Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1861-01-11
Harbor Fortifications, &C.
CONDITION or ToRT SUMTER.

Throughout tile city yesterday and the
day before, speculation was rife as to the
condition of the different Notifications in
the harbor. Much anxiety was manifested
on the part of the friends of our citizens in
possession Of Fort Muutrie aud Castle
Pinckney, while no little curiosity exlib-
tied itself TO learn what was the condition
OF the occupants of Fort Sumter. On this
latter point there were variety Of rumors
afloat. Some went SO far as TO say that
the United States troops would be unable
to hold out two weeks; that their provis-
ions wero Of the most scaIiY character :;
and that water was very scarce If this be
SO, and if it be tue, rs reported, that the
larger one of the cisterns is rendered useless
because of The salt water that makes way
into it, the soldiers cannot, by any posi-
bility, hold out longer than ten or fourteen
days. All the points from which supplies
can be obtained are rendered inaccessible.
There is a strong guard of the Charles
ton Rillemen stationed at the Light House
on Morris Island, even if II battery has not
been erected there hy this time, rs was
contem plated. Detachmcnts Of South Car
olina troops are i'll possession Of the post at
Fort johnson, while Sullivan's Island and
Mount Pleasant, as we'll AS this city, are
rendered inaccessible to them for supplies.
The remaining cistcrn Of the fort it is said
is befouled with stagnant water that to
drink of it would be to partake of death
and disease. The only remaining way for
them TO procure water or provisions will be
by oats or vessels, aid even this modo will
be cut off by the small crafts and and steam
boats that nre constantly cruising around
on the watch.
From the workmen, however, who have
been employed at the fort, we learn tha
there are altogether in Fort Sumter abou:
forty or fifty mechanics and laborers, to-
gether with some seventy soldiers. About
twelve casmeute guns are mounted, mostly
looking towards Sullivan's Island, and four
or five barbette guns which work on pivots
and can he worked facing in any direction.
With their present force they can place
several guns in position each day, and they
have au abundant supply of slot and
shell, and provisions and water, to last
them for months, the cis,crns being large
and amply supplied with good rain water.
The guns Of the largest calibre are not yet
in position, and the number Of cannon in
the fort amounts to half its armament.
THE DAMAGE AT TORT AIoULrEIE,
though as yet unrepaired, is neither so ex-
tensive nor SO irremedable as WAS at first
thought. Under command of Major An
derson, the work was strengthened in a
truly wonderful manner, though many
merits of it were unfinished ut the time of
Sie evacuation. However, this is all so.
much labor saved the South Carolina
troops, and under the energetic superinten=-
dence of Col. Quinn, Engineer-in Chief
and his efficient corps If Aids, chosen
principally from the eNVasLington Artillery,
the work commenced is being busily pushed:
forward TO completion. A large force Of
laborers have been put TO work, and in a
very short time everything will be set in
order.
Contrary to expectation, none of the
guns of the fort are materially injured.
Those that were spiked were rendered use
less for tue time being only. The in
sruments used to stop up the touch holes
were simPy wrought nails, most of which
have already beep taken out. None Of
the guns were injured by the application Of
tar either inside or outside-and the way
the impression got abroad that this sub
stance has been used by the evacuatipg
party, was from TIE chsrred appearance Of
the tar always used as a coating to protect
tbe guus from tl!e weather after it was
burned
Carriages for tue heavy s.inch Colum-
biads, bearing on Fort Sumter, which were
destroyed by fire on Ahe night of eyacua-
tion, are being reconstructed with all pos.
sible dispatch in this city. The iron work
of the old guns, is capable o-being used
again, 80 that; after all, not much time will
be lost.
|. In aeserting the fort, military men say
Major Anderson did as little harm to the
works as it was possible for him to do. He
might have done great deal more he
might have blown up the work, or might
have injured it to such a degree that it
would have been repdersfaia wosillless even
after ayesss labor had been spent in re-
pairing It. As it now i. Tomorrow night
will ace IL alnoast. M styon0ir forlifiasl ua Il