Statesbip was
due to South Carolina for having insugurated
Secession, and to himself in particular, because
be controlled South Carolina. 1t could readily
have been had, and it is understood that Mr..
Rhett would have been pleased to have received
the appointment" says be. But he was too
modest to ask himself and there was nobody
who would do it for him On the contrary, every
bedy was for Mr. MemmiDger. 1.-THE individual
members of the delegation, including Mr.. Barn.
well, recommended Mr. NJ. With the exception
Of Mr.. Kett-who s no friend of Mr. Rhett-