New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-01-30
TIE CONDITION OF FORT SUMTER
The SeeessiOnists Wayerins'
AFFAIRS IN MARYLAND.
LETTER FROM ]. MINOR Bolts
FROM SOUTH CAROLINA.
IRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE-SUMIER
REINFORCED.

nlexed about your correspondent, and affect to
bclieye that my letters are written not in Charles
fan but in New.York. If this conclusion is sat
sfactory to them, it certainly should be to me.
Now, | propose to employ simple test, which
may serve to enlighten my editorial friends here
on the point whether or not | am actually IN
Charleston. / take the weather--my allusiOn to
which on q previous occasion seems to have pro-
ycked the criticism of The Washington STIR
about which cannot of course, speak correctly
if | write in New-YoIk Will the editors of
The Courier and The Mercury. therefore, consult
their recollection and that of their anxious
friends likewise, if they please, and decide
whether what now write does not render it
exceedingly probable that am actually in rebel
Hous Charleston. Early this morning-from five
10 six o'clock-it rained like great guns, as it
has done for the last four mornings; for two
hours after it misted in threatening way; at
fen it gave tokens Of clearing up; the wind
shifted from the northeast TO the southwest;
patches of sunshine struggled through the clouds;
the smart breeze caused the haze to lift so as
TO disclose the exact position of the steamer
Columbia, hard on the bar, abreast of Sulvan's
Island, short distance below Fort MOultrie,
from which position she failed to get away, as
was expected at the early morning tide; speeu-
lations were aioat on the dock whether the
would be able TO set off without removing Ter
cargo; at eleven the weather threatened agnn,
was overcast, and threatened TO rain, rather
sultry, with intervals Of mist and little sun,
till ~ M, at which time / write.
There. If this crcumstantial statement is re-
ally drawn out in New-York, then the editors Of
The Courier and Mercury must confess that TaE
TRIBUNE Las no need hereafter Of sending their
correspondents out Of New-YOrk City to know
what is actually going on abroad. ssszA s-4 s&
The intervals of sunshine at which The haze lifted
from the lower harbor, enabled the unarmed
eve" TO see the flags from Forts Sumter,
Moultrie, Pinckney johnson, and one or two Of
thej batteries. (arcied that could see the
drenched and dolorous three thousand
Still sitting sitting sitting
in dubious silence, forming a circle Of half dozen
miles around Fort Sumter, every man with the
thumb of his right hand to hs nose, the thumb
Of bis left hand to the little finger of the right,
both hands spread like fan, making ridiculouf
motions, in as much bewdcrmeht as ever was
the renowned Antony the TrUnpcter. This is ali
that the poor felows-the cbiyalry Of South
Carolina-can do in spite of their much Boosting
about taking Fort Sumter. Meanwhile, TIE
Ncyeuru. speaking for the extra-h0t fre-eaters,
continues TO rave, because Gov. Pickens pH
listen to. words Of hope aud promise from Wash
ington. The squabble is growing interesting
every day; and, as things now go on, We may
safely expect, on one Of these hay" morning, to
wake up, and find that the valiant hero of Tho Mr.
cum has during the night gone down and captured
Fort Sumter, and put the entire garrison 10 the
sword sinple-handcd. His next exploit would be to
hang Gov. Pickens and his counselOrs for trca-
son. There really is no knowing what the man
NAV not do. For some days past, or rather
nights, he has been greatly troubled about mys-
FERROUS boats" with "muflled oars" in the
pitchy darkness, prowling around Morris
Island, and actually did induce the guard
at one of the batteries, night or two
ago TO fire on something or other, which the
editor this morning AYERS was boat full OF
spies from Fort Sumpter. lie says, moreover,
that there was afterwards heard " swashirg ia
the water" and therefore concludes that ,ome
one must have been killed. / do really believe
there is reason to fear that the score of chaps in
Fort Sumter will yet be the death OF the Whole
three thousand of the picked chyalry who fur-
round them. The wonder is that the :" myite-
rious boats" with "mufled oars" did not put
them to flight. The same frghtlul apparltims,
the editor AYERS, have been seen in the neigh
borhood of Fort MOultrie and startled the gar
rison half out of their wits. Some say that the
commander of that Fort keeps his batteries in
state of instant readiness, and men with matches
all lighted, in anticipation of an invasion of Sui
livan's Island by Capt. Foster and four picked
men from Sumter.
Now do not undertake to assert the correct
ness or falsity Of the editors visions; indeed, i
am not disposed to disclose all l do know on the
subject but il occurs to me that if Fort Sum-
ter's men can prowl about the harbor, night after
night, the police-bOats Of the Reyolutionists are
not worth much, and further, that the landing
of reenforcements in open boats at Fort Sumter
from vessel outside would not be difficult
thing to accomplish. ! have never doubted it.
Who knows but that, after all, this has been
done, and that the "mysterious boats" with
"muffed oars may not have been engaged in
the businessl | do not wish unnecessarily to
alarm any one, but suggest that the days of
wooden horses are not yet extinct.
(Mm.-Onc O'Clock by the chime in st. Mi
cEaers tower; the sun shines brightly, and there
is a good prospect Of the weather clearing up.
Courier and Mercury, please take notice.