New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-04-16
FROM SOUTH CAROLINA.
PREPARATIONS FOR WAR.
ysea Our Own Correspondent.

ysem Our Own Correspondent
CHARLESTON, April 2, 1861.
The rain, which has been descending almost
necessarily for the last twelve hours, mhss nave
rendered the quarters of the "hHehng COM
panies upon the islands anything but pleasant.
n mistake not, it has also materially inter-
fsred with the sandy foundations on which the
principal batteries rest. The iron battery at
Cummings Point, usually called the Star of the
West Battery, and upon which much dependence
was placed, gave way yesterday, and hundred
and fifty men were taken down in tho afternoon
on the +" sloop-of.war Gen. Clinch," to repair
the damage. The floating battery is also In
trouble again. They have just discovered tue
truth of my statement in THE TRIBUNE weeks
ago, that the embrasures would not permit the
guns to discharge ball anywhere else than in
the water Men are at work to-day Sunday ID
lowering the gun carriages. This, however, VII
not produce the desired effect. 1t is useless
lumber, and may as well be condemned at once.
This is by no means Gen. Beauregard's opinion,
however, for he has ordered the Richardson, or
Rum Guard, to report for active service upon it
tomorrow morning. This order, and numerous
others issued yesterday, seem to favor the idea
that hOstIlities will shortly commence.
called in at the Charleston Hotel, to see
what were the Governors movements, but one
Of his aids told me that the old gentleman
went to bed as usual, little "screwy," and had
not yet made his appearance. At General Beaur'
CARDS headquarters everything was lively, and
his satellites were pretending to be elated at the
early prospect of fight. strong and polite
move of the government would be to reinforce
Major Anderson. The rebels know, and admit
Chat properly garrsOned Fort Sumter would be
impregnabe against any such assault as they
could make upon it. haoe myself heard Cor
erxor Piekens, General Beauregard, General Dun
~orant and Colonel Daryea admit this
made trip to Savannah yesterday, to see
how the land lay, and was surprised at the utter
carelessness aud recklessness with which the
Sstorekeepers there regard the state OF AFFAIRS
The quiet, respectable business men, most OF
them of New England origin, look upon the South
az utterly and rretrievably ruined unless the
United States Government interfere to maintain
the laws and throw protection around life and
property There exists in Savannah, in place OF
the usual Vigilance Committee, society Of yag-
abonds, who exult in the name of Mathematics
1t is composed of the very dregs of society-nig-
eer.traders and brokers are among its leading
spirits. 1t was this crowd which committed the
gross outrage on the English sea Captain
highly respectable and eminent merchant in Sa-
yannah who is Republican in heart and feeling,
assured me that they were very little better than
common thieves, and can readily believe it, for
I Happened to be present at their formation at
the commencement of January, and certainly
never saw regiment Of harder looking cases.
am crediby informed that they entirely defy
all law, and do not scruple to enter and ransack
the chambers of men who are at all suspected Oh
he;no loval and patriotic to their country. They
have a strong and bitter antPathy 10 Inc COLL
uauy of Savannah Blues, respectable company
Of men who all voted against Secession candl-
. Aates for Convention; and so utterly unscrupu-
lous are these Rattlesnakes considered, that the
Captain of the Blues has ordered all his men to
carry arms about their person to defend them
selves from attack from these midnight assasslns
A Jew, named Solomon Levy, and man named
Butler. formerly of New-York, both Of whom
attempt to palm themselves of as respectable cit
liens. are connected with this band and openly
advocate the tar and cotton remedy for any hon
est man who dares to do his own thinking, If he
should happen to stray that way.
/ intended to have mentioned in my last let
ter the petty theft which was committed here
the other day by the police Lieut.. Talbot,
when he came to this city from Fort Sumter,
was rowed hither by four of Major Anderson's
men, and they took the opportunity to visit
store on East Bay and purchase for themselves
and their comrades small supply of tobacco
some thirty small separate packages-and few
clay pipes Before the boat left the landing these
packages were all STOLEN by the two policemen
who were upon the wharf; and mean, contempt
ible, and disgusting felony it was.
An Irshman, who belongs to the police force,
and who is a good Union man, when relating
these circumstances to me, communicated at the
came time a piece of information, which ex-
hibts state of mind existing among the g CHR
airy" so utterly regardless of the feelings of an
innocent and poor widow that, had it not been
backed by proof, would have given it no Gre
dence. The mean, dastardly, and contemplate
ruffians who molested and injured poer Mrs.
Bottsford, who was guilty of no crime, have
hesped insult upon injury by exhibiting her pho
tograph among their gallery of South Carolina
rogues, who adorn the walls Of the Police-Ofice.
However, Mrs. BOttsft I'd can rest secure in her
own consciousness Of innocence; and the insults
and vagabondism heaped upon her by pirates and
<-.;ko-. xr;u 10 bar m harm